I'm sure we all thought that this disease was history, but it has now hit Cheshire and no doubt will spread. While rabbits do a lot of damage, especially if they get into the garden, I for one don't want the creatures to suffer as they evidently do:
e-petition
Myxomatosis
Responsible department: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Myxomatosis is cruel disease which millions of wild rabbits in the UK die from each year. It is not acceptable that such a disease is left unchecked due to it being released illegally in the UK in the 1950’s.
Myxomatosis is pure torture for any wild rabbit infected. They suffer severe conjunctivitis that results in blindness, swelling in the head, ears, eyes and genitals, thick pus discharge from the nose (which makes it difficult to breathe), and lumps on the body for up to two weeks before they die; longer in many cases.
If it infected cats and/or dogs there would be a public outrage! Yet, because it infects ‘only rabbits’, who suffer terribly (in silence and mostly out of sight) the disease is hardly mentioned in the public domain. Rabbits are sentient beings, who feel pain and suffer every bit as any other animal. I want the Government to actively discuss all the options open to it to combat/control this disease in the wild rabbit population.
Sign this petition
and 
. They will either get sufficient support or they won't, can't fault them for trying though. It's no different from the badgers really.
