For or against rabbit breeding?

[Rabbiting on]

Hi people, I would like to get some views on this subject, wether you agree or dissagree with breeding.

Do you breed? yes or no? I would like to hear views from both sides.

Thanks :)

[Rabbiting on]

Can I ask why "report this post" is in red, have I done something wrong? :oops:

[honeybunny]

Can I ask why "report this post" is in red, have I done something wrong? :oops:


it's the same on all posts!,not just yours!

[Rabbiting on]

Yes I realised that.

[Sooz]

This thread should probably be moved to 'Hot Topics' as its likely to get heated :?

[heidilovescows]

:? :? :? :? :?

[Suzanne]

Do we have to go through this again?? I know it's a valid question but these kind of topics tend to get a heated as already mentioned and end up upsetting/annoying a lot of people and causing bad feeling. If you search breeding you'll find hundreds of these anti/pro breeding threads.

[rspcarabbits]

This thread should probably be moved to 'Hot Topics' as its likely to get heated :?

Not sure it will....I think its already all been said and very recently in other threads

[louise and Gus]

Just do a search on breeding...you'll get the idea ;)

[Lspacehopper]

I'm unsure of whether to reply with opinions and 'what not' could upset people...

....I don't agree with rabbit breeding, look at the main purpose of this forum to rehome rabbits, which stems from breeding and not neutering buns.

Also pet shops encourage 'impulse buys' of rabbits and guinea pigs and lets face it, breeders must be churning out loads of babies to supply. I went to pets at home on monday to buy a rabbit hutch and had a peek in the bunny bit, there were 7 all together, I went back today (dog food) and there were 8 more, all different to monday. A few of these buns will be looking for homes with RR before christmas,

The thing which ****** me off the most is seeing adverts offering bunnies titled,

"great easter present" :censored:

Sorry, rant over.

H x


Curious to know which branch you're talking about here and have IM'd you.

[ZakuraRabbit]

I have nothing against serious breeding, this does NOT include selling babies to pet shops or bred plenty to sell at easter and such:?
A serious breeder should know where the babies go to, not just "assume" that a random person on the street will look after it properly for 6+ years.

I don't agree with breeding rabbits just for the sake of getting cute little babies, regardless if the kits are purebred or not. When you breed rabbits you should be certain that you can find good homes for them, that is good homes..not a pet shop. I am against any sale of animals in shops as there's a lot of misinformed shops around and animals are often impulse buys:evil:

I've seen plenty of "reasons" people have to breed rabbits, and many of them are complete nonsense.
1. I want to breed my doe so she'll experience being a mother.
If every doe was bred because she should have a litter we'd drown in rabbits...plenty already do, so don't
2. I want the kids to experience the miracle of birth.
Riiiiiight. And these kids will care about these rabbits for how long?
3. I want more rabbits (for myself/friends/family etc)
Go adopt more rabbits. Its not hard
4. My doe is so aggressive, and letting her raise a litter would help her calm down.
Great! Have fun caring for 5 more aggressive little :censored:And hey! Why not breed them too to calm THEM down! Then you could end up with 25 little aggressive rabbits! Sounds like great fun!:D
5. I want babies to sell and make money.
Trust me. Breeding rabbit does NOT help your economy...the doe/kits could fall ill and you'll end up paying more in vet-bills than you'll get from selling the whole litter
6. The pet shop wants more rabbits.
Let it wait. The more pet shops that stop selling animals the better:D

[nursecroft]

I'm unsure of whether to reply with opinions and 'what not' could upset people...

....I don't agree with rabbit breeding, look at the main purpose of this forum to rehome rabbits, which stems from breeding and not neutering buns.

Also pet shops encourage 'impulse buys' of rabbits and guinea pigs and lets face it, breeders must be churning out loads of babies to supply. I went to pets at home on monday to buy a rabbit hutch and had a peek in the bunny bit, there were 7 all together, I went back today (dog food) and there were 8 more, all different to monday. A few of these buns will be looking for homes with RR before christmas,

The thing which ****** me off the most is seeing adverts offering bunnies titled,



"great easter present" :censored:

Sorry, rant over.

H x

I thought PAH might have not been taking in new stock at the mo because of easter? I nipped in to get some bits and the one near me just had one bunny on his own, they hadnt restocked.

[elve]

this thread's just a few down in hot topics - says it all really http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/showthread.php?t=117220

[mullethead]

I am against peeps who breed for just money and no care is taken for the poor bun but there is breeders who breed for show.

[minimack]

Right i am willing to put myself in the line of fire :wave:

I breed rabbits, my rabbits receive the best possible care and i adore everyone of them. Housing my buns Mini Lops are in 4ft by 2.5 by 2 ft hutches, they are all allowed outside to play whether they are show buns or breeding does, my does have a max of 2 litters a year and they are to improve my lines and to hopefully help improve the breed. Any pet babies that are sold are sold from here. I ask new bunny owners their reasons for wanting a rabbit and explain how long buns can live for etc, they go home with alot of food from here for the change over, i am still in touch with alot of my pet owners, for clipping nails etc if they are not confident to do this and no i do not charge for that, they can come to me for advice at any time with their bun.

My rabbits all have toys to play with fresh food hay and water every day, they also have greens, weetabix, ryvita. Their hay comes from dustfreehay.co.uk.

I have had people from animal sancturies come to visit and have found no problems, however when i read certain posts on here i would not be happy to invite those people to my home and to see my buns as you already have preconceived ideas of what rabbit breeders are before you arrive and are really quite negative and abusive.

Responsible breeders are actually 'in my opinion' the best people to buy from as they will NOT breed from rabbits with genetic defects and problems such as malloclusion.

By the way i also will take in rescue buns and will not rehome anything that is not 100% fit and healthy. Whoever thinks there is money in breeding rabbits clearly has no idea whatsoever, my rabbits hutches have cost in excess of £2000 also cost around £50 a week to keep plus vet bills and medications etc. So i can assure you no profit is made in breeding rabbits properly!!

[Poppymum]

I personally have no issue with breeders such as the above poster..The same as I dont have an issue with responsible dog/horse/cat breeders.

What I do take issue to is backyard breeders, who quite frankly could give a stuff about the animal, its future, the breed etc and are just in it to make cash.

[Brewery stud]

Hi we are responsible breeders who breed German lops and dwarf lops and like minimack our rabbits are loved and well looked after and from our experiences breeders who breed to exhibit rabbits look after them and care for them deeply. but i would question the care given to rabbits in large pet superstores where you see them laid looking tired, warm and lethargic. Is it better to buy from a breeder where you can see the parents and sometimes grandparents and even further up the family tree or from a superstore where you dont know where the rabbit came from or what genetic deffects it might be carrying. All rabbit leave our home with a care sheet, food and remain in contact with the new owners and offer full support including nail clipping and health checks but if they do suggest there is a problem with a rabbit we reccomend a vet asap. As from people who are against breeders who do you think supplys your local pet shops and the problem i see with breeding for shops is to keep a steady supply you would have to overbreed this post may sound like a rant but people are quick enough to have a go at breeders but i guarantee our rabbits and all members of the brc care for their rabbits better than any mass production breeder that supplies pet superstores.

[Poppymum]

I also have to add, those who love certain breeds, should be grateful that there are good breeders out there breeding healthy examples.

[Fifibutton]

When its done properly its not necessarily a bad thing. However as Poppymum mentioned, backyard breeders are irresponsible and therefore likely to allow bunies with bad genes to be born. Its a shame for those bunnies who will be more prone to health problems and the caring owners who have to care and pay for them.

[minimack]

When its done properly its not necessarily a bad thing. However as Poppymum mentioned, backyard breeders are irresponsible and therefore likely to allow bunies with bad genes to be born. Its a shame for those bunnies who will be more prone to health problems and the caring owners who have to care and pay for them.

I do not think anyone would disagree with that. It does however sadden me when i come on here as i also adore bunnies and all you read is that we breeders are basically the devil incarnet!!!! We are not all bad and most of us are very approachable with the same amount of passion for our animals that you all have. Nobody likes backstreet breeders they can be cruel and that is not nice for any breed of animal. I have no problem in rescuing bunnies myself and have done it and am currently looking to rehome some bonded pairs at the moment. Athough i breed rabbits i will NEVER breed from these girls as i do NOT know their background and they are also not to the breed standard. This is the attitude of all the breeders i know who breed to BRC standards. xx

[honeybunny]

Obviously my views are not in line with breeding...
and Brewery stud being a BRC bredder does not mean the standards of care are guaranteed..and at least one breeder who was on this forum was BRc yet supplied pet shops:?:(

[Fifibutton]

If you're a responsible breeder there is nothing to be ashamed of. I have found dog breeders to be particularly knowledage about thier chosen breed with regards to temprement and genes. I'm sure its the same with good rabbit breeders. I don't think it's a black and white subject though. A lot of breeds today were created100-150 years ago. People felt differently about animals then. Also sometimes I think animals should not have been domesticised however its obviously too late for that and where would some people br without their animals or vice versa. I reckon the best thing is to do the best we can for the animals here today.

[louise and Gus]

I do not think anyone would disagree with that. It does however sadden me when i come on here as i also adore bunnies and all you read is that we breeders are basically the devil incarnet!!!! We are not all bad and most of us are very approachable with the same amount of passion for our animals that you all have. Nobody likes backstreet breeders they can be cruel and that is not nice for any breed of animal. I have no problem in rescuing bunnies myself and have done it and am currently looking to rehome some bonded pairs at the moment. Athough i breed rabbits i will NEVER breed from these girls as i do NOT know their background and they are also not to the breed standard. This is the attitude of all the breeders i know who breed to BRC standards. xx

Not having a go, but being a BRC memeber doesn't make a breeder good, there are plenty of BRC breeders who has kept the rabbits in awful conditions. Correct me if I am wrong, but do you not just have to pay a subscription to be a memeber, so there is no quality checks?

[minimack]

Not having a go, but being a BRC memeber doesn't make a breeder good, there are plenty of BRC breeders who has kept the rabbits in awful conditions. Correct me if I am wrong, but do you not just have to pay a subscription to be a memeber, so there is no quality checks?


I was not suggesting all BRC breeders are good ones as some will slip through the net. However all the ones i know keep their rabbits in fantastic conditions Brewery stud being one of them. They like me let their buns outside to play etc and have the same attitude i do. However if the BRC find out about rabbits being kept in bad condition they do not sit on their laurels and let it happen. That person will be struck off from the BRC and not allowed to participate in any way at any show. They issue guidelines on animal welfare and and five freedoms etc. So at the end of the day it comes back to good and bad in life and sadly there is both in everything. Of course i would like to see all animals kept in fantastic condition but it does not always happen whether it be in pet homes, breeder homes or rescues. It just comes down to not taring everyone by the same brush and lumping people into stereotypes.

[suzy_d]

I'm not 100% against breeding, I don't know enough about it really to have a strong opinion, the only bits about breeding I hear about are mostly about irresponsible breeding where the breeders don't care about the rabbits, just churn them out for money.

I don't agree with pet shops selling rabbits irresponsibly, advising on poor housing, not advising on diet or vaccinations. But thats a different matter altogether :roll:

[Beebop]

The BRC is as useless as the Kennel Club, weren't Bobby and the Boblets from a BRC breeder? LIke you said, this issue guidelines, but can't enforce them legally and as anyone can register with no questions asked, it allows any backyard breeder to seem reputable to the novice bunny owner, in the same way plenty of backyard breeders seem reputable as their pups are all KC registered.

I really can't be bothered with this debate again, but will say that for as long as rescues are bursting at the seems and rabbits remain the 3rd most neglected pet in Britian I can see NO reason to keep on breeding these poor critters purely for human entertainment, same goes with all 'pets'.

[Brewery stud]

I mentioned the BRC member maybe I should have been more specific, BRC members that breed to exhibit do so for the love of the animal and to get the breed as close to standard as possible so overbreeding and breeding rabbits with faults is detremental to what they are trying to achieve as for breeding for pet shops until I got my website up running i enquired to see if some local pet shops would buy rabbits and they said they did and they paid £4 per rabbit so if I was in it for profit it costs me more than that to keep them in food water vet bills etc so most of us devils in disguise breed to improve the standard of our chosen breeds because we love rabbits. I dont sell rabbits to children without both parents being present and I explain the massive commitment that is required I also say if they have any problems and cant keep the rabbit to contact me and I will gladly take the rabbit back and either keep it or rehome it myself. To be honest there are two kinds of rabbit people there are pet people and rabbit exhibitors and by the sound of it this forum is made up of mostly pet people who have never been to a rabbit show and dont understand rabbit breeding trust me more rabbits get neglected by pet people than do by rabbit exhibitors like myself and minimack so until you visit a rabbit show or a rabbit breeder lay off and stop the generalisations or maybe a new forum would be the answer rabbit city here we come lol

[SOAD]

To be honest there are two kinds of rabbit people there are pet people and rabbit exhibitors and by the sound of it this forum is made up of mostly pet people who have never been to a rabbit show and dont understand rabbit breeding

You're wrong actually, I would rather there not be any "pet" rabbits, I would rather they die out completely, so you're in fact generalising over something you don't understand yourself. I have had bunnies in from breeders and pet owners and while not all of the breeders bunnies have been badly kept not all of them have been well kept. I think unless you work in rescue you're blinkered to what really goes on.

Oh and by the way, I have been to a rabbit show and to be honest it wasn't great either, there is no need to improve man made breeds, after all that is all they are.

[MaxiandScottandbuns]

What i know about breeding:

-There are thousands and thousands of abused, neglected, homeless, tortured, abandoned, starving and forgotten bunnies up and down the country
-It would therefore be said that there is a domestic rabbit overpopulation problem as rescues are cram packed full of bunnies just like this
-The cure to overpopulation is not to create more and more
-For all the petshop, backyard breeder or even "reputable breeders" rabbits sold a rescue bunny could have been given another chance
-It is therefore illogical to argue that rabbit breeding is what is best for rabbits

To me it is that simple, it is that black and white. I dont agree with showing or inbreeding and discarding the not quite right ones until our vanity is satisfied by having a "good quality" rabbit. And yes, i have been to shows, many times. My mum used to take me as a child. The rabbits often had birth defects or health problems because of the breeding. And about making sure breeds dont die out, fair enough if you are breeding a very rare rabbit with no faulty genes or problems, but really for the vast majority of popular breeding rabbits there are thousands of fine examples in shelters! They just wouldnt die out

So theyre my thoughts

[oscarbunny]

Although i love rabbits to pieces. I would rather they werent bred at all, even if that meant never having the opportunity to own one. At least then they wouldnt suffer the way in which they do.

[MaxiandScottandbuns]

Also the aim of any rescue is to find homes for their bunnies where they will be given masses of attention and will be loved very deeply. I find it hard to see how a breeder with so many rabbits and babies on the go all the time can give the same amount of attention as rabbits kept in homes as part of the family. Im sure there are many out there who do get the same kind of attention, but again from my personal experience its more like there are many rabbits in lined hutches outside with nestboxes who are picked out for shows every now and then, and dont spend time lying on the sofa or racing around the garden, which i think is a shame

But more than anything i just dont see the logic in creating new life where not only is it not needed but rescues are taking in more and more every year and theres a real problem

[minimack]

I suppose at the end of the day we all have our own opinions. I will continue to breed and look after and care for my rabbits and the ongoing improvement of the breed. i am far happier knowing the my rabbits are free of genetic issues and malloclusion and will be a happy healthy and easy pet to handle. in comparison to those that are over bred interbred and have a whole range of problems which sadly not all pet owners can afford to treat. There will always be breeders of all animals, pet owners and rescues. I do have rescue buns myself so i am not blinkered to that issue at all. Yes it is hard to deal with picking up the pieces from irresponsible breeders and owners and rescues to some extent as they are not all good. Maybe your right maybe it would be better if there were no pets at all because yes it is a selfish need in humans to [U]own[U] an animal. But this will never end and i for one adore all my pets as im sure you do. I still do back to the fact that we should all (responsible breeders and rescues) work together and help combat the problem of people who breed animals with no clue what they are doing.

[Angie65]

I have been to one rabbit show that was raved about on here by breeders & I wasn't that impressed. I honestly thought it was cruel. The conditions were not good, the cages were tiny, the buns were stressed & many had no water or hay. This was a large event.

And when people talk about getting a pet rabbit, I immediately tell them all the worst parts of having buns.

I have met several BRC breeders & have only been impressed by the standards of one.

[honeybunny]

I think you are being too touchy Brwery Stud..
my comment about BRC not guarnateeing the quality of care was not aimed at you....just a warning to others that is is no measure of the standard by which the buns may or may not be kept..
as already said...breeders vary...as do rescues..and pet stores..and owners....and quality of veg!:lol:

[norrielian]

I'd be a Hypocrite to say I'm 100% against breeding when I've got pedigree cats but all I can say is that I will always get rescue rabbits :D

[davies67]

i get all my animals from rescues , until i joined this forum i didnt realise there were so many rabbits without homes.i got my previous rabbit as a present off my dad and he got her from a ad in the paper so i guess that means a breeder. She was a very sickly little lady and had to be pts so based on that experience i would be wary of breeders and try adn rehome so you know what you are dealing with

[Minimallow]

Although i love rabbits to pieces. I would rather they werent bred at all, even if that meant never having the opportunity to own one. At least then they wouldnt suffer the way in which they do.


Couldnt agree more

[minimack]

Well at the end of the day everyone has their own opinion and thats fair enough. I know my rabbits are well cared for cuddled allowed to play in the garden and yes i also have 2 house buns. I would like to think that all of you with such strong opinion of animal breeding have adopted all your animals thro rescue centres whether it be rabbits cats dogs horses etc. If so i commend you for doing that if not however i do not think there is an arguement to be had!!!!!

I am now off to cuddle some more bunnies and let them out to play and binky and give them all a little treat of some fresh veg.

By the way i am intouch with a rescue centre with a view to helping out and hopefully a bit of fostering for them. Right off to reattach my horns and become a cruel heartless monster again!!!!:evil:

Now lets play nicely xx

[MaxiandScottandbuns]

I think youre taking this a little personally. People are just stating the facts really. Its not a personal attack

[Wispa & Zola]

i dont think anyone called you a cruel heartless monster??? :shock:

you keep saying that everyone has their own opinions which they do but nobody has told you that you are wrong so haven't challenged your opinion just given their own

[Mandy]

Come on guys, let's keep on topic of breeding without people getting upset or taking people's opinion's personally please :)

[minimack]

I think youre taking this a little personally. People are just stating the facts really. Its not a personal attack

No im not taking it personally. I just dont like being lumped into a catergory with people who dont care for their animals just because i breed.
I have not made any kind of negative comments towards any kind of pet owner or rescue or breeder because there is good and bad in both. Which as i have said before is a sad part of life. Alot of anti breeders on here are so set in their opinion that they cannot accept that some breeders might actually be nice people that care about animal welfare every bit as much as they do. And that is why i keep responding to this thread to stick up for us breeders that are good people

[honeybunny]

To make it clear I only addressed my comment to Brewery stud as I received a pm from them making certain assumptions on my previous post

none of my opinions posted on this thread are aimed at any one person in particular:D

[Doncat5]

Breeding can be done well and it can be done awfully! I think the main point is, anyone who's worked on the rescue side of things for any length of time, simply sees that we just dont NEED anymore rabbits, no matter how well theyve been bred. Theres plenty to go round now, in fact too many .... and until we see every rabbit in rescue, loved and cared for, and in its own forever home, the 2 sides will never agree.

[Lucy]

I went to see someone the other day that had 2 sisters, 3 months old. They both have teeth problems, have to have front teeth trimmed weekly and one has a more or less permanent abscess under her chin. Thats what bad breeders can create and is it any wonder that rescues are so against people doing it?
We are constantly clearing up after people who let rabbits breed with no care. I'm sure there will be many on here that have had to clear out a breeder that deides they want to finish breeding and can't be bothered to rehome 'stock' as I have had to do.
When you have to clean up after peoples thoughtlessness it's no wonder that people feel very strongly about breeders.
As I have said before, I have no problem with low level 'pedigree' breeding when done properly and animals are health tested. What I have a problem with is people who breed with no thought and care.

[Angie65]

I went to see someone the other day that had 2 sisters, 3 months old. They both have teeth problems, have to have front teeth trimmed weekly and one has a more or less permanent abscess under her chin. Thats what bad breeders can create and is it any wonder that rescues are so against people doing it?
We are constantly clearing up after people who let rabbits breed with no care. I'm sure there will be many on here that have had to clear out a breeder that deides they want to finish breeding and can't be bothered to rehome 'stock' as I have had to do.
When you have to clean up after peoples thoughtlessness it's no wonder that people feel very strongly about breeders.
As I have said before, I have no problem with low level 'pedigree' breeding when done properly and animals are health tested. What I have a problem with is people who breed with no thought and care.


I know a BRC registered breeder who is breeding from a completely blind REW:evil:

[Olibobs]

I can see both sides. My boys come from a breeder, who is also a friend. The rabbits are all kept in very good conditions, and the knowledge he gives me is second to non. Without him as a breeder I wouldn't have my boys. He asked us to have the rabbits and he took no money for them. On their first visit to the vets, the vet was very impressed on how healthy they were.

However, (and yes I get splinters from sitting on this fence!) I will be bonding them with a girlie each and I will get the girls from a rescue, just to even out the balance ;)

[ZakuraRabbit]

I know a BRC registered breeder who is breeding from a completely blind REW:evil:

:shock::censored:
Too bad far too many breeders seem to think about show quality first (and sometimes nothing else:shock:).
Probably one of my favourite parts in the Norwegian animal right laws (which are rather weak elsewhere) is that all animals used in breeding must be healthy!
I wouldn't breed any rabbit unless it was completely healthy, good-natured and preferably do well in shows (though show-quality comes last I still don't see a reason to breed from a mixbred, considering rescue-situation. Show-quality rabbits are generally easier to sell, also selling a purebred rabbit as a pet ensures the owner will have some idea of how the kit will look like as an adult...rather than saying "It could get as big as its mother the continental giant or as big as its father the polish":roll: yeah this was an extreme example:lol:)

[vikkia1234]

I think you need to look at the bigger picture, and not just assume that the over population of rabbits is down to breeders alone.

A lot of people who want rabbits are not educated enough before getting them, not only do they think they are low maintenace but they dont know how quckily and easy it for a rabbit to breed.

I had a friend come over the other night who told me a storey about his two rabbits when he was a kid, which ended up being 21 rabbits - all of which had to be rehomed in recues. He was told that his rabbits were the same sex and was none the wiser until it became pregnant. Then the litter bred and of course more rabbits arrived ...... is that the breeders fault?

People also forget that rabbits are not the only animals in recues, the responsibilty relies with the owners and if they are not capable of looking after them properly and doing there reserch then its the rescues that suffer.

There are good and bad breeders, but at least the good breeders know what they are doing and know how to look after there animals, unlike some owners.

This site confuses me, if your a breeder or just agree with it, or if you dont see the problem with rabbits in pet shops, or even if you just have a rabbit on its own, then i guess you could call yourself an outcast as its all frowned appon here.

[Lucy]

I know a BRC registered breeder who is breeding from a completely blind REW:evil:


SO have you reported them to the BRC?

[Lspacehopper]

I think you need to look at the bigger picture, and not just assume that the over population of rabbits is down to breeders alone.

A lot of people who want rabbits are not educated enough before getting them, not only do they think they are low maintenace but they dont know how quckily and easy it for a rabbit to breed.

I had a friend come over the other night who told me a storey about his two rabbits when he was a kid, which ended up being 21 rabbits - all of which had to be rehomed in recues. He was told that his rabbits were the same sex and was none the wiser until it became pregnant. Then the litter bred and of course more rabbits arrived ...... is that the breeders fault?

People also forget that rabbits are not the only animals in recues, the responsibilty relies with the owners and if they are not capable of looking after them properly and doing there reserch then its the rescues that suffer.

There are good and bad breeders, but at least the good breeders know what they are doing and know how to look after there animals, unlike some owners.

This site confuses me, if your a breeder or just agree with it, or if you dont see the problem with rabbits in pet shops, or even if you just have a rabbit on its own, then i guess you could call yourself an outcast as its all frowned appon here.


We had a lady in the store the other evening looking for a male rabbit. I asked her if there was any specific reason she wanted a male and she said she wants to breed her 2 females. I told her we don't sell animals for breeding purposes so she wouldn't be getting one. I asked her if she knew what she was doing and I got the usual 'I've had rabbits for years and I have a big hutch (1 hutch). I asked her if she was aware of the problems that breeding unknown rabbits can cause and she was oblivious. I asked her what she would do with possibly 16 babies. Was she going to sell them? She said perhaps, we're just doing it so the children can have the experience!

[rspcarabbits]

I think you need to look at the bigger picture, and not just assume that the over population of rabbits is down to breeders alone.

A lot of people who want rabbits are not educated enough before getting them, not only do they think they are low maintenace but they dont know how quckily and easy it for a rabbit to breed.

I had a friend come over the other night who told me a storey about his two rabbits when he was a kid, which ended up being 21 rabbits - all of which had to be rehomed in recues. He was told that his rabbits were the same sex and was none the wiser until it became pregnant. Then the litter bred and of course more rabbits arrived ...... is that the breeders fault?

People also forget that rabbits are not the only animals in recues, the responsibilty relies with the owners and if they are not capable of looking after them properly and doing there reserch then its the rescues that suffer.

There are good and bad breeders, but at least the good breeders know what they are doing and know how to look after there animals, unlike some owners.

This site confuses me, if your a breeder or just agree with it, or if you dont see the problem with rabbits in pet shops, or even if you just have a rabbit on its own, then i guess you could call yourself an outcast as its all frowned appon here.

With your last paragraph you have hit the nail on the head.....let me explain.

The vast majority of people on this site are concerned with rabbit welfare in all its forms.....pure and simple and thats why they come on here. To that end there are a lot of people on this site including us that deal with all the horrors and problems caused by pet shops and breeders.

If you read enough threads you will realise there is repect on here for any excellent breeder or pet shop but even more disrespect and critisism for anybody who puts the welfare of rabbits second often below making money.

The problem is ,the groups you mention often do find this animal welfare driven forum confusing because pure animal welfare is often an alien concept to them.

As for the story you tell.....if the breeder or pet shop sold the rabbits and incorrectly sexed them or did not give the correct information to the new owner on how easily and repeatedly rabbits breed then yes it is their fault they are the route cause of the final problem and thats why they come in for all the slagging.

[Char-x]

I'm against breeding and pet shops...although I've made the mistake of once getting mice from a pet shop and I've brought from breeders and puppies in the paper etc when now I realise it was a terrible thing to do. Of course I dont regret the animals I have but I would only ever rescue from now on unless there was no other option what so ever, which unfortunatly I dont think there will ever be empty rescues or shelters :(

[bunlover]

well i dont agree with irrisponsible breeding for money.

i would have loved each of my rabbits to have been able to have had babies and to have kept them as i feel if it was me i would love a family.however this is not possible as where do you draw the line, with which animal cant then have a family. i have neutered to allow companionship and to allow less health problems. however i respect that some people dont neuter for various reasons.

with breeding if the person does allow their rabbit to be bred, twice a year say and is happy to let them be a lone or pair of same sex then i guess its not so bad. provided the breeder must look after give proper sized accomodation and vaccinate all rabbits including the kits when old enough and should ensure all get adequate excersize and are going to a good home. during their lives with the breeder they must have a good diet and access to proper vetinary care. if any of the above criteria are not met then to me the breeder is not a good one who cares about its animals. also should not leave the mum until 8 weeks.
however given the choice i always go to a rescue centre as those animals are more in need. i do not doubt that there are many breeders who ought to be put down for the cruelty they inflict but i do think there are some who do so responsibly. if everyone stopped breeding today then in 15 years there would be no more domestic rabbits and so none of us would have pet rabbits. i know my view is probebly controversial and i do not agree in any way with rabbits being farmed, but i do think it can and by the elite few is done carefully with respect for the animals they care for.