An island just off Victoria’s Sunset Coast in Canada may be known as Rabbit Island – but it’s about to go to the dogs, thanks to a few generous veterinarians.
An island just off Victoria’s Sunset Coast may be known as Rabbit Island –but it’s about to go to the dogs.
Thanks to three generous veterinarians from Alberta, Pilar Gossellin, Dave Brace, and Dave Szentimrey, a group of seven rescued dogs, including four traumatized pit bulls who survived the horrors of Hurricane Katrina, will have their own island paradise.
“I’ve committed myself to making the dogs’ lives better,” Dr. Gosselin, who adopted the dogs, told The Globe and Mail. “They can be themselves, not cause trouble, not evoke hostility.”
When the pit bulls were rescued from the streets of New Orleans, there was no space for them in animal shelters. They were forced to spend 6 weeks in filthy crates, with no room to move. Now, thanks to the vets’ $2.2-million purchase, they’ll have 15 hectares (37 acres) to call their own, with the chance to run free during their Rabbit Island vacations.
But they can’t do quite everything they want: “The dogs won’t be allowed to harass the wildlife,” said Dr. Gossellin, who plans to train the canines to leave wild animals alone before letting them roam around unsupervised on Rabbit Island. We’re sure the island’s namesake animals will be very happy to hear that.