Someone on a US budgie forum was asking about rabbits and I gave some basic information including the fact that males are happier neutered and females are happier (and safer!) spayed. This was the response from a forum member:
I replied with:
....... but if they reply again can anyone please give me some sources to quote please? It is not the OP of the thread who said this it's someone who keeps rabbits and obviously thinks they're an expert..... :roll:
*Am quite annoyed!!!* :?
Female bunnies are perfectly happy intact and are no more likely to get cancer than humans. However intact females have major attitude problems and often become aggressive or overly territorial. I have one we named Demon rabbit because she attacks with enough enthusiasm to tear leather gloves and pant legs. The humans are much happier with spayed females. Both genders but especially the bucks will mark like unaltered cats. Bunnies do not come in to heat or have cycles so they do not have periods of strong hormones and urges like other mammals. The only release eggs and go through hormone changes when exposed to a buck.
I replied with:
Where on earth have you got that information from?? It's completely and utterly wrong.
I am quite annoyed by your reply especially as you have the gall to insuate that my rabbit is spayed for my convenience!! 80% of rabbits who are not spayed will go on to develop cancer - she is spayed to protect her from this danger. Besides which; if you honestly think a rabbit is happy stressed, aggressive and constantly hormonal having regular phantom pregnancies then that is up to you.
Personally I like to protect my animals to the best of my ability. Hollie being spayed means she is far calmer and happier than she was prior to her spay. And for your information - I did not spay her - she was spayed in the rescue I adopted her from.
Every single reputable rabbit rescue in the UK spays and neuters routinely as it is in the rabbits' best interests but if you *choose* not to for whatever strange reason you may have that is entirely up to you. But please do not perpetuate myths about it not making any difference to the incidence of cancer because I am quite happy to provide a battalion of evidence to prove you wrong should this be necessary.
I am close to a *lot* of people in rabbit rescue so am not talking off the top of my head - I am basing my facts on information gleaned from many, many extremely knowledgable people.
Please read the following (( Leaflet from the Rabbit Welfare Association )) if you don't want to listen to a mere mortal such as myself.
ETA: A Demon Rabbit is, in my opinion, a very unhappy rabbit.
....... but if they reply again can anyone please give me some sources to quote please? It is not the OP of the thread who said this it's someone who keeps rabbits and obviously thinks they're an expert..... :roll:
*Am quite annoyed!!!* :?