Can’t save them all….. right?

[Andi]

This is more of a rant I think… i dunno.
Typing out my thoughts i suppose.

See I have a friend I visit for coffee on their small farm, they have so many different animals, and many of those animals make baby animals from Horses, chickens, goats, ducks and well… rabbits.

This is a working farm, so many of the animals are food. I can (reluctantly) understand that,  not agreeing or disagreeing, such is life. (Though, I will not eat animals I consider pets, that’s my choice)
But, today I saw she had a couple mini Rex’s in the bunch, it thru me off. I held onto a mostly scared/feral little white and black mini rex girl, who’d lived there with a buck for the year and never had a litter. I was told they got her from the auction with another, she wonders if the bunny may been a pet b4 and spayed or just ‘doesn’t work’ (I’m going with the second, i hope).

I try not to get to involved with these type of things because it’s upsetting, But I cannot get over the fact that someone would eat a Rex bunny, nevermind a mini. And then because I think that I feel just aweful commenting like that, as how about the others? Why am I feeling terrible of the fate of this Rex and not the other mix bunnies? I feel like a bad person.

I have 7 bunnies. I lost my Rex earlier then year and they have always been my favorite breed. I also have always said I wanted a spotted mini rex ‘one day’. The thought was once all my other rabbits had passed, i would adopt one.

So, put stress on my household with another rabbit, save her from the cooking pot? Or get over it and understand i cannot save them all. Why this rabbit over ALL the others?

I should have never went into that barn… uuggh

[MirBear]

Maybe because there is an option she may already be spayed so it would save cost on you.
I belive its entirely up to you. But if your going to do it i’d act fast even if you just “foster” her?

[LizzieKnittyBun]

How can your friend even think about eating an animal that was possibly a pet? I know people raise certain animals specifically for food, but to take an animal that has had the life of a pet and then… I can’t even think about it.

If you do save her, please let us know. If not, you’re right, you really can’t save them all.

But please let us know what you decide. And I agree with MirBear that you might want to make that decisions as soon as possible…

Good luck!

[LittlePuffyTail]

I hope you help her Andi! I have a soft spot for Rex’s too. The way I personally feel is that if you can afford it money and time wise you should help as many as you can. There are so many animals that need us, even though we can’t save them all. ***Hugs to you***I know it’s hard dealing with people like this. I treat my rabbits like babies, how can someone eat little bunnies??

[mocha200]

oh you must feel so confused right now! what ever you decide we will be here for you!

[Andi]

Thanks everyone

I’m still mulling it over, have been offered a cage i can borrow if i take her on. My Hubby’s not impressed but didn’t say no. I am going over there tomorrow to play with the bunnies and get a better idea if this bunny is wild or more of a pet. Since she’s from the auction we have no clue what kind of background she came from. Most of the bunnies going through there are from breeders, mostly 4H and such as i live in the country and well not many rabbits are kept for pets.

I don’t have to worry about her being culled without knowing, my friend knows I have a soft spot for her, and i don’t believe the animals get ‘done’ (uugghhh) till closer to winter either.

Anyways, if i decided to get her I will need to get her to the vet to be checked over, just in case. i don’t want to bring a strange ‘farm’ bunny into my home if she may carry something that could hurt my guys.
I’m a bit worried what kind of stress bringing a new bunny into my established guys will do as well, as stress brings on pasturella symptoms with some of mine

No decisions yet, though i am leaning on taking her. I try to not be to emotional with stuff like this, but I’m finding it a bit difficult this time

[LizzieKnittyBun]

Aw, I’m sorry you’re going through this. I know there are so many things to consider, especially your babies at home and how they will react. Maybe, if you are leaning toward bringing her home, you could set up a date with your bunnies to see how they react?

[Andi]

Well the plan I am tossing around is, if i take her tomorrow/this week, I put her in a cage i already have in my bedroom (away from all bunnies), then Saturday go to the Vet to get her checked out and pick up the dog crate style cage from the shelter (They said i can borrow one, since we don’t use them) it opens in the front and side which will help with bonding her to me and gaining her trust.
And since i have pretty much decided after i get back from my vacation at the end of the month, i am going to rip apart my two wood pens and make one huge for my 4 (or 5 or 6 lol) bunnies to live in. She can then get intigrated in with those guys if all goes well. Bubba will be to stressed from the change of space to be mean to a new bunny, and so it’s pretty much just Ani I would have to worry about.
I sure am thinking a lot about this for someone who’s not sure if they are taking on a new bunny LOL… *sigh*

[LizzieKnittyBun]

Nothing wrong with planning ahead for all the possibilities : )

[bunnytowne]

Yes I agree about not eating a pet.  My husband wants to raise them for food at a friends place.

We went to the humane society and I saw a very scared tame big female there.  I told hubby if we take her she stays in the house not outside she is a pet and will be treated as one.

We didnt’ take her cuz he wanted her for outside and breeding.  I can’t do that to a pet. 

Found him some meat rabbits and he got some from there.  They are not tame and not used to being handled that makes it easier to have them for “that” purpose.

I dont’ like it.   I dont’ see them but twice since they arrived at our friends.   I tried to calm and pet the big buck but hubby said no I dont’ want him used to this kind of thing then he will be too used to this and will make it harder for them to breed and well….

I can understand how you feel and why you feel this way about the rex.  To me it is cruelty to take a house pet and stick it outside with minimal human contact.  Besides the heat cold strange noises scaring them it just doesn’t feel right to do that to a pet.

People who raise animals for food don’t get attached if they can help it.  Being myself raised this way I can see why.

If it was up to me hubby and his friend would not be raising meat rabbits.  Though  they are used to not being handled and weather temps outside noises etc.  Makes it easier on the rabbit if it wasn’t or isn’t a pet.  As well as the person who has them.

I don’t mean to offend anyone and I know this is a touchy subject.  We do have a rule we dont’ discuss meat rabbits however in this case I understand how you feel.

I love my babies and would never eat them.  Even though native americans some tribes consider eating of the meat makes you closer to the animal and animal totem and such

[LizzieKnittyBun]

Oh wow, bunnytowne, that’s probably really hard on you that your hubby is interested in that sort of thing. Is there any particular reason he wants to do that? I don’t want to cause any strife between the two of you, but perhaps you could let him know how uncomfortable it is for you as a rabbit lover.

[Andi]

bunnytowne, i totally get it. I’m not a vegitarian, though I’m not a big meat eater either. I had mentioned in others posts of this subject that i grew up on rabbit meat as a child, as my grandparents were poor, lived in the middle of no where and well were from a different country and time then i am now. So things were different. I’m not going to say no u can’t eat this, or you can’t do that. As every country things are done differently, and we all have differnt beliefs. I’m not a real ‘pushers’ on my beliefs but I have no problem telling people how i feel and why, but in that way I also listen and learn from others. Kinda of like how you mentioned the tribes that “consider eating of the meat makes you closer to the animal ” and such.
Now that I live in the country and are making friends who have been living on farms their whole lives, i see a big difference on how things are done on a farm. I don’t see any mistreated animals but I also see ‘working’ animals, they have jobs, unlike our house pets.

I feel bad you have to think of that even, with your hubby and his friend breeding them for food. That would be hard. My other half loves our pets, and he is more senstitive to them if they are hurt. I have the stronger stomach when it comes to taking care of the critically ill and such.

haha… i can’t promise i wouldn’t try and make my friend think a little differently about rabbits though, maybe I’ll have her over for coffee to meet PitStop my living room ‘cat-bunny’ LOL I think he’s a pretty good house bunny embasidor :p

[bunnytowne]

Andi good idea have her over for a visit.  Pets are so totally different from working animals and livestock. 

I dont’ think I could eat rabbit again.  Don’t want it cooked in my home cuz maybe Cotton Boo and Ruby would know somehow.

I think hubby wants to sell it to people too

[LittlePuffyTail]

Andi- good luck with whatever you decide. Hope all goes well

[Andi]

Thanks everyone.
I ended up going over there yesterday, i sat with all the bunnies and snuggled the rex. Before i even went I had already called my Vet asked if there was a way to see if a female had been spayed and if they had room for an appointment Saturday… and set one up.
After visiting with my friend and talking with her more about the rabbits, it doesn’t sound like she is going to be making any of these guys food. Many of the other rabbit babies born there had been given to families as pets.
So i told her, that if she was getting rid of the bunnies at any time, to let me know. I also told her I needed another rabbit like a hole in the head, but I really liked the little rex. … her reply “You can’t save them all” … *sigh* so true.
Now to call and cancel my Vet appointment.

[mocha200]

oh! i hope in the end you end up getting her!

[Author]

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