Why do rabbit rescues have so much rules!?

Why are rabbit rescues so full of mean and strict rules about what you can’t do with your pet bunny?!

For example they say no dogs around rabbits, no picking up and holding a rabbit, no loud noises, no pet strollers, no harnesses, etc.

So I guess putting a bunny in a pet stroller is a federal crime!

Mostly, they are probably trying to protect the bunnies from "newbies" that have limited knowledge and experience. We had a Checkered Giant that loved to be carried around and would stay on your lap for longer than 4 hours if you let her--more like a dog than a bunny and at 20 pounds, she was really something. Luckily, "the bunny police" never caught us!

Nancy McClelland said:

Mostly, they are probably trying to protect the bunnies from "newbies" that have limited knowledge and experience. We had a Checkered Giant that loved to be carried around and would stay on your lap for longer than 4 hours if you let her--more like a dog than a bunny and at 20 pounds, she was really something. Luckily, "the bunny police" never caught us!

Click to expand...

Thanks. I agree.

Some bunny advocates are always upset that owners lift up their bunny and take them outdoors.

And there are even people in the world that consume rabbit meat. I wonder what those rabbit advocates say about that.

I remember this parrot rescue group would always be strict that they actually inspected the bird owners home and strict remarks.

Also owners like me are giving their pet bunny expensive brand of pellets, high quality hay, a large play pen and etc. and these rabbit advocates say mean things like “don’t you pet your rabbit too long, or you can’t pickup your bunny!”

It has nothing to do with rabbits, but human psychology. I raise rabbits for meat too and got kicked out of some places, not here though. But I respect this sites attitude and usualy don't point that out.

Those who feel the urge to know better are no smarter than anyone else, just more outspoken. You don't need to listen to everything. Common sense is an endangered spiecies nowadays.

Preitler said:

It has nothing to do with rabbits, but human psychology. I raise rabbits for meat too and got kicked out of some places, not here though. But I respect this sites attitude and usualy don't point that out.

Those who feel the urge to know better are no smarter than anyone else, just more outspoken. You don't need to listen to everything. Commomn sense is an endangered spiecies nowadays.

Click to expand...

I agree 100%. Thanks!

Preitler said:

It has nothing to do with rabbits, but human psychology. I raise rabbits for meat too and got kicked out of some places, not here though. But I respect this sites attitude and usualy don't point that out.

Those who feel the urge to know better are no smarter than anyone else, just more outspoken. You don't need to listen to everything. Common sense is an endangered spiecies nowadays.

Click to expand...

Agreed!

And I'm so glad that you're a member of this group. You're such an astute observer of rabbit behavior. I always learn a great deal from your contributions to the forum.

Animal shelters exaggerate about pretty much everything. You always have the option of buying from a breeder. I’m not a breeder, but I bought my latest rabbits from breeders and they are healthier and have better temperaments than my previous mixed breed rabbits.

Agreed that rescues sometimes (often?) go overboard. Here in the states, however, there is a huge disparity between various "breeders." There are surely many good breeders but there are also shady, inexperienced, or down right bad breeders too.

So at least here, I would consider rescue rabbits to be as healthy as any breeder rabbit. The reason I say this is that rescue rabbits (unlike most breeder rabbits) are all vet-checked. And since they typically are not adopted out until after they've been fixed, they are also more accurately able to be personality assessed as well. And if the rescue happens to have a rabbit with medical issues, they let the potential owner know in advance.

These are all positive advantages of getting a rabbit from a rescue. So while rules or requirements may seem excessive (though I've found that they tend to appear more excessive on paper than in actual practice), I would hope this would not deter people from considering a rescue rabbit.

Blue eyes said:

Agreed that rescues sometimes (often?) go overboard. Here in the states, however, there is a huge disparity between various "breeders." There are surely many good breeders but there are also shady, inexperienced, or down right bad breeders too.

So at least here, I would consider rescue rabbits to be as healthy as any breeder rabbit. The reason I say this is that rescue rabbits (unlike most breeder rabbits) are all vet-checked. And since they typically are not adopted out until after they've been fixed, they are also more accurately able to be personality assessed as well. And if the rescue happens to have a rabbit with medical issues, they let the potential owner know in advance.

These are all positive advantages of getting a rabbit from a rescue. So while rules or requirements may seem excessive (though I've found that they tend to appear more excessive on paper than in actual practice), I would hope this would not deter people from considering a rescue rabbit.

Click to expand...

There are of course exceptions. I didn’t mean people shouldn’t adopt from shelters, or that adopted rabbits are less healthy (it’s just my experience), but I just wanted to point out that there are also other options, such as breeders, and that there are responsible ones, as you said. There are, however, also bad animal shelters.

Responsible breeders also have their rabbits vaccinated and checked by vets and tell if the rabbit has any disorder or problem. Since they are also experienced with the breed and have older and very old rabbits, they can point out to potential health problems that might occur later or to an increased susceptibility of his rabbits for a specific disorder at a certain age.

They also offer older rabbits with established personalities, not only young ones, and can predict how the young will behave depending on their parents. There are even breeders that focus on temperament to produce better pets.

I’m not a breeder and I’m not writing this to support or oppose any side, it’s just my own experience and observation.

Jonas said:

There are of course exceptions. I didn’t mean people shouldn’t adopt from shelters, or that adopted rabbits are less healthy (it’s just my experience), but I just wanted to point out that there are also other options, such as breeders, and that there are responsible ones, as you said. There are, however, also bad animal shelters.

Responsible breeders also have their rabbits vaccinated and checked by vets and tell if the rabbit has any disorder or problem. Since they are also experienced with the breed and have older and very old rabbits, they can point out to potential health problems that might occur later or to an increased susceptibility of his rabbits for a specific disorder at a certain age.

They also offer older rabbits with established personalities, not only young ones, and can predict how the young will behave depending on their parents. There are even breeders that focus on temperament to produce better pets.

I’m not a breeder and I’m not writing this to support or oppose any side, it’s just my own experience and observation.

Click to expand...

Vaccines are only beginning to be given in certain areas of the US, so it's not a matter of course for breeders here to bring their rabbits to a vet. But I get what you are saying. I'm not denying your experiences even though my experiences have been quite different. I just didn't want this thread to give visitors here the idea that rabbit rescues should be avoided. Quite the contrary. We need more people to adopt the many rabbits we have at rabbit rescues (different than generic shelters)-- even if their rules seem a bit excessive.

I feel the same way about fostering. They won't allow a foster rabbit to have any contact whatsoever with a current home's rabbits, meaning either (1) you can't already have rabbits, or (2) you have to throw the foster in a cage or outside.

Also, I filled out multiple applications for adoption when I was ready to get rabbits (back in 2016). None of them ever replied or responded.