Seminole County considers ban on bunny sales

We're back now with the effort to ban bunny sales in Seminole County. That is the proposal from the Animal Control Board. Hannah McKenzie joining us live this evening. So, Hannah, not everyone likes this proposal, though. No, Luann, it is hard to believe, but apparently bunny sales and banning bunny sales are very controversial. But those who are in favor of this are hoping that commissioners hop aboard pretty quickly. A rabbit on the side of the road in need of a rescue. We call ourselves like rabbit wranglers, wranglers. Calls like this come in daily, says Sasha Munn, now named Bumby. This little one joins more than 100 rabbits being fostered by Orlando Rabbit Care and Adoptions, or ORCA. For two decades, ORCA has been saving rabbits across central Florida. Dumped pets, hoarding situations, rehoming requests, you name it. It honestly feels like an uphill battle sometimes. I don't think a lot of people know that right after cats and dogs, rabbits are the third most abandoned pet. Multiple counties across the state ban or restrict rabbit sales, including Orange. But could Seminole be next? Next up, we have a work session on animal services ordinances, and we have Alan Harris here to present. The Animal Control Board's prohibition proposal was pitched Tuesday. Not all commissioners appear to be on board with the bunny sale ban. In my district, people just come from the city and let them loose in the country. And they either get eaten by coyotes, run over by a vehicle, or who knows, you know, it's rabbits now and it's... Guinea pigs next. Well, maybe tomorrow is guinea pigs, but what would be the problem with that? Every animal that you can imagine, I'm sure there's a rescue for it and that rescue is swamped. Right now, according to the county, there's only one retailer selling rabbits. They have three stores. It may sound like a small number, but Munn says stopping that supply would have monumental impacts. Just two rabbits sold from a single store can produce thousands into the stream of rabbits that need homes. And so three locations would not selling rabbits would still be a significant impact, you know, for rescue operations, for less animals like being injected into the animal overpopulation crisis. That was Hannah McKenzie reporting. While the bunny ban would only apply to rabbits sold for retail, the board plans to discuss this proposal again at their next meeting before any final decisions are made.