Bunnies!

We have the best friends in the world. After asking randomly if a rabbit-raising friend of ours knew where we could find some good cages, she provided us with these at a really amazing price! Now we have enough cages to start breeding again and raising rabbits for real! *grin*

So to introduce you to our rabbits; Top: Gothabunny (doe), under her are (left) Roschoreo and (right) WonWon (bucks), bottom cage is Brutita (doe) and next to her in a separate cage to the left is Doe (the dam of Gothabunny and Brutita with Roschoreo being their sire)

Note the child snuggling the bunny in the huge lower cage. *chuckle*

These fellows were the unhomed bucks from our first litter. They became dinner when my dear friend showed me how to butcher a rabbit properly and the following day when I butchered my very first rabbit on my own. It was surprisingly easier than I had thought it would be. *smile*

No worries, they felt no pain, and died happily munching their favorite treat: dandelion greens. I thanked them for their sacrifice while they were still alive and paying attention before I gave them their greens.

For those that don't know me or think that making meat is a horrible thing to do, I feel the need to let you know that all of our animals are spoiled rotten and treated like pets until their time comes. They lead very happy lives with no antibiotics, no hormones, and no chemicals in a temperature controlled indoor setting. They never, ever experience a bad day.

I feel they knew what was coming, but experienced no pain in the passing. I also think that, as animals closer to the natural cycles, they do not fear death, but embrace it as a simple fact of life. *smile* Heck, I sympathize with stones and trees, so I don't see how a rabbit can't have what most consider to be "higher thoughts", ya know?

Comments: 5

Pat M. Oct 13, 2006, 2:29pm EDT

I'll have to read and reread this article a few times. I have houserabbits that I adopted when their owners dumped them at the local shelter, abandoned them in a neighborhood or outside a pet store, or signed them over to a local animal rescue due to neglect. I had 12 rabbits at one time .... now am down to 9. I bond so quickly with these animals -- all are spayed, neutered, litter trained and some are in bonded pairs. It's so enriching to watch them live long, full lives that I can't imagine eating one. The oldest is going on ten years old. I think of all the time and energy the house rabbit societies spend keeping rabbits alive and adopting them into good homes that I can't wrap my mind around eating them. Hmmmmm......... I applaud that the rabbits described are well cared for ........drives me nuts to think of rabbits lined up in little cages and being killed after living miserable lives. It's certainly better if they've been giving lots of time to run and be a rabbit. Still have to think about eating a domestic rabbit ............. Pat

reply to this comment

Kryistina ~*~ Frugal Diva Extraordinaire ~*~ Oct 14, 2006, 1:42am EDT

Pat, thank you for your calm and well reasoned response. *smile* I appreciate your comment. I can understand how you feel about the rabbits being eaten. *nod* Rabbits have such amazing and varied personalities. We do let them out on the neighbor's grass to run and play in a homemade bunnyrun from time to time as well during the warmer months, and give them fresh treats daily.

I also shelter pets in my home as I have room for them, and I know how hard it can be. Bless you for your kindness. I am pairing with a friend of mine to breed American Chinchillas for the good of the dying breed, and have several friends who have housebunnies.

This way, I also know exactly what my family's eating, and with all the nasty that is put into animals and food these days, that's of vital importance to me.

A bit of extra comfort: We only eat the ones we don't sell live. Those two were from a litter of nine. All the rest of them have moved to new homes to live long and happy lives. *smile*

Pat M. Oct 14, 2006, 7:01pm EDT

Thanks for the additional information. I recently read two wonderful books -- Hit by a Farm -- a book about a woman and her partner deciding to start sheep farming. The writer was the partner who "went along" with the idea; it was not her passion. She noted the hurdle it took to take a particular sheep to slaughter as it had bonded to her in some way. Interesting. I also am reminded of something I read about naming animals and then eating them. The person who defended the naming aspect talked about giving thanks to the animal -- it somehow honored the animal for it to have a name and still become a meal. The second book is called The Good Good Pig. The pig was a runt taken on as a pet and it lived its whole life as a pampered animal. All of this is to say your article makes me think about what I can eat and what I cannot. I do eat meat so I can't be critical of people who give their animals wonderful lives before eating them. I also support heifer international and have gone so far as to give rabbits on my checkoff, to a needy family. I guess it makes me realize that I took in 13 rabbits (now down to 9) and will care for them until they die because they were intended to be pets from their initial purchase. I am fulfilling a promise to them that their former owners failed to keep. Having these animals in my life allows me to talk about their proper care. People never fail to ask why the heck I have so many! Gives me a chance to explain my belief that purchasing/adopting a pet is a lifelong contract with that animal -- even if you determine the care is greater than expected. The animals I care for were never intended to be dinner. Your article certainly made me think. Pat

Kryistina ~*~ Frugal Diva Extraordinaire ~*~ Oct 14, 2006, 11:06pm EDT

I agree with you wholeheartedly there. An animal purchased or bred to be a pet should be a pampered pet for life, no questions, no exceptions. It is an honor to be entrusted with the care of another creature, no matter what that be, and one should not, must not, take that responsibility lightly. *nod*

Thank you for the book recommendations, I'll have to check those out sometime. *smile*