Korr_and_Sophie
Well-Known Member
EileenH wrote:
The Hopping Club was at a mall demo a few weeks ago. It was Family day so there were some other things there including a petting zoo. We had people actually asking if the rabbits were for sale. I have my rabbits in a pen (rather than the tents) and there was at least one guy who was going to just pick them up. I had to rush over to stop him. I don't mind people petting the rabbits, but I don't want them picked up by total strangers. I feel like I need signs, but I am not sure they would help. I am quite willing to let people pet my rabbit, but I need to be there and they are not allowed to hold the rabbit (there may be very special circumstances, but that is very rare).
We were at a rabbit show the day before the mall. We had opened up the course to allow some people who wanted to try agility (under supervision). It went well as the first rabbits were owned by adults and some club members were doing the handling. Eventually some young kids (maybe 10 years old) brought in some 8 week old flemish giants to try it. There were 4 or 5 kids on the course. One girl was using her feet until told otherwise and the others were quite rough. They were told several times to stop but would not listen. I am not sure if the parents were even around, but these kids had no respect for other adults telling them anything.
The trouble is not so much kids, but adults. Children learn from example much more that what they are told. If the parent tells them to ask before petting, but they just pet without asking, the kid is not going to ask. Considering all the parents who think that a rabbit is a suitable pet for their 3 year old (without help), we really need to focus on education of parents and other adults while providing age appropriate knowledge to kids as well.
As for using rabbits in photo shoots with kids, the only way I would allow my rabbit to participate is if I am right there with my rabbit. I would pick a rabbit that is calm and will just sit there and make sure the child is not mishandling the rabbit. I would not let someone else handle my rabbits. Under no circumstance would I allow someone to take my rabbits where I cannot be there.
People have little respect for animals. Many kids go to petting zoos where they pretty much get free reign to terrorize the animals. I usually see a bunch of baby rabbits in a box where they can't get away from the kids who want to pick them up. The few adults around can usually run and hide. It's these places that allow unsupervised time with animals that don't help anything at all.I was at a Pet Expo yesterday and they had rabbits there in a pen with signs that said "Do Not Pick Up The Rabbits". What did I see? Tons of kids picking up the rabbits, holding them upside down, while their parents took pictures of them.
And yes, I did correct them, but got blank looks in return.
In the end, the photo wins out over respect.
As others have said, most people don't have any clue on how to act around rabbits.
And, as said before, they are not props.
The Hopping Club was at a mall demo a few weeks ago. It was Family day so there were some other things there including a petting zoo. We had people actually asking if the rabbits were for sale. I have my rabbits in a pen (rather than the tents) and there was at least one guy who was going to just pick them up. I had to rush over to stop him. I don't mind people petting the rabbits, but I don't want them picked up by total strangers. I feel like I need signs, but I am not sure they would help. I am quite willing to let people pet my rabbit, but I need to be there and they are not allowed to hold the rabbit (there may be very special circumstances, but that is very rare).
We were at a rabbit show the day before the mall. We had opened up the course to allow some people who wanted to try agility (under supervision). It went well as the first rabbits were owned by adults and some club members were doing the handling. Eventually some young kids (maybe 10 years old) brought in some 8 week old flemish giants to try it. There were 4 or 5 kids on the course. One girl was using her feet until told otherwise and the others were quite rough. They were told several times to stop but would not listen. I am not sure if the parents were even around, but these kids had no respect for other adults telling them anything.
The trouble is not so much kids, but adults. Children learn from example much more that what they are told. If the parent tells them to ask before petting, but they just pet without asking, the kid is not going to ask. Considering all the parents who think that a rabbit is a suitable pet for their 3 year old (without help), we really need to focus on education of parents and other adults while providing age appropriate knowledge to kids as well.
As for using rabbits in photo shoots with kids, the only way I would allow my rabbit to participate is if I am right there with my rabbit. I would pick a rabbit that is calm and will just sit there and make sure the child is not mishandling the rabbit. I would not let someone else handle my rabbits. Under no circumstance would I allow someone to take my rabbits where I cannot be there.