Newsletter: The "Perfect Storm": How COVID-19 and RHDV2 Impacted Rabbit Sheltering

While much attention has been given to dogs and cats during the pandemic, a new study in the Journal of Shelter Medicine and Community Animal Health (JSMCAH) highlights the unique challenges faced by domestic rabbits. The article, "Sheltering Domestic Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in Canada and the USA during the COVID-19 Pandemic and RHDV2 Emergence," details how organizations navigated a "perfect storm" of operational hurdles between 2017 and 2022. Authors Carol E. Tinga, Jason B. Coe, and Lee Niel found that the concurrent emergence of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus 2 (RHDV2) and the COVID-19 pandemic significantly restricted the ability of shelters and rescues to accept new animals.
The research indicates that organizations not impacted by these dual crises were able to take in significantly more animals—taking in twice as many rabbits in the case of COVID-19 and 1.6 times more regarding RHDV2.

Don’t miss this excellent article! Read the full text in Vol. 5 No. 1 (2026) of the JSMCAH

Did you know publishing in JSMCAH is free thanks to support from the ASV? JSMCAH is a society-published, open-access, peer-reviewed journal dedicated to research that advances shelter and community animal health, welfare, and access to veterinary care, promoting evidence-based practices to improve outcomes for animals and the people who care for. Consider publishing with us!