Buying Rabbits as a Gift/Charity for Africa.....welfare issues?

[Herbert'sMum]

i dont see the problem, as i dont buy into the vegan/environmentalist "livestock are bad" argument (i'm aware thats extreme paraphrasing!). The rabbits are bred locally usually, so no issues with climate etc. No, they're not kept like our domestic rabbits, dont have the same space or diets, but they are for food not pets. Poeple given animals on these schemes are taught very carefully how to care for them and they take great pride in their animals as they have to little. i think comparatively speaking, rearing some rabbits is a small expense/effort compared to the benefit they gain. Its not the same perspective as we have on the issue, but i dont see anything wrong with it. The pic on the website is misleading tho, implying its a domestic rabbit in a hutch that is donated.

I haven't an issue with animals being bred for food. However, what I do have an issue with is such companies offering these 'gifts' for purchase by the general public without any consideration regarding the welfare of the animals involved (domesticated or not). They take the money and then that's the end of it. If these people can't afford to buy livestock in the first place, how can they afford proper upkeep when the charity is no longer available?

Anyway, if the company in question can assure me that indeed the people given the rabbits are taught to care for them AND can afford their ongoing upkeep when left to their own devices, then I will be content......and my concern applies to all animals offered for purchase on these schemes, not just bunnies.

 

[Kareena]

I haven't an issue with animals being bred for food. However, what I do have an issue with is such companies offering these 'gifts' for purchase by the general public without any consideration regarding the welfare of the animals involved (domesticated or not). They take the money and then that's the end of it. If these people can't afford to buy livestock in the first place, how can they afford proper upkeep when the charity is no longer available?

Anyway, if the company in question can assure me that indeed the people given the rabbits are taught to care for them AND can afford their ongoing upkeep when left to their own devices, then I will be content......and my concern applies to all animals offered for purchase on these schemes, not just bunnies.

The initial outlay of £12 for many families, would be near on impossible to reach. To give you an example my brother in law worked 7 days a week, 12 hours a day for in our currency £50 a MONTH! He was lucky to even get that job, most don't.( Many have to work, in my husbands country, 6 months contract for free for even a shot at a permanent paid job, which they then wont get.)Vegetation would not be that expensive, and many things could be free. There are many grazing animals in africa, and they are not all skinny. Obviously they would give this livestock to the most needy, who in turn could sell it. I think I may have a different perspective because I've seen first hand suffering children, poverty in Africa is close to my heart.

I just wanted to say as well it's a charity, so it's not a company out for gain. For this they surely have to be a littl kind hearted, honestly I don't think many westerners can stomach seeing animal cruelty though it exists. I'd have hope they would be kind hearted enough to also think of animal welfare.

 

[kerry-123]

OMG I can't belive that!!! :shock:

 

[Buuny_Friend]

Got a reply to my e-mail:

Thank you for your query about our Rabbit Rabbit Future Gift.

Hope and Homes for Children work together with children, their families and communities across Central and Eastern Europe and Africa to ensure that children grow up in an environment where they have the opportunity to fulfil their potential. We move children out of institutions into family-based care, help keep together families at risk of breakdown – due to the pressures of poverty, disease or conflict – and work to prevent child abandonment.



As part of our work in Africa we provide families with the opportunity to develop their own sustainable agriculture within the cultural context of their community. We do not send any animals abroad from the UK, everything is sourced locally. By doing this we are providing these families with the opportunity to lift themselves out of abject poverty where they have often had no income, inadequate living conditions, and poor diet and health. We do provide families with advice and support on how to care for their animals.



Regards

Jill Chapman

:roll:

 

[w1lll]

I've emailed them too...

 

[VikkiVet]

Got a reply to my e-mail:

Thank you for your query about our Rabbit Rabbit Future Gift.

Hope and Homes for Children work together with children, their families and communities across Central and Eastern Europe and Africa to ensure that children grow up in an environment where they have the opportunity to fulfil their potential. We move children out of institutions into family-based care, help keep together families at risk of breakdown – due to the pressures of poverty, disease or conflict – and work to prevent child abandonment.



As part of our work in Africa we provide families with the opportunity to develop their own sustainable agriculture within the cultural context of their community. We do not send any animals abroad from the UK, everything is sourced locally. By doing this we are providing these families with the opportunity to lift themselves out of abject poverty where they have often had no income, inadequate living conditions, and poor diet and health. We do provide families with advice and support on how to care for their animals.



Regards

Jill Chapman

:roll:

Whats wrong with that? answers your questions - sources locally, given advice and support, used in cultural context.

 

[coco1200]

I don't understand why people are emailing and complaining? I honestly don't!

These are good worthwhile causes, which sets up sustainability for these families. I want to say 'its life' without sounding harsh, but it really is life, wether its a rabbit or chicken being eaten :?

 

[Snowberry]

I don't understand why people are emailing and complaining? I honestly don't!

These are good worthwhile causes, which sets up sustainability for these families. I want to say 'its life' without sounding harsh, but it really is life, wether its a rabbit or chicken being eaten :?

I am not a fan of these charities giving any sort of animal to families in crisis who cannot afford to feed it. The conditions the animals live in are not nice and if the families cant afford to feed themselves as the email says how are they going to be able to feed rabbits?

If this were people in England inbreeding rabbits, keeping them in unsuitable accomodation and not giving them the proper diet would you say "oh its ok, they are going to be eaten anyways"? I doubt it somehow.

 

[VikkiVet]

The conditions the animals live in are not nice and if the families cant afford to feed themselves as the email says how are they going to be able to feed rabbits?

why make these assumptions? as it says in the email, and as i understand it from people i know who have worked on these projects, the families and communities are assessed for their ability to feed and care for the animals so that its a successful and sustainable project.

not they're not kept in the same conditions as in the UK, but they are very much valued. it would be counterproductive to underfeed them.

 

[Snowberry]

why make these assumptions? as it says in the email, and as i understand it from people i know who have worked on these projects, the families and communities are assessed for their ability to feed and care for the animals so that its a successful and sustainable project.

not they're not kept in the same conditions as in the UK, but they are very much valued. it would be counterproductive to underfeed them.

I am not making assumptions, I am stating what is in the email!

"families with the opportunity to lift themselves out of abject poverty where they have often had no income, inadequate living conditions, and poor diet and health."

 

[Tuckerbunnies]

Oh What Next :shock:

 

[Buuny_Friend]

I am not a fan of these charities giving any sort of animal to families in crisis who cannot afford to feed it. The conditions the animals live in are not nice and if the families cant afford to feed themselves as the email says how are they going to be able to feed rabbits?

If this were people in England inbreeding rabbits, keeping them in unsuitable accomodation and not giving them the proper diet would you say "oh its ok, they are going to be eaten anyways"? I doubt it somehow.

I agree with this and it is exactly what I have said to her when I replied to her e-mail!

 

[coco1200]

I am not a fan of these charities giving any sort of animal to families in crisis who cannot afford to feed it. The conditions the animals live in are not nice and if the families cant afford to feed themselves as the email says how are they going to be able to feed rabbits?

If this were people in England inbreeding rabbits, keeping them in unsuitable accomodation and not giving them the proper diet would you say "oh its ok, they are going to be eaten anyways"? I doubt it somehow.

I think these charities would at least weigh up situations to which families would be nominated to keep rabbits etc, I can't imagne them giving our rabbits willy nilly, and to families who couldn't even afford to feed themselves... thats not exacly sustainable? and that would surely be contradictive to what their mission is?

and rabbits in Africa aren't exacly £12... probably a tiny fraction of that cost. Maybe the rest goes on sustainable feeding and care?

 

[antigone]

Got a reply to my e-mail:

Thank you for your query about our Rabbit Rabbit Future Gift.

Hope and Homes for Children work together with children, their families and communities across Central and Eastern Europe and Africa to ensure that children grow up in an environment where they have the opportunity to fulfil their potential. We move children out of institutions into family-based care, help keep together families at risk of breakdown – due to the pressures of poverty, disease or conflict – and work to prevent child abandonment.



As part of our work in Africa we provide families with the opportunity to develop their own sustainable agriculture within the cultural context of their community. We do not send any animals abroad from the UK, everything is sourced locally. By doing this we are providing these families with the opportunity to lift themselves out of abject poverty where they have often had no income, inadequate living conditions, and poor diet and health. We do provide families with advice and support on how to care for their animals.



Regards

Jill Chapman

:roll:

And they achieve all that by giving them animals?:?:roll::shock: (Maybe I should start eating meat to save the children and 'give them the opportunity to achieve their potential'; evil me!:roll

 

[Snowberry]

I think these charities would at least weigh up situations to which families would be nominated to keep rabbits etc, I can't imagne them giving our rabbits willy nilly, and to families who couldn't even afford to feed themselves... thats not exacly sustainable? and that would surely be contradictive to what their mission is?

and rabbits in Africa aren't exacly £12... probably a tiny fraction of that cost. Maybe the rest goes on sustainable feeding and care?

I dont know, hence why I emailed. I didnt email them specifically to complain, if the animals are cared for suitably and have a happy life then I have no problem with them being killed for me. I am not vegetarian myself. I just wanted to ensure that the animals are receiving a decent quality of life which unforunately their reply, which was a standard email and didnt answer my queries, doesnt fill me with confidence that they do.

 

[w1lll]

I think these charities would at least weigh up situations to which families would be nominated to keep rabbits etc, I can't imagne them giving our rabbits willy nilly, and to families who couldn't even afford to feed themselves... thats not exacly sustainable? and that would surely be contradictive to what their mission is?

and rabbits in Africa aren't exacly £12... probably a tiny fraction of that cost. Maybe the rest goes on sustainable feeding and care?

What about the hutches?

 

[Kareena]

What about the hutches?

I'm sure people are quite capable of building a hutch, like coco1200 said part of the money probably covers things like that.

 

[Kareena]

I would have thought neighbours/people on the scheme could trade rabbits for breeding to ensure better health and not interbreed. I may email them this suggestion myself.
And I doubt very much they will just eat the rabbits, they could also sell them, which would provide them with income. They are trying to lift them out of poverty not just feed them!

 

[w1lll]

I'm sure people are quite capable of building a hutch, like coco1200 said part of the money probably covers things like that.

With what?

 

[Kareena]

With what?

Chicken wire, wood, whatever you would make a hutch out of, they have the same things in africa as here generally. I doubt they would have ready made hutches, for one it wouldn't be economical. My husband made his at least 15 years ago and it's still going strong! (And It's much bigger then 3 ft!)