The recent posts about raising meat rabbits, and especially raising them for people that feed their dogs on the BARF diet, got me thinking about raising my own rabbits. Then I happened across this article from the Seattle Times, Saturday, March 23, 2002 - 12:00 a.m. Pacific: “House Rabbit Society warns that rabbits do not make good pets for children. In the fall, the society took in 81 rabbits from a local rabbit dumping ground. "Many of these rabbits started out as Easter bunnies, cute, live 'toys' purchased for a child to enhance their Easter experience," said Seattle society member Kathy West.”

According to this one article, it appears that contacting such sources could yield a number of free meat rabbits. Especially for those living near large cities.

-- BC (desertdweller44@yahoo.com), March 26, 2002

Answers

Not real sure about that .House Rabbit society is against them for meat I think, the want rabbits spayed and neutered to.Lets say I would not want to be the one to call them and ask if I could eat thee rabbits {hehe} .As for them not making good pets , does anyone want a picture of my 2 year old rocking and singing to her pet rabbit ? Like everything else depends on the Rabbit , age, and breed.

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@hotmail.com), March 26, 2002.

also depends on the people that take responsibility for an animal

-- Stan (sopal@net-pert.com), March 26, 2002.

One thing I've noticed is that some parents impulse buy for thier children without giving much thought as to how or how long taking care of the bunny will last. Today's fast pace society doesn't really allow for pets to be taken care of properly, especially by children! But thats just my thoughts. Michelle.

-- Michelle Thomas (mpthomas83@hotmail.com), March 26, 2002.

Rescue groups will not give rabbits to you if they know you are going to use for meat. Another source is your local livestock auction. Wait a month or so after easter. I can get them for cheap then. Personally, eating an animal is more humane then having it abused or neglected as far as I am conserned.

-- tracy (murfette@stargate.net), March 26, 2002.

I can tell you from experience that house rabbit folks would pitch a fit if you even suggested it. Rather, I have had lots of luck running ads which read "Will adopt unwanted Easter chicks and rabbits." Don't offer to pay for them and don't make any promises about them living happily ever after. You should get lots of responses

-- melina b. (goatgalmjb1@hotmail.com), March 26, 2002.

The House Rabbit Society does want them spayed and neutered and placed as pets. That's great if they can do that,but once that animal leaves them they can't guarantee how it will be treated,it just won't be able to reproduce. If it were my pet,I would be happier knowing it was killed quick and painless and provided someone a meal rather than wondering if it was being neglected to die a slow painful death in someone's back yard. I've almost come to the point that if for some unforseen reason I had to give up my pets I would rather do just that,have them put down and never have to worry. I know that may sound horrible,but I've worked at a vet's office/animal shelter and I've seen how people treat/mistreat their animals.

-- LaDena,Tx9 (littledena77458@yahoo.com), March 26, 2002.

I think one reason people have trouble with rabbits is because they don't understand their nature. Housebreaking them is different from housebreaking most pets, they chew, etc. When I was a kid I thought I could play with a rabbit like a dog, and often got scratched for my efforts as the rabbit quickly got alarmed. My kids are enjoying the family rabbit much more than I ever enjoyed mine, because I was able to show them how a rabbit behaves and how they CAN be played with.

-- Terri (hooperterri@prodigy.net), March 26, 2002.

When I was a young guy, I raised rabbits to eat, and I can't think about rabbits any other way, they reproduce themselves, so fast, and you get so many of them, and we were eating them so fast, that was unbelievable. I had 5 rabbits named and they were the parents of a lot of other rabbits. specially I had one called speedy, he made pregnant every female rabbit that I had. Rabbits are meat, and that's it. I personally think the same, it's better to eat an animal that to neglet it or abuse it. That's why I think we should send all our unwanted dogs to Asia, they eat them and cats too, intead to kill them and or use them as animal food, or fertilizer, after all Asians are human beings like us, and this is protein source for them. Ralph.

-- Ralph Roces (rroces1@yahoo.com), March 26, 2002.

Maybe I'm stupid, but what is the BARF diet?

-- Gayle in KY (gayleannesmith@yahoo.com), March 26, 2002.

BARF diet is whee you feed dogs and cats raw meat and veggies instead of dog or cat food.

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@hotmail.com), March 26, 2002.

Thanks Patty.

-- Gayle in KY (gayleannesmith@yahoo.com), March 26, 2002.

BARF=Bones And Raw Food

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), March 26, 2002.

BC do a seach on house rabbit society .

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@hotmail.com), March 26, 2002.

My English Spot was litter box trained, walked (hopped) on a leash, and could not ABIDE a closed door-knocked on it till we opened it. Meal or bathroom breks he would accompany us and stretch out acrosss our feet. And he loved a saucer of milk...

-- Mitzi Giles (Egiles2@prodigy.net), March 26, 2002.

Hi, I ran an ad in a local trade magazine and had calls from all over the state and even out of state wanting me to take their rabbits. I never paid for any of them they were all free. I did not make promises as to how long I would keep them or anything like that. I actually had to turn some rabbits away I had so many calls. Wait about three weeks after Easter and start with just 'Wanted any unwanted farm type animals, rabbits, goats, chickens ect' your phone will not stop ringing I promise! We got free chickens, rabbits, pigs and even a HORSE! Give it a try and let us know how it goes!

-- Rhonda (wannarodeo2day@yahoo.com), March 27, 2002.