Stupid Things Pet people say

Complied list of some of the most insane things we have gotten as comments from Pet people who think they know about rabbits.

Ulcerative Pododermatitis AKA Sore Hocks

• Bumblefoot
• Sorax
• Sore Hawks

What species is this again?

• "rabbits aren't mammals"

Why is my rabbit sick?

• "I gave my rabbit a head of cabbage, he won't eat today... is he still full?"

sensationalist rescues

Dollys dream home rabbit rescue

“People still commonly breed and butcher rabbits for meat. They’re often called “fryer rabbits”. Californian Whites, New Zealand’s, and Rexes are the most common “meat” breeds.

Meat rabbits are bred to be larger and more docile so that you can not only get more meat out of them, but they’re easier and “less resistant” during butcher. They’re typically culled and used for meat once fattened up enough (typically at about 3 months old or occasionally 8 months if they’re a larger “roaster”).

According to one butcher we’ve spoken with, rabbits often let out blood curling screams (it is fact that they sound like children screaming) as they watch their littermates get culled because they’re incredibly aware of what is happening. Bunnies are intelligent and personable. If you wouldn’t eat your family dog, you shouldn’t eat rabbit.

Unfortunately, the majority of meat rabbits are raised in wire bottom cages and never even touch the grass or solid ground. They’re overbred until they quit producing babies at which point they’re culled inhumanly. 1.2 BILLION per year are slaughtered.

There are no laws on living conditions for rabbits, so rabbits are forced to suffer in inadequate environments before dying. It is very common to hear variations of “the rabbits live a good and full life with just one bad day,” but this is incorrect. These lack of laws are the reason why many “rabbitries” can stack row upon row of wire cage where each rabbit usually has a smaller space than a piece of paper.

They suffer throughout their entire lives on wire bottomed cages, without proper diets, without proper nutrients, dehydrated, overbred, scruffed and handled incorrectly, forced into the elements such as freezing cold or heat they’re not equipped for, and spending their lives in undignified and unjust manners. Their physical and mental health are both horrible both before and at the time of their butcher.

Several homesteads have sent us photos of their bunnies set to go to slaughter and requested $ in exchange for us bringing them back to our rescue. When we don’t, as we do not pay for rabbits ($ goes back in to harm even more), we’ve been sent photographs of their lifeless bodies after culling. This breaks our heart every single time. Truly devastating.

The amount of insensitivity people have about culling rabbits will never cease to be astounding. Occasionally when we make posts people will comment, “looks like dinner” or “yum rabbit stew”. Once we even had someone try to purchase one of our Californian White rescues for their meat herd. We take these comments very seriously and block the offending commenters, since rabbits are NOT for meat.

Here are some ways you can help:

- Stop purchasing rabbits from rabbitries, rescue them instead!

- Try and educate rabbit breeders about better alternatives.

- Consider adopting a REW at your local rescue so they have space to save another. REW variations are the most common meat variation and most difficult to adopt.

- Stop following breeders and encouraging breeders on social media, particularly Instagram.

- Consider writing your local legislators with facts and evidence about bunny butchering. It’s time for the laws to change!

If you have more ideas on how to slow and prevent the breeding/butchering of meat rabbits, add your idea below!”