Rescues Viewpoint

Want this to stay polite and not be locked

We all know everyone can get their pets from wherever they choose. Rescue, free ads, pet shop, breeder, mate down the road.
And no one should be made to feel evil for choosing

But, please can everyone understand how very frustrating it is when members of a forum such as this, knowing the situation in rescues, go and buy a rabbit
Now the most recent thread is from someone who supports rescue work and has her reasons and this is NOT aimed at her..so please don't think it is

But generally..how on earth do you think it feels when you spend all your time trying to find homes for the unwanted and un loved..and despite advertising no offers of homes come forward..then " hey look at my new pet shop bun" appears

No one should be nasty..but don't be surprised if rescue workers make a pro rescue and/or disappointed comment

honeybunny said:

Want this to stay polite and not be locked

We all know everyone can get their pets from wherever they choose. Rescue, free ads, pet shop, breeder, mate down the road.
And no one should be made to feel evil for choosing

But, please can everyone understand how very frustrating it is when members of a forum such as this, knowing the situation in rescues, go and buy a rabbit
Now the most recent thread is from someone who supports rescue work and has her reasons and this is NOT aimed at her..so please don't think it is

But generally..how on earth do you think it feels when you spend all your time trying to find homes for the unwanted and un loved..and despite advertising no offers of homes come forward..then " hey look at my new pet shop bun" appears

No one should be nasty..but don't be surprised if rescue workers make a pro rescue and/or disappointed comment

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Am right with you on this one Jill.

Sometimes I just think - why do I bother.

I do find it particularly gauling when the people that do this, are ones who are pro rescue or pro welfare.

Each to their own, but it doesn't make it any easier to take.

It must be very frustrating.

I would certainly never go to a breeder, but no more can I ever see me in current circumstances passing a homecheck from a creditable rescue.

Spenser was a private rehome. Technically he was 'free' but I sent a donation to Rainbow Rabbits. At the time I was under heavy pressure from family and friends to buy a baby rabbit from a breeder. Indeed, the mother of one of my pupils bred rabbits and I could have had 'the pick of the litter.'

Sometimes life has to be a compromise.

I can understand how rescuers feel when people buy instead of rescue, however they should know that people have freedom of choice and shouldn't look down on people who buy their animals.

If you don't agree with people buying animals, then don't comment on a thread. What is the point in posting a disapproving comment? Its just making the person feel really bad, when they have nothing to feel bad about. Every rabbit needs a loving home, no matter where they has come from.

Absolutely Jill, completely agree with you.
I have been tempted, many times!, by cute bundles in pet shops, but since finding this forum in 2005, have only ever had rescue bunnies.
Personally, I couldn't justify it to myself, nor to the rescues on here who I greatly admire and respect.

LionheadLuver said:

I can understand how rescuers feel when people buy instead of rescue, however they should know that people have freedom of choice and shouldn't look down on people who buy their animals.

If you don't agree with people buying animals, then don't comment on a thread. What is the point in posting a disapproving comment? Its just making the person feel really bad, when they have nothing to feel bad about. Every rabbit needs a loving home, no matter where they has come from.

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Of course they do, but I think that rescue bunnies deserve the first bite of the cherry as they have normally been through so much already.

Fact is that there aren't enough homes for all of the bunnies so let's not have any more bunnies 'made'. If you buy, you are encouraging more bunnies being produced. Simples.

This viscious circle won't stop as long as people continue to buy from pet shops.

susie bun said:

no more can I ever see me in current circumstances passing a homecheck from a creditable rescue.

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I'm sure as a lot of rescues 'know' you on here, they would help as much as possible.

But preaching about it doesn't help rescues. It's like preaching to someone about eating meat or having a certain religion. No one on here likes that. So why is preaching about rescues okay? People will make their own decisions no matter how much they're told they should rescue so don't try to force them into rescuing, it'll just make them resent rescues.

I'm not talking about anyone in this thread, I just mean in general, the preaching does get a bit annoying. Yeah, it's a pro rescue forum, but most animal forums are and they don't all preach. Everyone here already knows they should rescue.

The Duchess said:

Of course they do, but I think that rescue bunnies deserve the first bite of the cherry as they have normally been through so much already.

Fact is that there aren't enough homes for all of the bunnies so let's not have any more bunnies 'made'. If you buy, you are encouraging more bunnies being produced. Simples.

This viscious circle won't stop as long as people continue to buy from pet shops.

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the fact is though that pet shops, garden centres, BYB breeders etc won't stop breeding and selling rabbits just because one person decided to get a rescue rather than a pet shop rabbit. Unless there is government legislation, this won't stop, so if you want to "rescue" a rabbit from a pet shop or garden centre, and give the rabbit a good home, then why should that rabbit be denied that?

LionheadLuver said:

If you don't agree with people buying animals, then don't comment on a thread. What is the point in posting a disapproving comment? Its just making the person feel really bad, when they have nothing to feel bad about. Every rabbit needs a loving home, no matter where they has come from.

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but doing the work we do and seeing what we see, we have to keep trying to get the pro rescue choice across..we would be failing the animals who need us if we didn't. And of course every animal deserves a home, but while their are too many for the homes available, I would be not only stupid, but irresponsible to not keep trying to get the message across

susie bun said:

It must be very frustrating.

I would certainly never go to a breeder, but no more can I ever see me in current circumstances passing a homecheck from a creditable rescue.

Spenser was a private rehome. Technically he was 'free' but I sent a donation to Rainbow Rabbits. At the time I was under heavy pressure from family and friends to buy a baby rabbit from a breeder. Indeed, the mother of one of my pupils bred rabbits and I could have had 'the pick of the litter.'

Sometimes life has to be a compromise.

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Private rehomes are just as good as going to a rescue imo.

As I have said in a other thread no matter what I would never go to a breeder for any animal . And I happy to say every animal I have here are from rescues or rehomed from somone.

My 3 dogs are all rescue animals and I have taken them on for the love of the breeds. Thats all except my wee papillon who I rescued from a old lady who was going into a nursing home . At that point I disliked wee dogs and took her in to stop her going in a rescue and was going to rehome her myself but i fell in love with her and wouldn't be without her now.My rough collie came through the rough collie rescue and so did my border collie.

I used to breed rough collies and I have always said if any of the pups what I sold needed to come back here I would be happy for them to come back . I would never breed again after what I know now and am sorry I did ,

All my rabbits are from rescues one way or other.

My tortoise are from somone on here looking to rehome them and I alwayd wanted them when I was growing up after alot of reading up and asking questions to m vet ect I took them in

So in my eyes I would never go to a breeder for anything as they will turn up no matter what breed colour ect in a rescue one day

:thumb: Agree, I can't imagine how frustrating it is for rescues.

HS said:

Absolutely Jill, completely agree with you.
I have been tempted, many times!, by cute bundles in pet shops, but since finding this forum in 2005, have only ever had rescue bunnies.
Personally, I couldn't justify it to myself, nor to the rescues on here who I greatly admire and respect.

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This :thumb: After adopting Gordon I will never get another pet from a pet shop, or breeders when there's so many in rescue's. I feel very bad for having Boris. Despite the fact I didn't choose him/pay anything for him as my sister found him and I went and caught him. But I am keeping him and I feel bad because I feel as though some people may think oh I have the room/money/time for another rabbit that could've been a rescue rabbit but Boris isn't.

LionheadLuver said:

I can understand how rescuers feel when people buy instead of rescue, however they should know that people have freedom of choice and shouldn't look down on people who buy their animals.

If you don't agree with people buying animals, then don't comment on a thread. What is the point in posting a disapproving comment? Its just making the person feel really bad, when they have nothing to feel bad about. Every rabbit needs a loving home, no matter where they has come from.

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Why? It's a forum - that's what forums are about - having discussions, opinions, the freedom of speech etc. One could argue - if you don't want people to post an opinion or comment on something, don't start a thread at all - about anything! If people feel 'bad' about something they've done or not done, said or not said then I would suggest that deep down it's because they're not really comfortable with the choice they've made in the first place and maybe they have regrets or feel ashamed.

i.e. I am a strict vegetarian and I have been since the age of 12. Lots of people have challenged me over the years, questioned why I am, told me I'm stupid, that I should eat meat etc etcbut I knew that it was the right thing for ME and so it has never bothered me :wave:

So long as people aren't rude or offensive I think it's fine to post your opinion or belief. We will never all agree - that would just be bizarre!

LionheadLuver said:

I can understand how rescuers feel when people buy instead of rescue, however they should know that people have freedom of choice and shouldn't look down on people who buy their animals.

If you don't agree with people buying animals, then don't comment on a thread. What is the point in posting a disapproving comment? Its just making the person feel really bad, when they have nothing to feel bad about. Every rabbit needs a loving home, no matter where they has come from.

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Supply & demand. People buy from breeders, breeders will breed.

People come home with cute fluffy baby buns, & Rescues give up their valuable time on the phone & on the internet giving advice when cute fluffy bun turns into hormonal, aggressive bundle that's shredding their house. The rescues don't complain - they want bun to have a happy life

Cute fluffy bun turned evil shredding bun, is too expensive to neuter when new puppy arrives, so Rescue agrees to take on & fund the neuter themselves, while avoiding calls from vet re outstanding balance.

Bun is socialised, advertised & sits patiently waiting for new home, while Rescue is giving free advice trying to change the lives of other buns

Fluffers said:

Why? It's a forum - that's what forums are about - having discussions, opinions, the freedom of speech etc. One could argue - if you don't want people to post an opinion or comment on something, don't start a thread at all - about anything! If people feel 'bad' about something they've done or not done, said or not said then I would suggest that deep down it's because they're not really comfortable with the choice they've made in the first place and maybe they have regrets or feel ashamed.

i.e. I am a strict vegetarian and I have been since the age of 12. Lots of people have challenged me over the years, questioned why I am, told me I'm stupid, that I should eat meat etc etcbut I knew that it was the right thing for ME and so it has never bothered me :wave:

So long as people aren't rude or offensive I think it's fine to post your opinion or belief. We will never all agree - that would just be bizarre!

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While I agree in a way, if I replied to a thread about a good chicken recipe and 'You should have used fake meat instead. Don't you know how many chickens die to feed people?' there would be instant uproar. What's really the difference between the two?

I will always rescue rabbits now. Before I got Izzy, I went to pets at home to get some rabbit food and I saw a beautiful rabbit in the adoption section. She was 3 years old, and I didn't get her because I worried about what people here would think. I really think rescues are the best place to go, but I really loved this rabbit (I know that's not an excuse) so I probably would have got her. I'm glad I didn't though because when I went to the rescue to get Izzy, they had hutches and pens all full with rabbits, they had extra hutches outside as well because they were so full.
I felt bad that I couldn't adopt a rabbit from a rescue on here, but I still feel happy I gave a rescue rabbit a home.

Fluffers said:

Why? It's a forum - that's what forums are about - having discussions, opinions, the freedom of speech etc. One could argue - if you don't want people to post an opinion or comment on something, don't start a thread at all - about anything! If people feel 'bad' about something they've done or not done, said or not said then I would suggest that deep down it's because they're not really comfortable with the choice they've made in the first place and maybe they have regrets or feel ashamed.

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good point.:thumb:

LionheadLuver said:

because one person decided to get a rescue rather than a pet shop rabbit.

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There have been 18000 members through this forum, currently 1500 (ish) active.
If every one of these who wanted a new bunny went to a rescue, rather than buying from a pet shop, that's a lot less demand for pet shop/ breeder bunnies, and much better news for rescues.
I am one person - I've rescued 5 bunnies in the past 6 years, and have one foster bunny. I've made a difference.
That's just me, what about the others?

HS said:

There have been 18000 members through this forum, currently 1500 (ish) active.
If every one of these who wanted a new bunny went to a rescue, rather than buying from a pet shop, that's a lot less demand for pet shop/ breeder bunnies, and much better news for rescues.
I am one person - I've rescued 5 bunnies in the past 6 years, and have one foster bunny. I've made a difference.
That's just me, what about the others?

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I've personally adopted millions of Rescue buns:thumb: