Good food for thought.
This brings to mind a friend of mine in AZ whose son, an active 4-H member, had a rabbit (kept outside exclusively), that lived past 13 years of age. That is a ripe old age in rabbit years. Apparently living outside didn\'t shorten his life-span any.
Though we would all agree that failing to provide food, water, and shelter from the elements all qualifies as neglect, for many, neglect is in the \"eye of the beholder\". For example, limit-feeding is a widely practiced method of feeding animals that is used primarily to gauge food intake and keep an animal in the best condition possible, but I have known of cases where some busy body actually reported someone for neglect, because the animal did not have food in front of it at all times.
Certainly, as pointed out, living indoors with a family does not automatically qualify as ideal conditions. It depends entirely on the family.
When we anthropomorphize in regards to animals we humans are deciding that animals need all the same amenities as we do. What it boils down to is what environment an animal is adapted to. Rabbits that have been born in an outdoors environment are adapted to those living conditions and therefore as long as they have clean, dry quarters, adequate food and water, they are fine. Rabbits that have been reared indoors, might find it difficult to adjust to a life outdoors - for awhile, but animals are much more adaptable than we humans by far.
What matters, when we keep animals as pets, is that they are loved and cared for properly. That is our duty as caretakers.
Charlcie Gill
Zodiac Rabbitry
Astoria, OR
http://www.zodiacsatins.com
I think every bunny\'s happiness depends on its owner\'s educating themselves on what a rabbit\'s needs are when considering indoor or outdoor living. I know a lot of people that just rush out and buy a bunny without a clue on what it needs, regardless of whether it is indoor or outdoor. Most people are familiar with caring for a cat or dog, but rabbits\' needs are quite different.
I always feel bad for Petey because he doesn\'t have a mate. If he lived outdoors we would have room for more than one rabbit and then he could have a partner and possibly be happier?? Indoors, however, he has constant people interaction and seems to enjoy that.
Any thoughts on the lack of a partner?
Rabbits need companionship and as long as you spend enough time with your rabbit every day, you qualify as being his companion. If he were outdoors, the lack of a partner would be more of a problem to him because he would be spending less time around you. Indoor rabbits often suffer from not having a rabbit partner when their owners work long hours etc., and so this isn\'t just an outdoor rabbit problem, as some web sites would have you believe. You sound like a good dad and I\'m sure Petey is quite happy with his human companions.
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Here are a couple more sites to check out:
http://www.hsus.org and search for \"rabbit care\"
http://www.tagyerit.com/hopline/cold.htm
In my Webster\'s dictionary, the definition for \"scapegoat\" is: a person, group, or thing that bears the blame for the mistakes or crimes of others or for some misfortune due to another agency. Somehow I think organizations are doing a lot of scapegoating.
Between the confiscations the rabbit organizations have had to deal with and the Katrina animals, our shelters are full. For the first time ever, I saw Animal Control advertizing on local news trying to find homes for rabbits. At the shelters, rabbit profiles often read, \"allergies to pet\" and \"destructive inside.\" No one will help owners keep rabbits safely outside, but organizations keep pointing their fingers at outdoor rabbit owner complaining about outdoor rabbit care, while more and more rabbits are being euthanized. I just don\'t get it!
In response to Charlcie Gill post of which some I quote here \"For example, limit-feeding is a widely practiced method of feeding animals that is used primarily to gauge food intake and keep an animal in the best condition possible, but I have known of cases where some busy body actually reported someone for neglect, because the animal did not have food in front of it at all times.\" At cooped showing while putting rabbits in or cleaning up to leave...\"busy bodies\" have hurrasseted carring breeders that their animals did not have food or water...water is the most often heard complaint. This is sometimes done as the breeder is actually watering the neighboring rabbit. These people complain how cruel it is and that the rabbits should always have water. This causes me to loss respect for \"animal rights activiests\" as it proves they are ignorent and do not seem to care to find out the truth. It is simple, the water dishes do not travel well prefilled and not one of these so caring people is constantly sipping on water themselves. If they cared enough to look and see the animal does not yet have water they should also be able to notice if the animals look fit and healthy with clear eyes.