Challenges Facing Breeders Today
United States rabbit breeders today face opposition from people and groups who feel their personal beliefs should be forced upon everyone, despite our free country status. These groups continually fight to erode our rights to own and raise rabbits (and other animals) in the traditions our country has grown up with. These groups increasingly influence politics, and the modern day animal raiser needs to be constantly aware of, and ready to fight against, harmful anti-breeder legislations these groups try to pass. Here are my own opinions and thoughts on all of this:
Traditional rabbit breeder roots
Historically, domestic rabbits have been a livestock animal, supplying low-cost food and pelts to those who wanted to eat and stay warm. At some point, it was noticed that certain traits of the highest-producing rabbits should be cultivated and passed on to future generations to ensure the best meat and pelt production - fairs and shows became popular to showcase each breeder's accomplishments.
In the United States, as the need for rabbit meat and fur was slowly replaced with other foods and clothing products, the rabbit breeder evolved into the 'rabbit fancier', developing and raising different domestic rabbit breeds. These 'hobby breeders' continually work to improve their chosen rabbit breeds and compete against each other at rabbit shows. Some breeders still raise rabbits specifically for meat, and some, while not raising rabbits solely for meat, butcher their cull rabbits so as not to waste a valuable meat source.
Rabbit raising for meat, and to a lesser degree fur, is still popular the world over - especially in underdeveloped areas and where other food supplies are scarce. Rabbits are fairly easy to raise, can adapt to many habitats and feeding practices, and provide a cheap source of healthy, nutritious protein.
Enter the pet rabbit
It has only been in recent years that the domestic rabbit has gained popularity as a house pet. This multi-purpose animal, it was discovered, can easily adapt to life inside someone's house, as well as being kept outside as was traditionally done. Pet rabbits started showing up in pet stores and quickly gained popularity with the public. Most initially thought of the pet rabbit along the same lines as guinea pigs, gerbils, hamsters and other small, short-lived pets.
Because small pets such as guinea pigs and gerbils are so short-lived, they work well with the evolving and growing family's pet needs: by the time the kids or pet owner start losing interest, the small pet usually was reading the end of its natural life anyway.
With pet rabbits though, this was not the case - rabbit can live a long time and were outliving pet owners' expectations. If they required veterinary care, it was expensive since the rabbit was considered an exotic animal. Soon, pet rabbits started showing up in shelters - abandoned by those who did not want to care for a small pet for so long.
Several animal rights and extremist groups popped up, supposedly to 'advocate' for the pet rabbit.
The ideals of these groups range from those who believe animals should not be used for any human purpose, to those house rabbit owners who believe they need to promote their way of caring for rabbits as the only way. Below I've written a little bit about these groups:
The anti-animal establishments
I am referring to those who want animals left alone entirely - no animals used as food, clothing or for entertainment (pets) of the human race. Animals and humans have been closely intertwined since the beginning of time - so I think this is unlikely. Animals enrich our lives in so many ways-even house rabbit owners must admit to this! Also, with the increasing pressure to develop plant-based fuels, it is unrealistic to expect that our earth can support all its citizens on plant-based products alone; plus what do you think all the animals will eat when they are not under our care and control any longer? Your sweet little house rabbit will surely meet a violent end as dinner for some hungry wolf, lynx or dog as nature originally intended.........
The rabbit welfare groups
There are two main thoughts about rabbit welfare - the first are those who are more radical in thinking and promote their own opinions on how rabbits should be cared for as the only way possible, and the second, of which I mostly believe in - where genuine rabbit welfare should be addressed and improved upon.
The first group believes that their way of caring for rabbits is the only way, and that anyone who varies from their care regime and dietary recommendations is not a good rabbit owner. They admonish tried and true methods used to house, feed and care for rabbits throughout the years as substandard. They are entirely anti-breeder, (read more below....) and unfairly, openly and often with malice, discredit rabbit breeders. Some of these people hover dangerously close to the radical anti-animal establishment ideals too.
The second group is genuinely concerned with rabbit welfare. These people realize that rabbits are not just pets and in fact are one of the only multi-use animals around -used for a variety of purposes. Some rabbit welfare goals are to improve standards of care for laboratory rabbits, ensure livestock rabbits have adequate cage space, stamp out rabbit diseases and to improve, and educate others on adequate rabbit housing, effective care and successful medical treatment.
The unwanted pet rabbit 'overpopulation'- Who is to blame?
One common banner hailed by house rabbit 'advocates', 'rescues' and shelters is that rabbit breeders cause the overpopulation of unwanted rabbits. I have a terribly hard time owning up to this claim - the blame need to be put where it belongs; on the irresponsible pet owner.
So many people find it just too difficult to keep a commitment nowadays; oftentimes the pet is the first to go when life becomes difficult or something goes wrong. Commonly I hear that a child 'outgrew' the pet, leaving the parent to care for it, or that once a pet needs medical treatment it is deemed a burden and eventually relinquished to the shelter. Many people make plans to move without considering their pet - and when it is found that the pet won't be allowed, off it goes to the shelter.
I've seen 'pet rabbit ownership agreements' where the pet owners signs to the commitment, but this piece of paper is worthless when a pet owner just wants to get rid of a pet.
It used to be that these failed pet rabbit owners claimed that no one 'educated' them about pet rabbits - "we had no clue they can live for 10+ years!" No one can claim ignorance any longer - pet rabbit care and facts are widely available to anyone, even those who only spend a few minutes researching their pet choices.
We used to sell our overflow rabbits as pet rabbits to the public, but I quit doing so a long time ago because of the frustration level it entails: despite the pre-screening and all the educating we did with people, there were always those who later just couldn't keep their commitment. It amazed me how they could so easily change their lives and not include their beloved pet! The 'excuses' made up to justify not keeping their commitment really took some creative thinking too,-obviously, since none could claim a lack of education from us.
I don't believe responsible breeders create a pet rabbit overpopulation - for one thing, take a look at your local shelter, many of the rabbits are mixed breed, indicating most likely a pet owner did not spay or neuter their rabbit. No responsible show rabbit breeder cross breeds - there is no point to it - the offspring will usually not fit within the breed standard of either parent. I personally don't know of any show rabbit breeders who breed specifically for pet rabbits - there is no money in it, there is no purpose to it. I do know that some breeders sell pet rabbits like we used to - the occasional rabbit who doesn't fit within the breed standard but has such a wonderful personality that it is ideal for a pet.
I find it ironic that even 'rescue' people bought pet rabbits from us. Yes, the very same people who admonish rabbit breeding and who already had a supply of rescue rabbits of their own, actually sought us out for a specific rabbit breed as their own personal pet. Of course the sales took place under 'hushed' conditions - "don't tell anyone!" These were very nice, caring people and I would never divulge their names, but I still look back on each sale with almost a comical view......
There ARE good pet rabbit owners out there and I've met or talked to many of them. I give credit to these people who genuinely care for their rabbits and keep their commitments. It is a shame that so many irresponsible pet owners give these good pet rabbit owners a bad name.
Ideas to control the so-called pet rabbit overpopulation
I am not too sure what can be done, for as long as we live in a free country and someone wants a pet of any kind, they will get it no matter what, whether supplied by a breeder, a pet store or through a private sale. If all the show breeders in the world quit selling their cull rabbits as pets, sure that would cut down on the available rabbits, but don't believe for one moment that the person who wants a rabbit will not find exactly what they want!
One effective way to reduce shelter over-population is to humanely put down rabbits who are injured or sick beyond recovery - there are a number of animals in 'rescues' , and this includes not only rabbits, but many other species, who have various physical and behavioral problems which will never allow the animal to enjoy a comfortable life or a permanent home. Some may be in chronic pain, some have expensive maladies that will require lifelong treatment, and even more carry incurable diseases that threaten others. Many relinquished pets have behavioral issues, some the result of neglect or abuse by the pet owner. Even with intensive re-training, some will never be suitable for the average pet home again - these animals should be humanely put to sleep.
There are also people out there who believe that all rabbits (and other animals) should be kept alive no matter how grim the situation is-and this is oftentimes not in the best interest of the suffering animal. This also takes up valuable space in shelters that could be used for animals that have a good chance at being re-homed.
We are not talking about human beings here - so don't try to relate what I am saying to any human situation.
What about using unwanted rabbits for food sources for both needy people and families? I don't understand why, when there is so much hunger in the world, we waste such an 'overpopulated' food animal and allow our own species to suffer so? Although I personally don't eat rabbit meat, I don't have qualms about humanely euthanizing rabbits and using them for a food source. Process and can or dry the meat and send it to those starving populations overseas - I'll bet they will appreciate the donation.
If you are a vegan, upset by reading this, I don't mean to insult anyone's way of life or food choice, but you shall not have the right to insult my beliefs or food choices either. I have friends and family who are vegans, for various reasons, and that is just fine- they respect my own decisions and beliefs and I respect theirs - as it should be, so everyone enjoys peace! Rabbit have long been a food animal way before they achieved pet status - and for good reason.
Poor Pet Choice
When we sold pets, a problem we always encountered involved the buyer's choice of pet rabbits - EVERY buyer only wanted the baby rabbit and always passed up the nice adult rabbits we offered. The adult rabbits we pegged as pet rabbits were healthy, calm, used to handling and had delightful personalities and temperaments we could guarantee but they were always passed up for that cute little baby rabbit! Despite the warnings and vivid descriptions about rabbit adolescent behavior, the new owners always believed that they needed a baby rabbit in order to 'bond' with their pet and that once they bonded, miraculously, their rabbit would never partake in any of those nasty adolescent behaviors........ Well, they were always wrong, as we knew they would be. This basic human preference (of adopting young) runs rampant throughout the shelters and 'rescues' also - the adult rabbits are more difficult to re-home than any young or baby rabbit.
Equally amazing is how spaying, neutering and the costs involved can be explained to a potential pet owner beforehand, but when it comes time to do it, the owner suddenly claims they had no idea it would cost that much and how can I afford that?! Then what happens? After a few months of trying to deal with the intact rabbit's natural adolescent behavior, the frustrated pet owner decides to send the rabbit to a shelter. This could of been avoided had the pet owner picked an adult rabbit who has already been through this phase......
Rescues, Shelters
Of course, rescues and shelters are not going to admonish pet owners who dump their rabbits there - what will that do other than create a situation where a desperate pet owner finds other means to get rid of the pet they don't want? So what do they do? Take in the dumped pets and blame the only other group available - the rabbit breeder, even when the rabbit didn't come from a breeder!
Some shelter and rescue groups have an underlying theme of profit and political persuasion - they plaster those cute pictures of puppies, cats and other pets all over and who doesn't have a heart for all those poor creatures? Here, I'll donate some money to help those poor animals!
I've heard that some of these organizations put very little of your donation towards actually caring for or treating the shelter animals, but it is used to fund their underground political campaigns and anti-breeder propaganda.
What about all those 'rescues' out there who charge an 'adoption fee'? Isn't this the same thing as someone selling a rabbit? They claim it is to cover their expenses for caring for the animal - well that sounds the same as the breeder who sells an overflow rabbit as a pet rabbit for $20 - there is no profit from a pet rabbit sale, only a partial recoup of feed and care costs to the breeder - SAME THING. A true rescue shouldn't be charging an adoption fee-period!
The rabbit diet debate
For several years I've monitored various rabbit discussion groups that are comprised of both pet rabbit owners and breeders. There is constant banter back and forth about proper rabbit diet and proper rabbit care. Although I try not to partake in these pointless discussions, I do have my own opinions about all these subjects:
One area always causing heated debates involves the rabbit's diet. Apparently house rabbit owners have been led to believe that their house rabbit diet of very few or no pellets, unlimited hay and varied greens is the only diet that is good for a rabbit. One of the reasons commonly cited is that it closely mimics the rabbit's natural diet.
Of course, the breeders, with their time-tested pellet-based diet, counter back that their diet is the proper diet.
Pelleted or processed diet was developed as a convenience feed for domesticated species. Feed companies did the research, and developed complete feeds that supply every nutrient necessary for that animal's wellbeing. Not only has complete rabbit feed been successfully developed, so has dog food, guinea pig food, cat food, fish food and complete feeds for just about any other animal that man has domesticated. These complete feeds take the guesswork out of animal feeding - the caretaker does not have to try to formulate a balanced diet out of raw goods that will provide all the needed nutrients for that species, and they've done a wonderful job of it! Guesswork is not something to rely on when a person wants the best health possible for their animals.
It is commonly splashed all over anti-breeder sites that pellet based diets were originally for putting weight on short-lived meat rabbits and that this food has no place in a long-lived modern day rabbit's diet.
Years ago, the goal was to fatten-up the slaughtering herd, after all, they were produced for for food - a skinny rabbit would not do! Meat rabbits were genetically bred for the highest producing meat to feed ratio, those who used their food efficiently and gained well - this is still common in all meat animal production. The meat rabbit is, as are most other meat animals, slaughtered at a young age - after all, no one wants to buy shoe leather for dinner!
Over the years, meat rabbit breeding died out and was largely replaced by show rabbit breeding - but that didn't matter much as the nutritional needs of rabbits never changed- each rabbit still needs X amount of this and X amount of that, whether they are used for meat, for show or for pets..... Commercial rabbit pellets continued to ensure ease of feeding and a complete balanced diet.
The claim that pellets cause overweight rabbits is a complete fallacy: If any animal consumes more calories than its body can use, that animal becomes overweight. Calories are calories and can come from any source; pellets, hay, greens, treats or anything else the rabbit eats........ too many calories and the rabbit will become overweight. It doesn't matter if your rabbit eats 500 calories of carrots or 500 calories of pellets - if his body only needs 200 calories, those extra 300 calories are going to turn into fat. If you don't want your rabbits overweight, don't overfeed - a simple, but concrete concept that holds true across all species, including man!
Most show breeders that I know of, feed a measured ration, tailored to each individual rabbit's needs-some have higher metabolisms and need more feed, some barely eat and still maintain excellent condition. Either way, the pelleted diet provides complete nutrition and produces well-conditioned rabbits with vigor, excellent muscle tone and fur quality, all signs of good health- the feed companies are obviously doing something right!
I've also read that some house rabbit people believe pellets cause malocclusion (teeth problems) in rabbits - this is poppycock - malocclusion is largely a genetic issue, not a result of eating pellets. If pellets caused tooth problems then all breeders rabbits would be suffering from this malady- but they aren't!
Rabbit gut stasis and woolblock are other illnesses the house rabbit people like to blame on the pelleted diet- but while monitoring these internet groups, the house rabbits are the majority of those reported suffering from gut stasis, not the rabbit breeder's pellet-fed rabbits.
I'm sure there are house rabbit owners out there who successfully feed the few rabbits they have on their hay/veggie diet - and that is fine for the pet rabbit, but it must be realized that type of diet is not convenient to feed, does not consistently supply all the necessary nutrients in the correct proportions and cannot be relied upon to support a show or breeding herd of rabbits. There is nothing wrong with a pelleted diet-I wonder why the house rabbit people feel the need to continually smear our way of feeding? I have a suspicion that even if breeders feed the same hay/veggie diet as they did, they would somehow find blame with us anyway-just because we are breeders.
Natural? I don't think so...
House rabbit owners claim they keep their rabbits in a more natural setting and that rabbit breeders' ways and use of cages is cruel and inhumane. If you think about this, you'll realize that neither party keeps the rabbit in a more natural state than the other - both groups must alter something in order to effectively house their rabbits in the way that works for them. Rabbits are domesticated - they are no longer wild and it is not necessary to duplicate the habitat they had before they were domesticated.
House rabbit owners promote group or pair living because rabbits lived like that in their natural wild state - I'd agree to that too, except that in their natural wild state they were also intact and breeding while living in their groups and pairs - the house rabbit people must unnaturally sexually alter their rabbits to achieve their housing scheme.
Breeders solve this same problem by keeping rabbits sexually intact and separated so they cannot breed at will. Each rabbit has its own cage and most are fairly territorial of their own space. The cannot fight or injure each other and the breeder can individually monitor each rabbits' feed and water intake accurately to ensure each rabbit is eating and drinking as they should be. Don't tell me this doesn't work or is bad for rabbits - any species so miserable or unable to adapt to housing provided is NOT going to thrive and maintain the excellent condition and health that our caged rabbits do.
Given that both groups have to alter something to achieve satisfactory housing, how can any one say either way is better than the other? - both seem effective for their given purposes.
The house rabbit ideals differ from traditional breeder ideals in many other ways but I've already made this article long enough so I won't elaborate further. In summary, house rabbit owners prefer to keep their rabbits in their own style which is different from breeders. All this does is prove how versatile rabbits really are - they are truly a multi-purpose animal, adaptable to many different conditions. Now if these same people would realize this and stop attacking breeders and breeders' ideals so ruthlessly we could all openly share information and work together to resolve many of the issues that have drawn us apart - after all, each of us loves rabbits.
Bad people: bad breeders, bad pet owners, bad rescue workers.....
In all walks of life, in every profession, in every hobby and in every way there are good people and bad people. There are surely bad breeders out there - the ones who don't care for their rabbits well, they breed carelessly, or they have unscrupulous practices. There are certainly bad pet owners out there too - those who abuse and neglect their pets and those who dump their responsibilities. There are bad 'rescues' also - recently one in my area even made the paper because of the dead and neglected animals found in her house.
"Hoarders", are a unique group. Many start out innocently enough, caring for a few animals, usually pets, or those taken in under the guise of rescue, or even from animals they bred themselves. These people, for whatever reasons, continue to collect more and more animals and they soon become overwhelmed by the care and feed bills required for so many. Sometimes mental illness plays a hand in this,-effectively preventing the person from getting help. Sadly enough, hoarders are not usually discovered or helped until there is widespread disease or death among their animals.
Does the economy create 'bad' animal owners?
Recent economic issues also play heavily into animal care for all animal owners and it affects each animal use differently: pet owners cut back on unnecessary veterinary care and perhaps on extras for their pets, rabbit breeders cut back on their stock and are less likely to breed as often or may cull more definitively, farm animal owners and those in actual business to raise animals can't cut back on the feed and care for their animals but do raise their livestock sale prices to recoup their increased costs of production - this increase is usually passed on to the consumer.
For most of us, the poor economy, while creating a stranglehold on our activities, does not affect the health and wellbeing of our animals - but this same economic downturn does create a few, who were on the edge to begin with, who fail to take care of their animals as they should. Some have been found with starving animals or animals who've been clearly neglected for some time - as a cumulative result of this poor economic downturn.
So are all these people bad? I don't think so - some have no where to turn for help-there is no bail out for animal owners. The end of the horse slaughter effectively puts old, unwanted and debilitated horses at risk - their final years now spend in misery. Many can no longer afford the high board, feed and care costs of these animals. Instead of their spa treatments and bonuses, those AIG execs should of been forced to donate to a fund to help animal owners in dire situations.......
What to do about the bad ones......
The bad ones are everywhere - but additional legislation is not needed to control these bad people - current laws cover animal abuse and neglect by anyone already. Additional legislation and regulation will not deter those who are already breaking the law to begin with! Some are not breaking the law purposefully, but rather suffer from a mental illness that is clouding their normally reasonable judgment. As it has been in our country since the late 1970's people with mental health issues usually do not have access to the help and support they need. Many find initial comfort and purpose in caring for pets, all of which erodes when their mental disease worsens - you can't tell me that any kind of regulation will prevent this situation from happening. The money should of been spent pro-actively, on support and care services for those people in the first place..........
All additional legislation does is to create more government and more government use of taxpayers money which could be better spent on our own human domestic issues! Requiring regulation of hobby breeders is a complete waste of our taxpayers money - these people are already governed by laws that protect animals from abuse and neglect - and why regulate someone's hobby? Some people love animals and love working with animals on a hobby level - this is a wholesome hobby that promotes responsibility and good hard physical work - there is nothing wrong with it. I hope government officials see through these AR groups' proposals and realize their real motives - to end our freedom and to end our choice to raise and breed animals for hobby.
Farm animal production and regulation
There are increased political movements from the animal-rights groups who want the government to micro-manage farm animal production - this is only their underhanded push towards a vegan society, one step at a time. Don't let this happen to our country! If you want to live a vegan lifestyle - go ahead but you don't have the right to shove your ideals down my throat! This is a free society where each can choose our food and lifestyle! As I mentioned before, it is totally unrealistic to believe our world can feed all its citizens on a plant-based diet!
Let farmers manage their stock as they see fit - they are the best ones to do this - after all, they cannot sell an inferior product, one that is the result of poor management and care! Look what regulation has done to our health care system over the years - doctors no longer dictate a patient's care - the managing health insurance company does- and these are the ones that shouldn't! Look how poorly they've done - people dying for lack of care or denied care that their doctors order, all because of a regulating or governing body that doesn't have the patient's best interest at heart! We don't need the government or any governing body regulating our farmers-leave them alone!
Farmers and livestock producers already do an excellent job of managing farm animal disease - there is no good basis for the extensive NAIS proposals out there - quit spending our tax dollars on this money-and-time-wasting proposal - there are so many other worthwhile causes that need our hard-earned taxpayer dollars, and certainly NAIS is NOT one of them!
Off the top of my head I can think of several more pressing and important issues where more government money and time would benefit all of society; childcare and child abuse, domestic violence, alcohol abuse prevention and treatment and more.... Improve our society and its members become better, more responsible people which trickles down to less animal abuse and neglect.
5/1/09 - I am not finished with this article - more to come.......