I bet that title got your attention, didn't it????
Well, it caught mine too!
I had a very distressed message from a member of RU today who needed help at Thirsk Auction Farmers Market. A bunny (Albino Angora) was apparently in a right old mess... matted fur, dirty bum - the works!
So I went to get her. No, we can't save them all and no, I don't agree with funding these sorts of auctions but I will do my best to save a distressed bun.
Now imagine it. A huge hall, with 1ft by 1ft wire cages all around. You have hens, geese, ducks, pigeons and ferrets on one side. You have buns on the other. The smell is nothing like you've smelt before. You have your hands in your pockets protecting every penny you have as traveller upon traveller passes by you. The noise is almost unbearable. Birds on all sides squaking so you can barely hear yourself.
Then you see the buns, no water, no food, a tiny amount of hay in some cages. Conti's squeezed into cages so they literally cannot move either way. Thankfully, the majority seem to be in ok health. Some however, are pregnant. Some, are matted, have dirty bottoms and raw bits. Then the auctioneer comes over and it begins.
'A pound, a pound! Any takers for a pound. No? Next one. 431, A pound, a pound. Sold. You get the one before for free.' Surely he can't be right? £1 for two buns? He can't be right, can he?
He was serious. 2 buns for £1. Guess who the majority of buyers were? Travellers! Guess what they were also buying!?! Ferrets. I wonder what these buns were for...
So, today I played God. I saved some buns. No, I can't save them all and no, I wouldn't even try. Yes, I funded the auction today but I won't be doing it again.
Instead, I am going to post pictures for you all to see. I am going to post pictures of the Angora's I have brought home and show you the horrendous state of them. Then, I need you all to help.
I intend to hit this as hard as I can. Sue has been trying for years but now, I think we need back up. I propose that we do something about it. Write to someone, everyone with pictures included.
I helped 4 buns today but there are hundreds who we can't help directly. We need to hit this hard. And we need to do it now.
Well, it caught mine too!
I had a very distressed message from a member of RU today who needed help at Thirsk Auction Farmers Market. A bunny (Albino Angora) was apparently in a right old mess... matted fur, dirty bum - the works!
So I went to get her. No, we can't save them all and no, I don't agree with funding these sorts of auctions but I will do my best to save a distressed bun.
Now imagine it. A huge hall, with 1ft by 1ft wire cages all around. You have hens, geese, ducks, pigeons and ferrets on one side. You have buns on the other. The smell is nothing like you've smelt before. You have your hands in your pockets protecting every penny you have as traveller upon traveller passes by you. The noise is almost unbearable. Birds on all sides squaking so you can barely hear yourself.
Then you see the buns, no water, no food, a tiny amount of hay in some cages. Conti's squeezed into cages so they literally cannot move either way. Thankfully, the majority seem to be in ok health. Some however, are pregnant. Some, are matted, have dirty bottoms and raw bits. Then the auctioneer comes over and it begins.
'A pound, a pound! Any takers for a pound. No? Next one. 431, A pound, a pound. Sold. You get the one before for free.' Surely he can't be right? £1 for two buns? He can't be right, can he?
He was serious. 2 buns for £1. Guess who the majority of buyers were? Travellers! Guess what they were also buying!?! Ferrets. I wonder what these buns were for...
So, today I played God. I saved some buns. No, I can't save them all and no, I wouldn't even try. Yes, I funded the auction today but I won't be doing it again.
Instead, I am going to post pictures for you all to see. I am going to post pictures of the Angora's I have brought home and show you the horrendous state of them. Then, I need you all to help.
I intend to hit this as hard as I can. Sue has been trying for years but now, I think we need back up. I propose that we do something about it. Write to someone, everyone with pictures included.
I helped 4 buns today but there are hundreds who we can't help directly. We need to hit this hard. And we need to do it now.
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