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Domestic rabbit
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A domestic rabbit or more commonly known as simply the rabbit is any of the several varieties of European rabbit that have been domesticated. Male rabbits are called bucks; females are called does. An older term for an adult rabbit is coney, while rabbit referred only to the young animals.[1] More recently, the term kit or kitten has been used to refer to a young rabbit. A young hare is called a leveret; this term is sometimes informally applied to a young rabbit as well.
- 1 History
- 2 Breeds
- 3 Diet
- 4 Coprophagy and rabbits
- 5 Breeding
- 6 Rabbits as pets
- 7 Commercial rabbits
- 8 Exhibition
- 9 Genetics
- 10 Health problems
- 11 Veterinary care
- 12 See also
- 13 References
- 14 External links
Phoenician sailors visiting the coast of Spain c. 12th century BC, mistaking the European rabbit for a species from their homeland (the rock hyrax Procavia capensis), gave it the name i-shepan-ham (land or island of hyraxes). A theory exists that a corruption of this name, used by the Romans, became the Latin name for Spain, Hispania – although this theory is somewhat controversial.[2] In Rome rabbits were raised in large walled colonies.
Selective breeding of rabbits began in the Middle Ages, when they were first treated as domesticated farm animals. By the 16th century, several new breeds of different colors and sizes were being recorded.
In the 19th century, as animal fancy in general began to emerge, rabbit fanciers began to sponsor rabbit exhibitions and fairs in Western Europe and the United States. Breeds were created and modified for the added purpose of exhibition, a departure from the breeds that had been created solely for food, fur, or wool. The rabbit's emergence as a household pet began during the Victorian era.
Domestic Rabbits have been popular in the United States since the late 19th century. What became known as the "Belgian Hare Boom", began with the importation of the first Belgian Hares from England in 1888 and soon after the founding of the first rabbit club in America, the American Belgian Hare Association. From 1898 to 1901, many thousands of Belgian Hares were imported to America.[3] Today, the Belgian Hare is considered one of the rarest breeds with less than 200 in the United States as reported in a recent survey.[4]
The American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) was founded in 1910 and is the national authority on rabbit raising and rabbit breeds having a uniform Standard of Perfection, registration and judging system. The domestic rabbit continues to be popular as a show animal and pet. Many thousand rabbit shows occur each year and are sanctioned in Canada and the United States by the ARBA. Today, the domesticated rabbit is the third most popular mammalian pet in Britain after dogs and cats.
Rabbits have been, and continue to be, used in laboratory work such as production of antibodies for vaccines and research of human male reproductive system toxicology. The Environmental Health Perspective, published by the National Institute of Health, states, "The rabbit [is] an extremely valuable model for studying the effects of chemicals or other stimuli on the male reproductive system." According to the Humane Society of the United States, rabbits are also used extensively in the study of bronchial asthma, stroke prevention treatments, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, and cancer. Animal rights activists have opposed animal experimentation for non-medical purposes, such as the testing of cosmetic and cleaning products, which has resulted in decreased use of rabbits in these areas.[citation needed]
There are many different breeds of domestic rabbit, with various sizes, temperaments, and care requirements. As with breeds of dogs, rabbit breeds were selectively bred by humans at different times to achieve certain desired characteristics (including coat color and texture, size, and body shape). Care requirements have been greatly altered; for example, some new breeds need grooming a few times a day without fail, whereas others, such as the Holland lop, have a tendency to develop dental problems. Temperaments can vary slightly with breed and gender, as with any animal. There are over 50 rabbit breeds recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association in the United States. There are many more breeds of rabbits worldwide.
Most genetic defects in the domestic rabbit are due to recessive genes. These genes are carefully tracked by fanciers of the breeds who show them; just as dog fanciers carefully check for hip/eye and heart problems, rabbit fanciers extensively follow their own lines to remove unwanted defects. However, unpure dwarf-size breeds, which are bred for pets by non-fancier breeders, are not carefully screened for health problems, and may still develop these defects.[citation needed]
See: Domestic Rabbit Breeds in Pet stores
The domestic rabbit's diet depends upon whether it is a pet, a meat or a fur rabbit. Meat and fur rabbits are fed diets which will improve meat or fur production and allow for the safe delivery of large litters of healthy kits while minimising costs and producing faeces which meet waste regulations where appropriate.[5]
Commercial pellets are available in most countries in a variety of formulations, and are typically fed to adult rabbits in limited quantities to prevent obesity. Most pellets are based on alfalfa as a protein and fiber source, with other grains being used to complete the carbohydrate requirements. Minerals and vitamins geared toward specific requirements of rabbits are added during production. Many commercial rabbit raisers also feed grass hay, although this can represent a hygiene issue in rabbitries.[6]
In contrast, a pet rabbit's diet may require fewer calories and energy, while taking advantage of many home-prepared ingredients.[7] Many rabbit welfare organisations and veterinarians recommended that a pet rabbit's diet should model off an approximation of a wild rabbit's natural diet as a foraging animal.[8][9] An often recommended feeding strategy for pet rabbits consists of grass hay, various combinations of leafy green vegetables, and limited commercial pellets. In this case, the focus is on providing adequate fiber. Testing trials to determine if this diet meets the animal's requirements for minerals and vitamins have not been done for hay/vegetable/pellet diets in the same way that pellet diets have been researched.[10]
A diet including too many pellets, root vegetables or sugary fruits can lead to diarrhea, obesity, poor wear on molar teeth and other health problems.[11] Studies have shown that although a short changeover period is needed, domestic rabbits are highly adaptable to diets produced from locally available forage products in developing countries.[12]
Coprophagy and rabbits[edit]
Rabbits are hindgut fermenters and therefore have an enlarged cecum. The cecum allows rabbits to digest, via fermentation what they otherwise would not be able to metabolically process. Because a rabbit has a sensitive and rather substantial gastrointestinal tract, a rabbit's diet should consist of some amount of fiber. Without a proper diet, gastrointestinal stasis can occur and have detrimental effects on the animal itself.[13] It is in the cecum that this fiber is digested.
After a rabbit ingests food, the food travels down the esophagus and through a small valve called the cardia. In rabbits, this valve is very well pronounced and makes the rabbit incapable of vomiting. The food enters the stomach after passing through the cardia. Food then moves to the stomach and small intestine where a majority of nutrient extraction and absorption takes place. Food then passes into the colon and eventually into the cecum. Peristaltic muscle contractions (waves of motion) help to separate fibrous and non-fibrous particles. The non-fibrous particles are then moved backwards up the colon, through the illeo-cecal valve, and into the cecum. Symbiotic bacteria in the cecum help to further digest the non-fibrous particles into a more metabolically manageable substance. After as little as three hours, a soft, fecal pellet, called a cecotrope, is expelled from the rabbit's anus. The rabbit instinctively eats these grape-like pellets, without chewing, in exchange keeping the mucous coating intact. This coating protects the vitamin- and nutrient-rich bacteria from stomach acid, until it reaches the small intestine, where the nutrients from the cecotrope can be absorbed.[14] [15]
The soft pellets contain a sufficiently large portion of nutrients that are critical to the rabbit's health. This soft fecal matter is rich in vitamin B and other nutrients. The process of coprophagy is important to the stability of a rabbit's digestive health because it is one important way that which a rabbit receives vitamin B in a form that is useful to its digestive wellness.[16] Occasionally, the rabbit may leave these pellets lying about its cage; this behavior is harmless and usually related to an ample food supply.
When caecal pellets are wet and runny (semi-liquid) and stick to the rabbit and surrounding objects they are called Intermittent Soft Cecotropes (ISCs). This is different from ordinary diarrhea and is usually caused by a diet too high in carbohydrates or too low in fiber. Soft fruit or salad items such as lettuce, cucumbers and tomatoes are possible causes. Increasing dietary fiber and decreasing carbohydrates should restore the gut flora to normal in the cecum and return gastrointestinal tract motility to normal. This can be avoided by providing a healthy diet of unlimited grass hay as the main part with fibrous green foods such as broccoli and cabbage and limited high fiber/low energy pellets. Note also that there are other more serious but uncommon causes such as cancer, intestinal obstructions and abscesses. [17] [18]
Does are induced ovulators, and can therefore be bred at almost any time after reaching sexual maturity. Does of small breeds (Mini Rex, Polish) normally reach sexual maturity at 4 to 5 months, medium breeds (New Zealand, Rex) normally reach sexual maturity at 5 to 6 months, and large breeds (Flemish Giant, Checkered Giant) normally reach sexual maturity at 6 to 7 months. Males usually require more time to fully mature, and normally reach adult sperm counts between 6–7 months. Due to the territorial nature of female rabbits, it is standard practice for the doe to always be brought to the buck's cage. When the doe is brought to the bucks' cage, he quickly mounts her, performs pelvic thrusting culminating in orgasm, and "flops" off. The whole act may take less than 30 seconds, and is often repeated several times. When he is finished, the buck should then be removed, but many breeders will reintroduce the buck a few hours later to increase the size of the litter.[19][20]
Rabbits as pets[edit]
Rabbits have been kept as pets in Western nations since the 19th century. Neutered (spayed or castrated) rabbits kept indoors with proper care may have a lifespan of 8 to 12 years.[21] Rabbits are especially popular as pets in the United States during the Easter season, due to their association with the holiday. However, animal shelters that accept rabbits often complain that during the weeks and months following Easter, there is a rise of unwanted and neglected rabbits that were bought as Easter "gifts", especially for children.[22]
Rabbits are relatively inexpensive to keep when compared to larger animals, such as dogs or horses, although their care can still be moderately costly.[23] Currently, regulations do not require vaccinations for rabbits in the USA. Rabbits in the United Kingdom require viral haemorrhagic disease and Myxomatosis vaccinations. Pet rabbits can be kept outdoors or indoors. Accommodations can range from an outdoor hutch to an indoor cage or pen to the free run of the home. Veterinarians with experience with rabbits can be difficult to locate. However, disease is rare when rabbits are raised in sanitary conditions and provided with adequate care. Regular brushing of the coat helps to increase sanitation and reduce ingestion of loose fur. Regular trimming of the nails is required if pet rabbits live indoors where they can not dig.
Safety and Health Considerations[edit]
Improper holding or handling of pet rabbits can lead to strong kicks by the frightened rabbit, which can injure both the animal and the handler.[24] Rabbits will gnaw on almost anything, including electrical cords, cables, and paper products. Electrical components, when chewed by pet rabbits, can cause electrocution and burns.[25] Rabbits have been identified with few zoonotic (animal-to-human transmitted) diseases and are considered a "low risk" to people with competent immune systems, but a risk of transmission of E. coli, salmonella, and E. cuniculi exists, particularly for people with compromised immune systems. Physiological and behavioral responses to humanly induced tonic immobility (abbreviated TI, sometimes termed "trancing") have been found to be indicative of a fear-motivated stress state, confirming that the promotion of TI to try to increase a bond between rabbits and their owners—thinking the rabbits enjoy it—is misplaced; however some researchers conclude that inducing TI in rabbits is appropriate for certain procedures as it holds less risk than anesthesia.[26]
Commercial rabbits[edit]
Meat rabbits[edit]
Breeds such as the New Zealand and Californian are frequently utilized for meat in commercial rabbitries. These breeds have efficient metabolisms and grow quickly; they are ready for slaughter by approximately 14 to 16 weeks of age.
Rabbit fryers are rabbits that are between 70 to 90 days of age, and weighing between 3 to 5 lb (1 to 2 kg) live weight. Rabbit roasters are rabbits from 90 days to 6 months of age weighing between 5 to 8 lb (2 to 3.5 kg) live weight. Rabbit stewers are rabbits from 6 months on weighing over 8 lb.
Any type of rabbit can be slaughtered for meat, but those exhibiting the "commercial" body type are most commonly raised for meat purposes. Dark fryers (any other color but albino whites) are sometimes lower in price than albino fryers because of the slightly darker tinge of the fryer (purely pink carcasses are preferred by consumers) and because the hide is harder to remove manually than the white albino fryers.
Wool rabbits[edit]
Rabbits such as the Angora, American Fuzzy Lop, and Jersey Wooly produce wool. However, since the American Fuzzy Lop and Jersey Wooly are both dwarf breeds, only the much larger Angora breeds such as the English Angora, Satin Angora, Giant Angora, and French Angoras are used for commercial wool production. Their long fur is sheared, combed, or plucked (gently pulling loose hairs from the body during molting) and then spun into yarn used to make a variety of products. Angora sweaters can be purchased in many clothing stores and is generally mixed with other types of wool. Rabbit wool, called Angora, is 5 times warmer than sheep's wool.[citation needed]
Fur rabbits[edit]
All rabbits produce fur. Rabbits such as the Palomino, Satin, Chinchilla rabbit and Rex rabbit are commonly raised for fur. Each breed has unique coloring and fur characteristics. The rabbit is fed a diet especially balanced for fur production and the pelts are harvested when they have reached prime condition. Rabbit fur is widely used throughout the world. China imports much of its fur from Scandinavia (80%) and North America (5%) according to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service GAIN Report CH7607.
Laboratory rabbits[edit]
Rabbits have been and continue to be used in laboratory work such as production of antibodies for vaccines and research of human male reproductive system toxicology. In 1972, around 450 000 rabbits were used for experiments in the United States, decreasing to around 240 000 in 2006.[27] The Environmental Health Perspective, published by the National Institute of Health, states, "The rabbit [is] an extremely valuable model for studying the effects of chemicals or other stimuli on the male reproductive system."[28] According to the Humane Society of the United States, rabbits are also used extensively in the study of bronchial asthma, stroke prevention treatments, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, and cancer.
The New Zealand White is one of the most commonly used breeds for research and testing.
Animal rights activists generally oppose animal experimentation for all purposes, and rabbits are no exception.[improper synthesis?] The use of rabbits for the Draize test,[29] which is used for, amongst other things, testing cosmetics on animals, has been cited as an example of cruelty in animal research. Albino rabbits are typically used in the Draize tests because they have less tear flow than other animals, and the lack of eye pigment makes the effects easier to visualize.[30]
Outdoor housing[edit]
Rabbits can live outside in properly constructed housing or hutches. Hutches provide protection from the elements in winter and keep rabbits cool in summer heat. To protect from predators rabbit hutches are usually situated in a fenced yard, shed, barn, or other enclosed structure. Whether housed indoors or out, all rabbits can be provided shelves, ramps or tunnels, toys or other enrichment items. Rabbit waste can be measured in cubic yards per year. This waste is excellent for gardening and composting, and can be collected for these uses whether the rabbit is housed indoors or outdoors. An outdoor cage should be as large as possible, at least high enough for the rabbit to stand on its back legs without its head touching the ceiling. It should be large enough to enable the rabbit to take 4 or 5 hops along its length and width. The shelter may be heated in winter (although most rabbits can be kept outside with extra bedding even into temperatures well below freezing) and should be shaded or otherwise appropriately cooled in summer. Clean water must be available at all times, especially in hot weather to keep temperatures below 85 degrees. Large rabbits (such as the New Zealand breed) do fine in temperatures as low as -10 degrees Celsius/15 degrees Fahrenheit in a hutch with plenty of straw, if their needs for food and water are well met. Water cups or bottles that become frozen in cold weather must be changed two or three times daily. Below -10 degrees Celsius/15 degrees Fahrenheit it is necessary to shelter all animals in a barn or basement or garage. Covering cages three quarters of the way with a blanket, several cages grouped together, can generate a great deal of heat. One rule of thumb is at least eight pounds of animal per cage. Even newborn rabbits do well in cold if they have sufficient nest and many siblings to snuggle with. They should stay with the mother for longer periods of time in the winter for warmth. Domesticated rabbits are most comfortable in temperatures between 10 to 21 degrees C (50 to 70 degrees F), and cannot endure temperatures above 32 degrees C (90 degrees F) well without assistance such as deep shade, cold stones, frozen water bottles or fans.
Rabbits require clean environments and all housing should be cleaned regularly to ensure that no build-up of feces or urine occurs. Rabbit droppings are often left in beds with red worms to create compost, added to compost bins for enrichment of the compost, or applied directly to a garden as a "cool" fertilizer that will not burn plants.
Rabbits can be litter trained, which makes it much easier to clean up after them. Dust free litter that will not cause health problems if ingested is used for rabbits.
Conformation shows[edit]
Show rabbits are an increasingly popular activity. Showing rabbits helps to improve the vigor and physical behavior of each breed through competitive selection. County fairs are common venues through which rabbits are shown in the United States. Rabbit clubs at local state and national levels hold many shows each year. On any given weekend one may be able to find a show in most regions of the United States and the United Kingdom. Although only purebred animals are shown, a pedigree is not required to enter a rabbit in an ARBA-sanctioned show but is required to register your rabbit with the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA). A rabbit must be registered in order to receive a Grand Champion certificate.[31] Children's clubs such as 4-H also include rabbit shows, usually in conjunction with county fairs. The ARBA holds an annual national convention which has as many as 25,000 animals competing form all over the world. The mega show moves to a different city each year. The ARBA also sponsors youth programs for families as well as underprivileged rural and inner city children to learn responsible care and breeding of domestic rabbits.
Show jumping[edit]
Rabbit show jumping, a form of athletic competition between rabbits, began in the 1970s and has since become popular in Europe, particularly Sweden and the United Kingdom. Any rabbit regardless of breed may participate in this kind of competition, as it is based on athletic skill.
Reference: Rabbit Coat Color Genetics: Gene List
There are 10 color gene groups (or loci) in rabbits. They are A, B, C, D, E, En, Du, Si, V, and W. Each locus has dominant and recessive genes. In addition to the loci there are also modifiers, which modify a certain gene. These include the rufus modifiers, color intensifiers, and plus/minus (blanket/spot) modifiers. A rabbit's coat only has two pigments, pheomelanin (yellow) and eumelanin (dark brown). There can also be no pigment, causing an albino or white rabbit.
Color Genes
Within each group, the genes are listed in order of dominance, with the most dominant gene first. In parenthesis after the description is at least one example of a color that displays this gene.
- Note: lower case are recessive and capital letters are dominant
- "A" represents the agouti locus (multiple bands of color on the hair shaft). The genes are:
- A= agouti ("wild color" or chestnut agouti, opal, chinchilla, etc.)
- a(t)= tan pattern (otter, tan, silver marten)
- a= self or non-agouti (black, chocolate)
- "B" represents the brown locus. The genes are:
- B= black (chestnut agouti, black otter, black)
- b= brown (chocolate agouti, chocolate otter, chocolate)
- "C" represents the color locus. The genes are:
- C= full color (black)
- c(ch3)= dark chinchilla, removes yellow pigmentation (chinchilla, silver marten)
- c(ch2)= medium (light) chinchilla, Slight reduction in eumelanin creating a more sepia tone in the fur rather than black.
- c(ch1)= light (pale) chinchilla (sable, sable point, smoke pearl, seal)
- c(h)= Himalayan, body white with extremities ("points") colored in black, blue, chocolate or lilac, pink eyes
- c= albino (ruby-eyed white or REW)
- "D" represents the dilution locus. This gene dilutes black to blue and chocolate to lilac.
- D= dense color (chestnut agouti, black, chocolate)
- d= diluted color (opal, blue or lilac)
- "E" represents the extension locus. It works with the 'A' and 'C' loci, and rufus modifiers. When it is recessive, it removes most black pigment. The genes are:
- E(d)= dominant black
- E(s)= steel (black removed from tips of fur, which then appear golden or silver)
- E= normal
- e(j)= Japanese brindling (harlequin), black and yellow pigment broken into patches over the body. In a broken color pattern this results in Tricolor.
- e= most black pigment removed (agouti becomes red or orange, self becomes tortoise)
- "En" represents the plus/minus (blanket/spot) color locus. It is incompletely dominant and results in three possible color patterns:
- EnEn= "Charlie" or a lightly marked broken with color on ears, on nose and sparsely on body
- Enen= Broken rabbit with roughly even distribution of color and white
- enen= Solid color with no white areas
- "Du" represents the Dutch color pattern, (the front of the face, front part of the body, and rear paws are white, the rest of the rabbit has colored fur). The genes are:
- Du= absence of Dutch pattern
- du(d)= Dutch (dark)
- du(w)= Dutch (white)
- "V" represents the vienna white locus. The genes are:
- V= normal color
- Vv= Vienna carrier, carries blue-eyed white gene. May appear as a solid color, with snips of white on nose and/or front paws, or Dutch marked.
- v= vienna white (blue-eyed white or BEW)
- "Si" represents the silver locus. The genes are:
- Si= normal color
- si= silver color (silver, silver fox)
- "W" represents the middle yellow-white band locus and works with the agouti gene. The genes are:
- W= normal width of yellow band
- w= doubles yellow band width (Otter becomes Tan, intensified red factors in Thrianta and Belgian Hare)
- "P" represents the OCA type II form of albinism, P is because it is an integral P protein mutation. The genes are:
- P= normal color
- p= albinism mutation, removes eumelanin and causes pink eyes. (Will change, for example, a Chestnut Agouti into a Shadow)
Health problems[edit]
Fly strike[edit]
Fly strike is a rare condition which mostly affects rabbits kept in extremely unsanitary conditions and is more likely to occur during summer months. Fly strike happens when flies (particularly the Botfly) lay their eggs in the damp or soiled fur or in an open wound of a rabbit. Within 12 hours, the eggs hatch into the larvae stage of the fly, known as maggots. The maggots, initially small and almost invisible to the naked eye, can burrow into the skin of the rabbit and feed on the animal's tissue. Within 3–4 days, the larvae can be large as 15 mm long. In rare cases, if not treated, the rabbit can pass into shock and die. The most susceptible animals are those living in unsanitary housing, older rabbits who do not move much, and those who are unable to clean their bottom areas carefully. Rabbits raised on solid floors are more susceptible than rabbits raised on wire floors. Rabbits exhibiting one or more episodes of diarrhea are often inspected, especially during the summer months.[32] In 2002, the medicine Rearguard was approved in the United Kingdom for a 10-week per-application prevention of Fly strike.
Myxomatosis and West Nile Virus[edit]
Myxomatosis is a threat to the health of pet rabbits. Rabbits caged outdoors in Australia are vulnerable in areas with high numbers of mosquitoes. In Europe, fleas are the carriers of myxomatosis. In some countries, annual vaccinations against myxomatosis are available. In Australia pet rabbits cannot be vaccinated against myxomatosis which was introduced to the wild rabbit population as a means of population control. The Australian Government will not allow veterinarians to purchase and use the vaccine that would protect pet rabbits.[33] The keeping of pet rabbits is banned in the Australian state of Queensland.[34]
West Nile Virus is another threat to rabbits.[35] This is a fatal disease, and while there are vaccines available, they are not specifically indicated for rabbits. Recourse against the disease includes limiting the number of mosquitoes that are around pet rabbits.
Sore hocks[edit]
The formation of open sores on the rabbit's hocks, commonly called "sore hocks," is a problem that commonly afflicts mostly heavy-weight rabbits kept in cages with wire flooring or soiled solid flooring. The problem is most prevalent in rex-furred rabbits and heavy-weight rabbits (9+ pounds in weight), as well as those with thin foot bristles.
The condition results when, over the course of time, the protective bristle-like fur on the rabbit's hocks thins down. Standing urine or other unsanitary cage conditions can exacerbate the problem by irritating the sensitive skin. The exposed skin in turn can result in tender areas or, in severe cases, open sores, which may then become infected and abscessed if not properly cared for.
Most rabbits can live safely on wire floors with the provision of a resting board or mat. Ultra heavy-weight breeds such as Flemish Giants or Checkered Giants are best raised on solid or partially solid flooring. Alternatively, plastic-floored cages can be used in place of wire floors to provide more comfortable flooring.
Respiratory infections[edit]
An over-diagnosed ailment amongst rabbits is respiratory infection. Pasteurella bacteria, known colloquially as "snuffles," is usually misdiagnosed and has been known to be a factor in the overuse of antibiotics among rabbits.[36]
A runny nose, for instance, can have several causes, among those being high temperature or humidity, extreme stress, environmental pollution (like perfume or incense), or a sinus infection. Options for treating this is removing the pollutant, lowering or raising the temperature accordingly, and medical treatment for sinus infections.[36]
"Runny eyes" can be caused by dental disease or a blockage of the tear duct. Environmental pollution, corneal disease, entropion, distichiasis, or inflammation of the eyes are also causes. This is easy to diagnose as well as treat.[36]
Sneezing can be a sign of environmental pollution (such as too much dust) or food allergy.
While Pasteurella is a bacterium that lives in a rabbit's respiratory tract, it can flourish out of control in some cases. In the rare event that happens, antibiotic treatment is necessary.
Head tilt/wry neck/Encephalitozoon cuniculi (E. cuniculi)[edit]
Inner ear infections, certain protozoans, strokes, or other diseases or injuries affecting the brain or inner ear can lead to a condition known as wry neck or "head tilt." Although a heavy infestation of ear mites, an ear infection or injury can result in these symptoms, the most common cause of these symptoms is the protozoan parasite E. cuniculi. This condition can be fatal, due to a disorientation that causes the animal to stop eating and drinking. The drugs of choice for treatment and prevention of E. cuniculi infections are the benzimidazole anthelmintics, particularly fenbendazole. In the UK, Panacur Rabbit (containing fenbendazole) is marketed and recommended as a nine day course to help contain this condition and is a simple oral paste to medicate at home. It is sold over the counter. Users in the US or other countries will need to consult with their veterinarians about use and dosage of fenbendazole.
Teeth problems[edit]
Dental disease has several causes, namely genetics, inappropriate diet, injury to the jaw, infection, or cancer.
- Malocclusion: Rabbit teeth are open-rooted and continue to grow throughout their lives. In some rabbits, the teeth are not properly aligned, a condition called malocclusion. Because of the misaligned nature of the rabbit's teeth, there is no normal wear to control the length to which the teeth grow. There are three main causes of malocclusion, most commonly genetic predisposition, injury, or bacterial infection. In the case of congenital malocclusion, treatment usually involves veterinary visits in which the teeth are treated with a dental burr (a procedure called crown reduction or, more commonly, teeth clipping) or, in some cases, permanently removed. In cases of simple malocclusion, a block of wood for the rabbit to chew on can rectify this problem[citation needed].
- Molar spurs: These are spurs that can dig into the rabbit's tongue and/or cheek causing pain. These can be filed down by an experienced veterinarian with a dental burr.
Signs of dental difficulty include difficulty eating, weight loss and small stools, anorexia, and visibly overgrown teeth. However, there are many other causes of ptyalism, including pain due to other causes.[37] A visit to an experienced rabbit veterinarian is strongly recommended[by whom?] in the case of a wet chin, or excessive grooming of the mouth area.
Gastrointestinal stasis[edit]
Gastrointestinal stasis is a serious and potentially fatal condition that occurs in some rabbits in which gut motility is severely reduced and possibly completely stopped. When untreated or improperly treated, GI stasis can be fatal in as little as 24 hours.
GI stasis is the condition of food not moving through the gut as quickly as normal. The gut contents may dehydrate and compact into a hard, immobile mass (impacted gut), blocking the digestive tract of the rabbit. Food in an immobile gut may also ferment, causing significant gas buildup and resultant gas pain for the rabbit.
The first noticeable symptom of GI stasis may be that the rabbit suddenly stops eating. Treatment frequently includes intravenous or subcutaneous fluid therapy (rehydration through injection of a balanced electrolyte solution), pain control, possible careful massage to promote gas expulsion and comfort, drugs to promote gut motility, and careful monitoring of all inputs and outputs. The rabbit's diet may also be changed as part of treatment, to include force-feeding to ensure adequate nutrition. Surgery to remove the blockage is not generally recommended and comes with a poor prognosis.[38]
Some rabbits are more prone to GI stasis than others. The causes of GI stasis are not completely understood, but common contributing factors are thought to include stress, reduced food intake, low fiber in the diet, dehydration and reduction in exercise. Stress factors can include changes in housing, transportation, or medical procedures under anesthesia. As many of these factors may occur together (poor dental structure leading to decreased food intake, followed by a stressful veterinary dental procedure to correct the dental problem) establishing a root cause may be difficult.[39]
GI stasis is sometimes misdiagnosed as "hair balls" by veterinarians or rabbit keepers not familiar with the condition.[40][41] While fur is commonly found in the stomach following a fatal case of gi stasis, it is also found in healthy rabbits. Molting and chewing fur can be a predisposing factor in the occurrence of gi stasis, however, the primary cause is the change in motility of the gut.
Veterinary care[edit]
Rabbits visit the vet for routine check ups, vaccination and when ill or injured. Some veterinary surgeons have a special interest in rabbits and some have extra qualifications. In the UK the following post graduate qualifications demonstrate specialist training in rabbits: Certificate in Zoological Medicine, Diploma in Zoological Medicine and Recognised specialist in Rabbit Medicine and Surgery.[42]
Routine checkups[edit]
Routine check ups usually involve assessment of weight, skin, health and teeth by the owner or a veterinarian. This is essential because a rabbit's health and welfare can be compromised by being overweight or underweight or by having dental problems. Checking the teeth is particularly important part of the examination as back teeth can only be seen with an otoscope. Veterinarians can also give personalised advice on diet and exercise.
Rabbits should be vaccinated against Myxomatosis and Viral Haemorrhagic Disease in the UK.[43] These vaccinations are usually given annually, two weeks apart. If there is an outbreak of Myxomatosis locally this vaccine can be administered every six months for extra protection.[44] However, Myxomatosis immunisations are not available in all countries, including Australia, because of the risk that immunity will pass onto wild rabbits, which is what the disease was created for (the extermination of wild rabbits).
Some vets now recommend de-worming all rabbits against the parasite Encephalitozoon cuniculi. Some studies have indicated that in the UK over 50% of rabbits may be infected with this parasite. Fenbendazole is used as a deworming agent in other species of animal and has shown to be effective in treating rabbits. In the UK it is now sold in paste form as a treatment for rabbits under the brand name Panacur. It is particularly recommended for rabbits kept in colonies and before mixing new rabbits with each other.[45]
Ill or Injured[edit]
Some of the conditions that can occur in domestic rabbits include the following: dramatic or sudden loss of appetite, severe depression,[46] breathing problems,[47] sudden onset of head tilt, signs of maggot infestation,[48] not passing stools. Rabbits can also be exposed to poisons, involved in an accident, fall from a height or be exposed to smoke. Other rabbits conditions which indicate a need for medical treatment are drooling, unexplained weight loss, diarrhoea or fur loss. There are many other symptoms for which a rabbit requires medical aid or veterinary attention.
See also[edit]
- ^ Online Etymology Dictionary
- ^ Anthon, Charles. A System of Ancient and Mediæval Geography for the Use of Schools and Colleges pg.14
- ^ http://www.albc-usa.org/cpl/belgianhare.html
- ^ Hare Surveyhttp://www.belgianhareclub.com/hare_survey.html
- ^ http://ojs.upv.es/index.php/wrs/article/view/382/369 | Towards reduced feeding costs, dietary safety and minimal mineral excretion in rabbits: a review, L Maertens - World Rabbit Science, 2010
- ^ Templeton, George (1968). Domestic Rabbit Production. Danville, Illinois: The Interstate Printers & Publishers, Inc. p. 58.
- ^ Brooks, Dale (1997). Ferrets, rabbits and rodents: Nutrition and Gastrointestional Physiology. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company. p. 172. ISBN 978-0-7216-4023-5.
- ^ http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk/resources/index.php?section=leaflets.html#diet
- ^ http://www.thebrc.org/diet.htm
- ^ Brooks, Dale (1997). Ferrets, rabbits and rodents: Nutrition and Gastrointestional Physiology. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company. pp. 173–174. ISBN 978-0-7216-4023-5.
- ^ http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/diet.html
- ^ J.A. Lowe (2006). "Pet Rabbit Feeding and Nutrition". The Nutrition of the Rabbit: 309–323.
- ^ Krempels, Ph.D., Dana M. "GastroIntestinal Stasis: The Silent Killer." University of Miami Department of Biology. Web. 19 April 2011. <http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/ileus.html>.
- ^ The American Rabbit Breeders Ass'n., Inc. Official Guidebook: to Raising Better Rabbits and Cavies. Bloomington, IL: American Rabbit Breeders Association, 1991. Print.
- ^ Rees Davies, R. and J. A. E. Rees Davies (2003) "Rabbit Gastro-Intestinal Physiology," Vet Clin Exot Anim, 139-153 http://www.medirabbit.com/EN/GI_diseases/Rees-Davies.pdf
- ^ "Purina Mills Rabbit - NUTRITION & MANAGEMENT." Purina Mills Rabbit - Home. Web. 19 April 2011. <http://www.rabbitchow.com/NUTRITIONMANAGEMENT/default.aspx>.
- ^ Intermittent Soft Cecotropes in Rabbits, Susan Brown, DVM, ,VeterinaryPartner.com http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=3012&S=1&SourceID=43
- ^ 10.6.4 Consistency of caecotrophs in Harcourt-Brown F. Textbook of rabbit medicine. Oxford: Butterworth-Heinemann; 2002. pp. 274-277
- ^ [Harkness, John E., and Joseph E. Wagner. The Biology and Medicine of Rabbits and Rodents. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger, 1983. Print.],
- ^ [Hume, C. W. The UFAW Handbook on the Care and Management of Laboratory Animals;. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, 1972. Print.],
- ^ "What's the lifespan of a rabbit?". House Rabbit Society. Retrieved 2007-10-11.
- ^ ABC7 Chicago (TV station) article "Easter Rabbits"
- ^ "Choosing a Rabbit as a Pet". Peteducation.com. Retrieved 2010-12-11.
- ^ "Children and Rabbits". The House Rabbit Society. Retrieved 2010-12-11.
- ^ "Dealing with Medical Emergencies". The House Rabbit Society. Retrieved 2010-12-11.
- ^ McBride, Anne et al. (2006). "Trancing rabbits: Relaxed hypnosis or a state of fear?". Proceedings of the VDWE International Congress on Companion Animal Behaviour and Welfare (VDWE International Congress on Companion Animal Behaviour and Welfare): pp. 135–137. Retrieved September 2, 2013. (downloadable .doc file). • Click here for PDF copy from hopperhome.com.
- ^ Kulpa-Eddy. "A review of trends in animal use in the United States (1972–2006)". AATEX (Proc. 6th World Congress on Alternatives & Animal Use in the Life Sciences) (14, Special Issue): 163–165.
- ^ Morton, Daniel (April 1988). "The use of rabbits in male reproductive toxicology". Environmental Health Perspectives (National Institute of Health) 77: 5–9. doi:10.2307/3430622. JSTOR 3430622. PMC 1474531. PMID 3383822.
- ^ M.K. Prinsen (2006). "The Draize Eye Test and in vitro alternatives; a left-handed marriage?". Toxicology in Vitro 20 (1): Pages 78–81. doi:10.1016/j.tiv.2005.06.030. PMID 16055303.
- ^ Dawn, Karen (2008). Thanking the Monkey: Rethinking the Way we Treat Animals (1st ed ed.). New York City: HarperCollins. pp. 239–40. ISBN 978-0-06-135185-3. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
- ^ Official Show Rules. American Rabbit Breeders Association. 2009
- ^ House Rabbit Society: Fly strike
- ^ "FeraFeast - Rabbits - Myxomatosis and Calicivirus". Retrieved 17 February 2012.
- ^ "Rabbits". Department of Primary Industries. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
- ^ http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/qa/transmission.htm
- ^ a b c Respiratory Disease by Dr. Susan A. Brown DVM
- ^ MediRabbit: Differential Diagnosis for Ptyalism
- ^ Harkness, John E. (2010). Biology and Medicine of Rabbits and Rodents (5th ed.). Ames, Iowa: Wiley-Blackwell. pp. 306–308. ISBN 978-0-8138-1531-2.
- ^ Jenkins, Jeffery (1997). Ferrets, Rabbits and Rodents: Gastointestinal Diseases. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Company. pp. 178–179. ISBN 0-7216-4023-0.
- ^ House Rabbit Society: Sluggish Motility in the Gastrointestinal Tract
- ^ University of Miami Department of Biology: Gastrointestinal Stasis, The Silent Killer
- ^ The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons http://www.rcvs.org.uk/Templates/Internal.asp?NodeID=94964
- ^ British Veterinary Association Rabbit Care Downloads http://www.link2content.co.uk/uploads/bva/rabbit.pdf
- ^ http://www.intervet.co.uk/binaries/92_114377.pdf Intervet vaccination literature.
- ^ http://www.houserabbit.co.uk/resources/content/info-sheets/ecuniculi.htm RWAF Encephalitozoon Cuniculi
- ^ Harcourt-Brown F (2002). "Anorexia in rabbits 2". In Pract 24 (8): 450–67. doi:10.1136/inpract.24.8.450.
- ^ Paul-Murphy J (2007). "Critical care of the rabbit". Vet Clin North Am Exot Anim Pract. 10 (2): 437–61. doi:10.1016/j.cvex.2007.03.002. PMID 17577559.
- ^ Cousquer G , 28: (2006). "Veterinary care of rabbits with myiasis". In Pract. 1028 (6): 342–349.


text:
Luke shows how to make rice flour cakes, which he tops with dried shrimp.
Keep these essentials on hand, and brunch for a bunch will be a breeze.
Alton Brown shares the basics for making soft, fluffy flapjacks.
Gale goes through the steps of making fudge frosting thickened with flour.
Learn to make a simple roux, the classic base for gravies and sauces.
Aida's individual veggie pizzas can be grilled indoors or out.
Tyler Florence demystifies the process of making jam-filled doughnuts.
Tyler plays Swedish chef with these meatballs and traditional sauce.
Ina Garten shares the secret of perfect homemade gravy for the holidays.
Alton tackles the oft-maligned fruitcake and comes up with this gem.
Get Cooking Channel on your TV.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Environment Committee on Nov. 1st, 2011
Evidence of meeting #8 for Environment and Sustainable Development in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was projects.
A recording is available from Parliament.
On the agenda
MPs speaking
Also speaking
- John Bennett Executive Director, Sierra Club of Canada
- Jennifer Jackson Executive Director, Canadian Water and Wastewater Association
- Sandra Schwartz Vice-President, Policy Advocacy, Canadian Electricity Association
- Terry Toner Representative, Canadian Electricity Association, and Director, Environmental Services, Nova Scotia Power Inc.
11 a.m.
The Chair Mark Warawa
We will call the meeting to order. Welcome, everyone. Thank you to the witnesses for being here today.
We have three different groups that will be presenting, and each group has up to 10 minutes for presenting. We'll be following up with questions.
Thank you again for making yourselves available.
I'll start with Mr. Bennett.
Welcome. You have 10 minutes.
November 1st, 2011 / 11 a.m.
Dr. John Bennett Executive Director, Sierra Club of Canada
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I'd like to start by thanking the committee for providing the Sierra Club with an opportunity to put some of our views on the Environmental Assessment Act on the table. I had hoped to present with our volunteer president, Paula Boutis, who is an environmental lawyer, but she's in court today. She sends her apologies.
I'd like to address basically three issues today with respect to the act. They are the campaign to marginalize and silence voices of the environment in Canada—
11 a.m.
The Chair Mark Warawa
Ms. Rempel has a point of order.
11 a.m.
Michelle Rempel Calgary Centre-North, AB
The scope of our review pertains to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, and that particular point was rhetoric-driven.
11 a.m.
The Chair Mark Warawa
Are there any other comments on that point of order?
Ms. Leslie.
11 a.m.
Megan Leslie Halifax, NS
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
While I agree in some ways with what the parliamentary secretary is saying, I know that the Sierra Club intends to show the link between the two, and we have had questions to the agency about, for example, how cuts to the agency would affect their ability to do environmental assessments. I'd be interested in hearing what the Sierra Club has to say on it.
11 a.m.
The Chair Mark Warawa
Are there any other comments?
11 a.m.
Michelle Rempel Calgary Centre-North, AB
We're interested in hearing fact-based testimony today, and we'd encourage the witness to do so as well.
11 a.m.
The Chair Mark Warawa
Ms. Murray.
11 a.m.
Joyce Murray Vancouver Quadra, BC
I think it's important to do our guests and visitors the courtesy of hearing what they have to say. They know what the subject of these committee hearings is.
11 a.m.
The Chair Mark Warawa
Hearing no more comments, I would encourage Mr. Bennett to make sure your comments are germane. The topic is CEAA and the legislative review of CEAA. Maybe it would be more appropriate to speak on marginalization and silencing voices on environment on another day. Let your focus be on CEAA, please.
11 a.m.
Executive Director, Sierra Club of Canada
As I said, I'm going to speak on three issues today. The other two are the decision to give responsibility for environmental assessment of energy projects to the National Energy Board and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, and finally I'd like to talk about the perceived bias in the system.
Sierra Club Canada believes these issues are linked and that forces are afoot trying to lay waste to Canada's natural resources without thought or consideration for future generations. Today's profit is the only consideration, and our only protection against it is a strong, independent environmental assessment process. I fear we are headed in precisely the wrong direction. I hope this committee will be allowed to make appropriate changes to the act to remove the mistakes of the last few years.
Government and industry have no fear of good, sound environmental policy and assessment. Doing things right creates jobs just as well as doing things wrong, and it doesn't give us the same environmental, health, and social impacts as doing things in haste and badly.
Just to provide a short bit on the Sierra Club, Sierra Club Canada is part of the Sierra Club, which is the largest and oldest conservation organization in North America. We have been involved in conservation issues in Canada since 1963. A major part of that involvement has been participating in environmental assessment processes across the country, including participating in hearings on oil sands, pipelines, mega-dams, and nuclear power plants, as well as smaller, local issues, and we've done it with federal and provincial assessments.
In 2009 Sierra Club Canada challenged the legality of changing CEAA through a regulatory process. In 2010 the government apparently agreed with our interpretation and used the budget bill to redo the changes. In 2011 the government paid our costs. This is an example of haste making waste. Please don't make any more hasty decisions concerning environmental assessment.
This committee will be hearing from a number of lawyers, including my predecessor at the Sierra Club, who is an expert in the act. Therefore, my comments will be more on the philosophical and experiential nature of my own and the Sierra Club's experience with participating in environmental assessments and what kinds of things we think could make them better.
I'm sure you will hear from industry that the process of environmental assessment is a great burden and needs streamlining. In my 30-plus years of experience in this work, "streamlining" is a code word for weakening. The act should be strengthened and the scope of assessment broadened. Canada has signed binding treaties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect biodiversity. Environmental assessment is critical to living up to our international commitments as well as the passing on of heritage to our children and our grandchildren.
Sierra Club Canada sees the announced intention to cut red tape and other changes buried in the budget bills as a plan to fundamentally alter the way environmental assessment is conducted. This is part of a wider anti-democratic campaign to marginalize and eventually silence the voices of the environment in Canada. This is one voice that won't be silenced.
The built-in review of CEAA—the purpose of this session—is the democratic way to revise the act. There was no documented need to alter the act prior to the review. The only reasonable explanation for using the budget bills to change environmental protection in Canada is fear of public scrutiny.
Previous reviews included consultation with stakeholders by Environment Canada.
This is where I'll make it relevant.
For 29 years the federal government worked with the Canadian Environmental Network, a body formed solely to assist the federal government in gathering advice and insight from 600 environmental organizations across Canada. Most are small groups of volunteers working to preserve our natural environment. These are the real-life, local volunteers who participate in environmental assessments, and they have far more to contribute here than I have to offer. The CEN did a tremendous job and made a huge contribution to ensuring that we had good environmental assessment legislation in Canada.
There has not been consultation with the stakeholders this time. The decision to stop consulting environmental organizations and withdraw support for the CEN at precisely the time CEAA is being reviewed clearly is no coincidence. It sends a clear signal.
The federal government has a complex environmental mandate and a relatively limited ability to gather input from all stakeholders. It does not make any sense to cut off a vital source of advice.
The decision to give authority for energy projects to the National Energy Board and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission was wrong. The fox has no business in the hen house. These bodies, along with the offshore oil boards, are too close to industry to provide the government with sound, unbiased advice. There is an inherent conflict of interest.
I have a document here. When I first saw it, I thought it was Bruce Power's annual report, but in fact it's the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission's annual report, and it says clearly on the front, "Fact: Nuclear in Canada is Safe". I'm not going to dispute that here today, but that is quite questionable. If it had said, "Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission: Regulating to Make Nuclear Safe," it would be acceptable, but this is propaganda for the industry on behalf of the regulator. Isn't it the business of the industry to promote itself, not its regulator? On seeing this, isn't it reasonable to conclude that the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission is biased? They have now been given authority to determine whether or not we're going to build nuclear power plants in Canada.
The primary function of both of the NEB and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission of was to set standards for everything from pipeline valves to radiation that a member of the public can be exposed to. In order to accomplish this kind of regulation, the agencies must work closely with the industry and expertise becomes mobile. It's not unusual for individuals and consultants employed by these agencies to have spent much of their careers in the industry, which they look forward to returning to. This is particularly true of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission.
The role of the environmental assessment is much larger, requiring greater scope and enough separation from project proponents to be unbiased adjudicators. Panels require a wider expertise than understanding the technical issues surrounding proposed projects. The environmental impacts go beyond the project's fence. Economic and social impacts for local communities, and whether or not there is a better alternative to a project, all have equal weight in the process.
Often during hearings the conclusions of the regulator are called into question by public submissions, and it is the regulator who is making the ruling. This is clearly an inherent conflict of interest and creates an impression of bias. For example, last year the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission granted permission to Bruce Power to export 1,600 tonnes of nuclear waste to Sweden for recycling. This consisted of 16 steam generators. Only after a vocal campaign by the Sierra Club, dozens of municipalities, and aboriginal organizations did the CNSC even decide to allow public submissions.
Bruce Power's plan to refurbish the Bruce generating station had undergone an environmental assessment in 2005. At the time, Bruce Power specifically stated that the 16 steam generators were to be kept at the Ontario Power Generation waste facility. It's the view of the Sierra Club and several others that the fundamental changes from an approved project should trigger a revisiting of the environmental assessment, and that this decision should be made by a body independent of the regulator. When I raised this issue at the CNSC, the president responded by asking me if I was anti-nuclear, and then asked his staff if they were wrong not to recommend a revisiting of the environmental assessment. You can imagine what they said.
The CNSC focused only on issues surrounding the transport of waste, and rightly so, as a regulator. But it ignored the wider issues that would have been the concern of an environmental assessment—things like how this project fits into Canada's long-standing policy of storing waste at reactor sites and not allowing contaminated materials to circulate in the environment. Effectively, the CNSC allowed Bruce Power, a private company, to change Canada's nuclear policy and ducked its responsibility to properly assess all the issues. This would not have happened if the roles of regulator and assessor were separate, as they should be.
I would also like to raise the issue of bias in the choice of panel members for hearings. Who is qualified and how should a panellist be chosen? There's no public input. A panel is announced and a few months later a list of individuals is released. There is no consultation, no nominating of panellists, yet the decisions they make can have implications for Canadian law and society no less significant than judges.
I don't wish to impugn the reputations of members of any panel; I'm sure all the people who have participated have been admirable individuals. However, I just want to give you my experience of the last time I appeared at an environmental assessment. It was—
11:10 a.m.
The Chair Mark Warawa
I'm sorry, Mr. Bennett, your time is up. I look forward to hearing more from you during questioning.
The next is Ms. Jackson, and you have up to 10 minutes. Thank you.
11:10 a.m.
Jennifer Jackson Executive Director, Canadian Water and Wastewater Association
Hi. Thank you very much for this opportunity.
I am Jennifer Jackson, executive director of the Canadian Water and Wastewater Association.
The Canadian Water and Wastewater Association, or CWWA, as we are more colloquially known, would like to present our views on the statutory or seven-year review of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.
This is the first time CWWA has presented before the standing committee on this subject. However, we have been regularly consulted by staff of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency on proposed changes that may affect our sector.
The CWWA is a unique industrial trade association. We were founded on the recommendation of Health Canada and Environment Canada staff with the assistance of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. This occurred 25 years ago; this year we are celebrating our 25th anniversary. CWWA has evolved into the national voice of Canada's water industry.
We are comprised of utility members from small, medium, and large municipalities all across Canada and utility commissions, equipment suppliers, and environmental consulting and engineering companies that provide services to our members. We also represent Canada's water industry both nationally and internationally.
Our members provide drinking water, waste water, and storm water services to Canadians through the provision of critical infrastructure. We have members in all the provinces and territories of Canada. The water and waste water industry in Canada has been estimated at $10 billion nationwide, with our members being responsible for almost $7 billion annually.
Most of our members operate on limited municipal budgets in a not-for-profit context. We are the voice of the professional management charged with providing what is largely acknowledged as invisible infrastructure in Canada. Due to the diversity of size and geographic location, each of our utility members faces different challenges in balancing environmental protection and public health goals.
Concerning the CEAA review, CWWA municipal and utility members are in a unique position of both conducting, and benefiting from, effective environmental assessments. If others, usually upstream of facilities, conduct an environmental assessment and the resulting projects negatively affect water quality, the services of our members' drinking water or waste water operations may also be impacted. However, most of my comments today will be concerning the EA process. This is because our members routinely conduct environmental assessments that may be carried out under provincial, territorial, or federal EA legislation.
Canadian municipal water and waste water projects may be captured under the jurisdictional purview of CEAA. Applicable triggers include federal fish habitat permits under the Fisheries Act. Water projects also may affect species protected under the Species at Risk Act and the Migratory Birds Convention Act. Often, water projects may impact federal lands or CEAA is triggered by municipalities receiving federal government infrastructure funding. The construction of new plants or major expansions of existing water or waste water treatment plants will also generally trigger provincial EA, municipal class environmental assessment, or equivalent permitting processes.
I am here today to talk about two main sector concerns: the EA process and harmonization.
In regard to the process, the federal EA approval is just one step in a series of required permitting approvals for complex municipal projects. The federal regulating departments will not entertain applications and will not issue regulatory permits until after the federal EA approval is obtained.
Our members were clear that there are frustrations and an increased amount of time in dealing with projects that involve both the federal and provincial EA processes. They report that involvement of the federal EA process in their projects tends to add considerable time and of course considerable costs. In the case of the Halifax Harbour Solutions Project, which involved the creation of three new sewage treatment plants, it took four years to obtain the federal approval in 2003. We are told that accounted for between $1 million and $2 million in additional costs, including the required follow-up monitoring programs.
Regulatory certainty is a theme that is dear to the hearts of our members. In 2010, we supported the establishment of timelines in the comprehensive study regulations, which have now been implemented. However, when we asked our members about imposing timelines during federal screenings, which is the classification that affects the vast majority of water and waste water projects, the reaction was mixed.
Within the screening stage, environmental impacts can vary from project to project due to differing locations and the sensitivity of the environment. In most cases, the identified mitigation measures tend to mean that best management practices are implemented. However, the advantages of a screening process are that in almost every project, it does help the proponent identify site-specific mitigation and adaptation practices that can and will and should be implemented. The required work varies depending on the locale and the type of proposal.
As a result, we conclude that more work may be needed to see whether or not legislative timeframes can be inserted and effectively implemented in the screening process. CWWA is willing to work with the CEA Agency and the Minister of the Environment to see if there is a way to insert legislative timeframes into the process in a way that balances the needs of our members in managing projects and those of the CEA Act.
In regard to harmonization, as CEAA has evolved over the years there has been recognition of significant overlap between the federal and provincial EA processes. Both promote meaningful public participation and evaluation of a project's potential negative adverse impacts on the environment.
In 1998, the federal government and all provinces, except Quebec, signed the Canada-wide accord on environmental harmonization. As of today, all of the provinces and territories have entered into the subagreement on environmental assessment, with the exception of Quebec.
In theory, then, EA processes at both levels should be planning processes used by the proponents, whether that proponent is the federal government, a municipality, or a private sector individual or organization.
In its purest sense, harmonization should lead to one project assessment, negotiated schedules between the parties, one consultation process, and, if necessary, one public hearing process.
In consultation with practitioners in the field, CWWA has been told that harmonization has had mixed results and it has not had the desired impact. The reasons for this are varied, and in our view they are as follows.
The provincial EA processes tend to be a planning process. They tend to be a forward-looking analysis incorporating the needs and alternatives to the problem that's trying to be addressed. The federal EA process does not specifically incorporate this at the application stage, and as such the federal EA process is usually started and applied for later by the project proponent.
The EA process itself has to be distinguished from the regulatory decisions that follow the EA process. However, in practice, these two items get quite mixed up. Determination of the federal permitting triggers in the federal EA process are sometimes more suited to the stage of detailed design engineering. At that point the decision has already been made and a preferred alternative or option has been selected. Thus, many managers and practitioners in the field describe federal environmental assessment as a back-end process that requires more detailed work up front, making the harmonization between federal and provincial processes challenging.
The federal EA process, the CEAA agency, and the relatively recent Red Chris mining decision by the Supreme Court of Canada have provided much more guidance to proponents on the need and requirement to perform cumulative impact analysis. Until recently, this has not been emphasized as much in the provincial process.
I'll skip our recommendations and end by saying that municipalities are partners in the achievement of environmental goals in Canada. We look forward to a positive and collaborative relationship with you on this review of the act and any future work tasked to the Minister of the Environment and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency.
Thank you.
11:20 a.m.
The Chair Mark Warawa
Thank you, Ms. Jackson.
The next witness is the Canadian Electricity Association, and we have Ms. Schwartz and Mr. Toner.
Who will be presenting?
Ms. Schwartz, you have up to 10 minutes.


text:
Executive Staff
Mary Beth Hanner
Provost and Chief Academic Officer
Master of Public Health, University of North Carolina
Fellow in the Academy of Nursing Education, National League for Nursing
Mary Beth Hanner is responsible for ensuring that Excelsior College is effectively measuring student learning outcomes in courses and academic programs. One of her major goals is to keep Excelsior at the forefront as a leader in the areas of learning assessment and competency-based education. The other responsibility of her office is to enhance institutional effectiveness by collecting, analyzing, and disseminating research and program evaluation information. Dr. Hanner formerly served as Excelsior's dean of the School of Nursing and vice president for Health Sciences. Prior to joining the College, she was a professor at the Sage Colleges, where she taught community health nursing as well as graduate courses in health care administration and epidemiology.
Dr. Hanner has received several awards for excellence in teaching and mentoring as well as the Douglas M. Johnson Recognition Award for leadership in minority student retention and diversity. Her publications and national presentations focus on online education, competency-based education models, evaluating clinical competence, gerontological research, outcomes assessment, quality improvement, and accreditation. She currently serves on the board of directors at the LaSalle Institute and the Hudson Mohawk Area Health Education Center.


text:
Thanks From The Busti Historical Society
To The Reader's Forum:
I want to express the great appreciation the officers and members of the Busti Historical Society have for the many friends, organizations, and businesses that contributed to what may have been the most successful Apple Harvest Festival ever and to the people who attended and supported our event.
Although last year we had the main part of the mill machinery operating, this was the first year we had the entire complex running and producing product throughout the festival. All three floors of the mill were open and operating.
Ever since the Society formed in 1972 and adopted the goal first put forth three years earlier by the Busti Shamrocks 4-H Club, we have worked and looked forward to the time when we could pass this heritage on to the public and following generations.
Community volunteers and personal friends and of course members pitched in for the month previous to the festival to transfer our larger artifacts and displays to our new building, set them up as exhibits, and apportion space for an expanded array of educational demonstrators. This was an enormous task. But thousands of people streamed through the new building and were greeted not with a shell, but a vibrant center of activity both in the building and in the newly available land surrounding it.
Our thanks go out to the Busti Volunteer Fire Department members for the use of their grounds and their work in handling traffic, parking, and admissions; the Lakewood Kiwanis and Mount Moriah Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons who most generously and unselfishly help us year after year in ways we need most. The Kiwanis was assisted by young Key Club members. We thank the Town of Busti board and police departments both for their cooperation with traffic, road use, and regulations, and furnishing personnel to sell cider on the grounds. RSVP volunteers helped us with a new program this year and the Chautauqua Community Foundation helped with raffle ticket sales.
Thanks also to The Post-Journal and other local media from Dunkirk to Warren, print and radio for covering the festival and preparations. Jim Roselle and Dennis Webster of WJTN were particularly supportive.
Our meetings are always open to the public and membership is available to all.
We are planning a fall trip to Lanterman's Mill in Ohio, continued restoration of the miller's house, and of course another Apple Festival the last Sunday of next September.
Norman Carlson
Publicity chairman
Busti Historical Society


text:
When i was 10 in 1980, everything in my personal life and outside was falling apart, my parents weren't getting along and they'd divorce the following year, some "ugly truths" about my family was rearing it's head. At the same time, that's when i first saw the TV trailer of "The Shining" Hearing the music (with those "screams" and the scenes and that dang logo with that face on the "T". That gave me nightmares for weeks. And it got worse when i saw the movie.
Around that time, i was also discovering The Beatles which changed my life, their music gave me a "fantesy shell" whenever my parents fought. In December of that year, my gramma gave me the news that one of the Beatles was shot dead. That's it! The shell was gone. Horrable reality set in.
Years later, i read up on Mark David Chapman, and recently saw "Chapter 27", a bio about him. I've come to terms that it seems what happened Jack Torrance in "The Shining" happened To Chapman in Reality. It's kinda ironic looking back, how it all happened that same year in 1980. It was a VERY dark year for me, I've seemed to have drawn a link between Jack Torrance & Mark David Chapman, Wendy Torrance & Gloria Chapman, The Overlook & The Dakota, Dick Holleran (the movie) & John Lennon. Stephen King's book "The Shining" & J.D. Salinger's book "The Catcher In The Rye" (the book was fantesy but what happened to John and Dick was reality) (bear with me, i know it's a movie but i'm comparing the Kubrick movie with John's assasination.) And i was Danny
When i first heard The Beatles, at that time i felt they were speaking to me with thier music, but hey, i was only 10...and Reality reared it's ugly head. Even finding out my parents never loved each other, my dad became an alcoholic. all other stuff was happening in my personal life.
The year 1980 forced me to grow up, when i wasn't ready.
Please don't judge too harshly.


text:
Advanced Micro Devices said in notes with Securities Exchange Commission that its chief operating officer, Robert Rivet, left the company on Tuesday after eleven years at the world's second largest support of x86 microprocessors. The company also noted that Marty Seyer, corporate strategy officer, would also leave AMD.
AMD announced to the SEC that "Mr. Robert J. Rivet will be leaving the company. Effective February 8, 2011, Mr. Rivet will no longer serve as an executive officer of the company," a note by the chip designer reads. No reasons for the resignation were revealed. Besides, Marty Seyer senior vice president (SVP) and corporate strategy officer will also resign from AMD immediately with no obvious reasons given. Following the resignation of AMD's chief executive Dirk Meyer in January, the company is clearly changing its executives, something which may point to a significant shift in strategy.
Robert Rivet joined AMD in 2000 as the chief financial officer. As the COO he oversaw AMD's key centralized functions, including the company's supply chain operations, human resources, and information technology organizations. Prior to joining AMD, Mr. Rivet served as senior vice president and director of finance of the semiconductor products sector of Motorola, now an independent corporation called Freescale. While Robert Rivet did not make major strategic decisions at the company, which means that his resignation cannot be clearly tied to the step down of CEO in January, he was clearly very influential and very important at AMD. Perhaps, the board of directors did not see how the potential of Mr. Rivet could further serve the company after it undergoes a major reformation.
Marty Seyer joined AMD in 2002 as the vice president of server business. In fact, the whole career of Mr. Seyer can be linked to server technology. Before joining AMD, Mr. Seyer was president and CEO of Penguin Computing, a leading vendor of AMD processor-based Linux servers. Previously, he spent six years at NCR Corp., where he served as vice president and general manager of high availability servers after holding positions of increasing responsibility. Prior to joining NCR, Mr. Seyer held senior product marketing and management positions with Dell, where he led Dell's entry into the server market with the launch of the PowerEdge brand of servers. At AMD Marty Seyer firstly lead the development of AMD Opteron server business and then oversaw the corporate strategy of the chipmaker. Given the fact that the board of directors no longer wants an experienced server specialist to influence the strategy of the company, it may mean that the BOD does not see server chips and technologies as a top priority for AMD.
"Having made significant contributions to the company over the years, both are leaving to pursue new opportunities and are expected to remain through a brief interim period to help ensure seamless transitions," said Michael Silverman, senior PR manager at AMD global communications division.
John Docherty, senior vice president of manufacturing operations, has responsibility for all aspects of the product manufacturing process for AMD and will now report directly to Thomas Seifert, the interim chief executive of the company. Mr. Docherty, according to AMD, is playing a key role overseeing the transition to 32nm. He leads AMD's global operations organization, which includes AMD's assembly, test, mark and pack (ATMP) operations, supply chain, global supply management, global logistics, and sales and operations planning.
The corporate strategy team will report to Harry Wolin, SVP, general counsel and secretary.


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Chance EncounterPosted by Judah Adashi in CD Review, tags: Judah Adashi, Lisa Bielawa, song cycle, soprano, Susan Narucki, The Knights
Lisa Bielawa: Chance Encounter
Orange Mountain Music CD 7004
Susan Narucki, soprano
The Knights
Lisa Bielawa's 2007 Chance Encounter is a kindred spirit to the recent spate of "random acts of culture" documented on YouTube. The work is meant to be performed in public spaces, with the musicians emerging gradually from their surroundings, and audience members choosing a vantage point from which to experience the music. The piece has had notable outings in Manhattan and, during Bielawa's residency at the American Academy in Rome, on the banks of the Tiber River.
An inventive song cycle for soprano and twelve instruments, Chance Encounter consists of texts overheard in public spaces like those in which the work is presented. Bielawa finds quiet profundity in everyday speech, questions and observations grouped into songs named for their prevailing sensibility: "Topos Nostalgia," "Drama/Self-Pity," "Nothing," "Aimlessness Song." The songs are interleaved with instrumental transitions, each of which anticipates the material of the subsequent song.
Bielawa's vocal writing – more traditional here than in some of her other works, but no less engaging – is performed by the esteemed soprano Susan Narucki, who collaborated with Bielawa in compiling the texts. Though the words are at times difficult to understand, Narucki sings with characteristic warmth and expressivity throughout. The work's elegant instrumental textures are expertly rendered by The Knights, a versatile chamber orchestra comprised of some of New York's finest young musicians. The soloists featured in the interludes – Eric Jacobsen (cello), Colin Jacobsen (violin), Ben Baron (clarinet) and Lance Suzuki (flute) – deserve special mention for the clarity and conviction of their playing.


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Tai Chi for Seniors
Tai Chi (pronounced tie-chee) is an ancient form of Chinese martial art that combines slow, gentle, continuous movement with meditation and mental concentration that can improve balance, flexibility, coordination and strength and decrease stress in practitioners. Its flowing, non-impact movements make it an ideal form of exercise for seniors, especially those who may be overweight, inactive, or suffer from a disability that limits their mobility. Scientists are now studying the possibility that Tai Chi may help prevent falls, boost immune system functioning, and protect against disease.
The Mandarin term "Tai Chi Chuan" literally translates as "Supreme Ultimate Boxing" or "Boundless Fist." The name T'ai Chi Ch'uan is believed to be derived from the T'ai Chi symbol commonly known in the West as "yin-yang." Tai Chi Chuan is considered a soft style martial art, or one applied with internal power, as opposed to that of hard martial art styles, such as karate. Some call it a form of moving meditation, as focusing the mind solely on the movements helps to bring about a state of mental calm and clarity.
Scientists at the Oregon Research Institute in Eugene have found that Tai Chi offers the greatest benefits to older men and women who are healthy but relatively inactive. Study participants reported greater flexibility, balance and strength three months and again six months after beginning a twice-weekly Tai Chi class. These results refuted earlier research that suggest much longer periods are needed to show improvement in physical functioning.
Shingles is a potentially a painful and debilitating condition caused by the same virus as childhood chickenpox and strikes approximately one third of adults over the age of 60. A recent study at the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA and published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society showed that practicing Tai Chi boosted the immunity of study participants to a level comparable to having received the vaccine against the shingles-causing virus varicella zoster. The 25-week study involved a group of 112 adults ranging in age from 59 to 86, half of whom took Tai Chi classes three times a week for 16 weeks, while the other attended health education classes and learned stress management, healthy diet and sleep habits but did not practice Tai Chi. Both groups were given a dose of the shingles vaccine and at the end of the 25-week period, the Tai Chi group exhibited an immunity level two times greater than the health education group. This study confirms the findings of an earlier, more limited study.
Tai Chi's gentle movements increase leg strength and muscle tone and improve balance, making it easier for practitioners to get up from a seated position, navigate stairs, and avoid falls. A recent study, conducted by Jun Hyun Choi, PhD, RN, and colleagues at South Korea's Daewon Science College, included 68 people with an average age of 78 years old. Half of the group took a 12-week Tai Chi course, the other half did not. At the end of the study the group was tested and the researchers found that the Tai Chi group had stronger knees and ankles and improved flexibility and were able to walk longer and more comfortably. The Tai Chi group also fell fewer times during the study. Half of the group who did not do Tai Chi suffered falls during the study compared with just 31 percent of the Tai Chi group.
There are several different forms of Tai Chi, but many experts recommend the Sun method for seniors due to its gentler movements. Look for Tai Chi groups associated with your local senior center, recreation center, gym, or community college. Or, check out this Website to find a Tai Chi group near you. As with any new fitness regime, check with your doctor before beginning Tai Chi.


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With the 2012 NBA free agency period kicking off at midnight July 1, the feeding frenzy over the biggest names in the sport is upon us.
The madness has officially begun.
Keep it here for all of the 2012 NBA free agent signings and where the top players in the league are heading next season!
- NOTE - Un-signed players remain at the front of the list, while signed players are in the slideshow's second half.
Check back for more on the National Basketball Association as it comes, and don't miss Bleacher Report's NBA page to get your fill of all things basketball.


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Single family home has 2 beds, 1 baths, 938 sq. ft., 3,920 lot size, was built in 1928 and is pet friendly. Offers owner provided financing with an estimated value of $647.
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This property is offered for sale with Owner Financing available. With Owner Financing, the home seller may offer flexible terms which allow the buyer to purchase the property without a traditional bank loan. A Rent to Own financing option may also be available for qualified buyers. With Rent to Own, you could rent a home like this for a period of time with an option to buy for the price you set up-front. It gives you time to build up your credit and accumulate your down payment, all while living in the home of your dreams.
Single-family home located at 19th in Columbus, GA 31901 has 2 beds, 1 baths, 938 square feet and available to rent for $647. 19th was listed on RentalSource 89 days ago by RentBeforeOwning. 19th is in zip code 31901 which is located in Columbus, GA. The rental price of $647 is 19% lower than the average rental price of $800 for homes for rent in 31901 and 23% lower than the average rental price of $843 for homes for rent in Columbus, GA.Report listing | Visit website
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'That the military keeps large chunks of intact land is a godsend for these ecosystems.'the pine's ecosystems — one of the most biodiverse environments north of the tropics — to their former glory. Data gleaned from these studies will help the broader longleaf research community conduct longleaf restoration on government and private land across the Southeast; conservationists have set a 15-year goal of restoring the longleaf pine from its current 3.4 million acres to 8 million acres, or levels approaching 9 percent of its historical range.
Agriculture can spoil longleaf habitat for up to a century after cultivation.and selective logging can preserve these ecosystems.
In longleaf pine ecosystems, fires are as welcome as a healthy rain.five years or more, then enter a phase where they can quickly spurt by as much as four to five feet per year. But as long as the seedling's dominant growth bud is below or near the surface, Veldman explains, fires can burn right over it, leaving it unscathed. Mature longleaf pine, which have potential lifespans of 500 years or more, are relatively immune from the ravages of wildfire, since their thick bark offers them protection.
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