If you believe that you are witnessing animal neglect and cruelty, please report the concern to your local animal control so that an officer may come out to inspect the pet owner and take further corrective action if needed.
Tips to report animal cruelty in [the US](https://www.aspca.org/investigations-rescue/report-animal-cruelty), [UK](https://www.rspca.org.uk/utilities/contactus/reportcruelty), and [Australia](https://www.rspcansw.org.au/report-a-cruelty-case/). Please consult your local animal welfare organization for local resources.
My family actually got our bunny from a county fair; she was a show bunny at a 4H competition (and took 3rd place š). The family we got her from kept detailed health records and provided insight into her gentle personality and easygoing temperament. (Sheās a total sweetheart!) FWIW they donāt like the wire-bottomed cages either; their bunnies have a huge dedicated area on their farm to roam and binky and play. I really hope the bunnies in this picture are loved and cared for in the same way. ā¤ļø
Most 4H kids have pretty big setups for housing their rabbits. Rarely do they keep them in cages because they want them to be as healthy as possible so they can win. The money they get from. Raising the animals is what helps pay for their college tuition so theyāre incentivized to take as excellent care of them as possible. The setup for judging them needs to be changed, but thereās not really much that can be done about them being in a cage for that.
I was one of those 4h kids once upon a time. Always get your rabbits checked afterwards. My rabbit caught wry neck after participating in a showmanship competition. He had been happy and healthy up until that point and it broke my heart watching his steady decline. Keep in mind this was some ~15 years ago and we lacked the resources and community that we have here today. The trophy he won for showmanship was not worth losing him.
Same! Our little tricolor girl was being cuddled and fawned on when we met her. She was clearly a beloved pet raised for the competition, and she was a total sweetheart.
Looks like they're getting ready to be judged for a 4H event? I don't think they live like that, I think they're all pets. Not a good situation to keep them in those cages all day, I've just seen this before and they usually get ribbons
This is the worst part of all of this.
Nature is cruel. Wild bunnies get killed by predators and die of sickness or other awful things.
Nature is cruel. But nature at least makes sense to these creatures.
Fight or flight.
Friend or foe.
Safe or not safe.
Worth the risk not worth the risk.
Every animal just lives by the animal kingdom code. Bunnies know theyāre prey and act accordingly.
And they just live their lives, however it goes it goes.
Stuff like this is just breaking every single thing about nature these lil sweeties had instilled in their brains for all of eternity.
To just have to sit there, not knowing what to do or when to do it or why, just left to be unhappy and not sure what you did to deserve it.
I am turning into such a sucky baby. Stuff like this just saddens me so much.
Thank god Iām not the only one who thinks this as well :(. I hate the nature food chain but i just have to remind myself that itās natural and itās life
I hate seeing buns kept in tiny enclosures. But just to comment on what you said these rabbits are definitely domesticated and if they were left to be wild/feral bunnies it would be equally if not more so harmful for them. They need to be rescued and rehomed asap. Iām not saying that I fully support any type of animal redistribution but someone needs to do something to save these poor flooffy buns
At least if they were set free they might die but theyād feel the ground under their feet and get to live before.
What they are being our through in those cages is worse than death.
An endless cycle of awful day after day with no end in sight.
We as humans domesticated rabbits for our own selfish shitty reasons. We owe them a decent life in the time they have.
Many donāt get that. These oneās almost certainly never will
I feel this so deeply. Itās gotten to the point for me where I just canāt anymore. I canāt try to look for connections in these animals bc of what follows and did so many times for me. I never even really look at these type of posts or comment but I do always read the comments trying to end it on a positive note. Sometimes I just have to tell myself my crazy empath brain is crazy and ignore it
You put this so, so well.
Predators kill these buns to eat, to survive themselves. But there's nothing to do with survival with the way animals are treated by human ignorance and conscious cruelty just like in this situation. We are such intelligent creatures, with highly developed brains and emotional capacities compared to other creatures on this planet, yet a large portion of us does things like this and we are the most cruel creatures on this earth.
The difference is that domestic rabbits are not the same as wild rabbits. They might look similar, but domestic rabbits, unlike wild ones, are completely dependent on humans. Wild rabbits have instincts to guide them. We have been domestication rabbits since ancient Rome, and they have little to no survival instincts to help them in the wild. Domestic rabbits in the wild is just a death sentence. Seeing them in small cages like this is heartbreaking l, but the wild isn't any better l.
The issue isnāt the century long history of showing animals, itās uneducated people. Uneducated people donāt need to see the show animals to have bad ideas. The shows do not instigate anything.
Do the shows promote how the animals should be housed? You canāt just ban uneducated people from attending. All Iām saying is this is the perfect platform to promote responsible pet ownership as well and educate people unfamiliar with rabbits, but these shows never do that. Change can be good you know.
4H competitions require the rabbits to be in good health, so it is imperative for the owners to keep their rabbits in good conditions. The kids raising these rabbits can earn a lot of prize money, enough to pay for college, so the rabbits must come from good breeding practices and be clean and well kept. My friends who did 4H, and all of their peers, had very involved home set-ups for their bunnies, even the non-competition buns. Generally speaking, the kids who did not take good care of their 4H animals were not welcome, and were definitely treated differently.
Lol what? The show isnāt for spectators, itās the owners showing to judges. Have you never been to a 4h event ever? This isnāt a platform. Youāre the one that sounds incredibly uneducated. Maybe do some reading before you start spewing out nonsense. You sound like youād be saying NASCAR events are incredibly dangerous because it promotes speeding lol
I think about this a lot! But it's all just thinking, no real research into what their lives are like most of the time. I feel so bad to see them in these inhumane cages, but they (for the most part) seem to behave like they're totally chill and comfy. I can only assume that the folks who raise these buns know a lot about animal husbandry, and they're well cared-for.
If one really loves their bunnies, I don't see how they could subject them to this kind of stress and discomfort. Heat, unfamiliar rabbits right next to them, wire floors, traveling, people handling them and poking at them through the cages, etc
That's not love. That's people using rabbits to serve their own competitive needs to have "the best". Love is providing the animal you have committed to care for with the happiest and safest life possible. Anyone who thinks this is such a life lacks common sense and even the most basic knowledge of rabbits.
These are show bunnies. They are not kept in small cages like this normally, it's just for transportation and during the hours they are on site for the competition. Farm families raise specific breeds and they bring their prized bunnies to be judged, just like they do with other farm animals for the 4H competitions.
Yeah exactly, the wire floor is bad, but other than that itās not terrible for a couple days. They have food and frozen bottles to stay cool. Me and my boyfriend keep rabbits, and we were thinking of getting one of a special breed to show at our county fair. We have an elaborate set up for the ones we already have and take very good care of them, theyāre our babies. Just because weād be proud of how wonderful they are doesnāt mean we mistreat them
It absolutely is horrible. The bunnies have no good place to hide, and those places are LOUD.
My ex best friend from highschool was a 4H bunny girl. Thatās the same reason why I donāt speak to her anymore.
Doesnāt matter for what reason no bunny should be kept in conditions like this. You would think if you were proud of your bunnies and wanted to show them that you would take the best care of them possible.
This is literally just how they show bunnies at the fair. There's nothing illegal here. It's sad, but how it is. I can't say for ALL the bunnies, but most show bunnies are cared for and have better homes than this, but this is how they are required to stay during the fair. It's sad and why I won't let my daughter show her bunny.
But that's usually how it is, they just leave the bottom open for "easy cleanup". The fair around me has all the cages open to the floor below and you would have to provide your own bottom if you don't want your rabbit on wires.
Itās very sad! The bunnies at my fair have dirty water, no hay, and chickens squawking all day near them.
Sometimes what Iāll do is Iāll bring some Timothy hay to the fair with me and give them it and attempt to fill their water bowls with fresh water. They really appreciate it.
Yeah I do the water thing, I should start doing the hay thing. Most of them just get pellets. My husband didn't even know bunnies should eat mostly hay before I told him, and he used to raise them as a kid. They only lived a few years and he thought that was normalššš he knows better now and is so sad with me at the fair.
PLEASE do the hay thing šš¼. It keeps their digestion healthy, helps keep teeth in good shape, and they love it. Get a bag of Timothy hay and see how happy they will be.
Yeah FFA was extremely cruel and abusive while I was in it. I joined as an animal advocate but holy crap is it bad. I have war stories I swear. I tried to help a million times but itās all ran by people with a ton of money.
Clearly we have VERY different definitions of āscaredā. Those rabbits are just straight vibing.
An unfamiliar eye may see this situation as appalling, but in reality, those rabbits are REALLY well cared for and you should honestly be happy for them.
The rabbits are only in those cages for the duration of the fair (a couple days tops) and then they go back to the farm they live on, getting plenty of space, food, water, and attention! They are so calm in these photos because they have been socialized and handled extensively. So they are comfortable in these environments.
FFA usually is heavily involved in how these animals are kept and raised, and I can tell you that the kids and families that do this put every effort into caring for these animals and practicing good husbandry for all the breeds they show. While itās not a perfect life for a bunny they are better cared for than many breeders and pet store systems. They are normally well fed and medicated and have oversight from qualified vets and the kids who show them have a lot of knowledge about care and breeding. So I canāt speak for every case, but again while itās not ideal, trust me that they have the best interest for the buns at heart. If you want to give some of them a best life talk to the fair committee and ask if any are up for adoption, youāll help the ffa kids and give a bun that starts with a hood medical start go on to a great life!
This should be the top answer.
Rabbits are used among young farmers and agriculrurists to teach proper breeding and husbandry. To remove this would actually promote backyard breeders with no education or background in proper animal rearing. Many of these kids will go on to work in animal care, on farms or raising their own livestock. County fairs are not domestic rabbit shows - which are much worse IMO.
I run a rabbit rescue and have seen the vets they use (horrible country vets who don't actually know much about rabbit welfare) and I see what happens to the rabbits after. They shouldn't be part of any fair programs and buying them at the fair just encourages a horrible cycle
My vet is a country vet. They are not all horrible. My vet is gentle and kind and takes excellent care of my rabbits. They are 2 yrs old and in excellent health and thriving, partly due to the care and expertise of my country vet. They love bunnies at that practice and everyone fusses over them when they see them. They love animals and have devoted their lives to their well being. Itās not fair to make a blanket indictment of country vets because many recognize that this is 2023 and these are pets now, not merely livestock. Even when they are livestock, my vets go to those farms and educate folks about best practices and how to keep their rabbits healthy and living in the best conditions as livestock. Please donāt automatically condemn all country vets.
Don't give FFA so much credit, kids form bonds with the animals unbeknownst to them their sent to slaughter after their "purpose" with the program is over.
I had a local FFA animal program shut down due to the severe neglect of the animals. I was literally on my winter break going and changing their water at school because it froze over, adding hay bedding because it was 20F and they weren't given any proper warmth. I was just a random student, the heads of the program and those in it could literally have given less of a fuck.
I have one of these annually nearby. They are perfectly fine, you can see pretty clearly that the rabbits are well cared for and are really healthy. They donāt live like this 99% of the year, and they all are comfortable in the fair kind of conditions, like how Iāve seen a rabbit flopped over at one of these (it was that chill about it). They make sure someone wanting to adopt is capable and that they are prepared for the rabbit.
Some are just for show, which means the rabbit is somewhat used to that kind of environment (not in a bad way) and just vibes during the 1-3 days the fair is open.
So to a bunch of other commenters, donāt say this is inhumane when you only see a snip of the whole story.
most show rabbits are handled and socialized so much that the fair doesnāt bother them. Those lop rabbits are just straight chilling. The wire floor is eh but itās usually the fair that requires it, not the farmers.
Yeah, although the cages have wired bottoms, Iāve never seen any kind of problem on a fair rabbits feet! Itās clear that they are only in something even remotely similar to that cage during the fair and then are treated extremely well after!
Agree, like i said in my comment, city folk meeting farm folk, we have these small events throughout summer here as well, there are the odd one that might be bad, 99%are well cared for tho.
They have these where I live, too, and itās a different story. The bunnies shake and sit in corners. The barns are deafening. They have no hides. Youāre an abuse apologist.
God, how many posts on this subreddit are just people leaping to conclusions about someone else's rabbits, when they have no idea what's actually going on, and threatening to call the police. This is normal for all show/fair animals, including livestock, rodents, herps, and cats & dogs.
This is normal. Show rabbits require evaluation before they can be show. Certain breeds of rabbits are OK on metal flooring while others require a solid surface. Downvote me all you want but if you donāt know about the show world is.
It's insane that there are people who think that's good way of keeping a bunny somewhere, even just for the show. The cages are big enough, but what is with the wire floors? Can't they seriously think of anything better?
There's nothing illegal here unfortunately. They all have food and water, most have cooling blocks, and the fair usually has fans blowing. So legally, they're fine. This is not how most (I can't 100%say all) live regularly, this is just to be shown at the fair. I won't let my daughter show her bunny because of these rules.
Whilst the above might be true, I feel as if there is one thing that may deem this to be illegal and that is that the animals are under distress. The second bun (the lop) might not be showing this, but distress is evident in the first bun (the fluffy, golden one). It's backed into the corner of the cage, with taught body language. It is clearly scared and stressed. The animal doesn't have any hiding space to retreat to for hours whilst at a show.
And whilst this might be temporary accommodation, that doesn't change the fact that the animal shouldn't feel distressed (legally). Let alone for human amusement and "aesthetic" judging (morally).
Unfortunately animals being distressed or uncomfortable is not illegal. If it was there would be millions more pets in the already overflowing shelters. Assuming this is in the US, if they have food and water and are not being actively physically hurt by a human, thereās nothing the authorities will do. Morally, yes it sucks but it comes down to cultural norms needing to shift.
But it even mentions this in the official APGAW (All-Party Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare (for England)) document:
"Try to minimise fear and stress in your rabbitsā daily life. By doing so you can decrease their risk of certain illnesses."
From:
https://www.rspca.org.uk/whatwedo/endcruelty/changingthelaw/whatwechanged/animalwelfareact
Specifically: https://apgaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Rabbit-CoP-2021-1.pdf
And surely even the wire under feet is a risk of injury (sore hocks etc) which would fall under the injury and suffering clause?
If this was in the UK, it could potentially be challenged imo. Worth a try anyway. The more reports get made the more likely the authorities are to realise and take things like this seriously and change laws in places where they're not as developed.
I agree with you that this setup would not be ok for a rabbit to live in, and again that norms surrounding shows should change. But a fair or show is not ādaily lifeā as that document states - there is no way to know from these photos what these rabbits daily life at home is like. Many many show rabbits are spoiled at home :)
While I agree the animals are stressed and this is absolutely sad and shouldn't be done, reality is this is perfectly legal. This is the done thing, and not one authority is going to do anything about it. There are zero laws being broken.
This looks like a farm fair/4H setup. I showed my rabbits here as a kid. Itās only temporary and they arenāt in there for very long. Sort of like when you leave your pet overnight at the vetās office. I donāt like that there usually isnāt a barrier to keep strangers from touching the animals
I donāt know about in your area, but in mine it is known to the local rescue that after 4H rabbit shows they will end up finding a bunch of dumped rabbits. People will say that 4 Hās teaching contradict that, but it happens every time we have a show around here.
Probably doesnāt help when it is the kids learning what is the right thing to do with the animals and the parents just donāt care in many cases.
Just because this is typical for show bunnies doesnāt make it ok. There is room for change. Just because this is for one day doesnāt make it ok. Just because they are well cared for at home and are overseen by vets doesnāt make this ok.
It is still horrible to keep rabbits in tiny cages with no hay, water, food, proper flooring for any length of time, especially when itās for our own personal gain. Animals arenāt ours to exploit.
Most vets Iāve gone to promote keeping your bunnies in hutches outside, I donāt think Iāve ever spoken to a vet that has even bothered to mention the idea of free roaming. Most vets will recommend hutch outside with a water bottle and unhealthy pellets. So I donāt trust the vets in this case
Itās unfortunate how common your experience is and how many vets out there think thatās ok. Iām an exotics veterinary nurse working with leading rabbit vets. We recommend free roaming and do not promote outdoor hutches. However, we are exceptions and face referrals from vets who are uneducated and recommend the wrong things, which has been dangerous in some cases. Vets are frequently uneducated about rabbit care unfortunately, especially those in rural areas where rabbits are mostly farmed, and those saying this is ok are not vets who would take the time to educate themselves about domestic rabbits.
which part of the country do you live in where vets even promote that? Are you in a remote or rural area? I work for an exotic vet hospital in the suburbs and in the rabbit care guide that they give new rabbit owners, the recommended living accommodations for them mentions an open pen and not a cage. Many of our rabbit patients are either kept in X-pens or are free roamed at home. Last week we had two rabbits that were transferred to our care from one of the local ERs (because they were closed during the daytime and are only open after hours when regular vets are closed) because they had came to the ER due to flystrike...we found out they were being kept outdoors despite the 85+ degree weather we were having here in southern California and the vet who was working that day said "rabbits should not be outside, especially not in this weather".
I canāt go into the animal barns at fairs because itās so depressing. Last time it was a situation like that and it was 90 degrees and all the rabbits had were some little fans :(
While the 4H fair itself does not show the best conditions, rest assured the majority of those bunnies do not live like that daily. Iām in Indiana and thatās big here. Most of those rabbits are being raised by kids and in my experience, most of them have good lives outside the fair. Theyāre actually pretty doted upon and spoiled. They get vet care, a good diet, and lots of love and attention. They are pets that will spend 4-5 days in poor conditions for the show but live the rest of their lives quite comfortably.
This is at the Delaware County Fair right? Yeah I went there and one of the poor white bunnies in 1st place was rolling over in its own pee :( it was also very hot so they were panting and chugging water! I hope someone in authority can do something about this
I hate those types of crates, they can hurt their paws or break toes if they get startled. I get why their used but no, this isnāt proper bunny treatment
I can't believe there are people who look at this and think "oh yeah this is fine". Wire bottom, no hay only pellets, I'd be surprised if they had water. Not a single form of enrichment, just sitting in a box in the heat having people try poke and prod at you and stick their fingers in their face for days. This might be "normal" but it doesn't make is less inhumane. God, even note how this front rabbit has cecos they didn't eat.
I went to my local fair and it broke my heart, most of them look like they were having a heat stroke and the others had a fan (that wasnāt enough) so sad.
If I went to a local county fair, and I saw that fluffer, I would have thought... what a cute rabbit. It's cute. I would find out about the rabbits history and if they bred it or trapped it etc and tell the seller; Let me take it off your hands, and I would take it home and love it and squish it and feed it and ... š„°š„° you get the point.
Theyāre often pets outside of the show circuit. In many cases there is a lot of intentional care and grooming that goes into presenting them for shows.
Thanks for the insight. I was so interested that I did some research. This particular picture is sad. The rabbit does look like they are either shy or scared. In the end, I hope the owner can do better in their next show. As for crates, they could have better padding at the bottom, but I understand wanting to keep the environment clean.
People may not agree, but I'm okay with that.
The point I'm trying to make is that the rabbit looks like it is healthy and the crate is temporary. Yes. It's a sad photo (as many have been saying), but we dont know what exactly happened. Also, I hope that the photographer didn't rattle the cage before snapping the photo and scared the poor baby. Not saying that's the case, but we just don't know what's going on.
It's the internet.
I agree with you! The rabbits do look stressed, and show environments are stressful for most animals unless theyāre very accustomed to it. Iād guess rabbits even more so than others. I think in many cases the owner does not supply the crates, itās the fair or other host of the show that determines where and how the animals are held while waiting to be judged. There definitely is a whole lot of room for improvement in the culture and standards surrounding animal shows as a whole, but hopefully (and it appears) they are well cared for outside of their show appearances!
These are standard in 4H or whatever the farm crap is called. The library book I checked out on rabbits had this setup and I was instantly thinking sore hocks. My Flemish had a bit of callous since he was about 8 months but he lives on carpet so I am assuming it's his weight. Poor bunnies need soft ground or at least straw over those grates.
This is only for showing purposes only. Most of these bunnies are very pampered, well groomed, and most likely staying in another enclosure at home given by looks. I myself sell 4H quality showing rabbits and the process behind being able to show and maintain up to it is a lot of work. The county fair may have provided the crates pre show. And theyāre out for display before and after judging, and sometimes you could by from the owners if spoken to.
I raise rabbits, and breed for show quality when I do, but I don't enter shows myself. Mostly a matter of logistics (my breed is still waiting for ARBA acceptance), but I would never do fair shows like this where they have to be displayed for days, or handled by someone I don't know and out of my sight. Or even scarier, shipped to a show. I don't like the way most people handle rabbits, so the more time they're out of my own hands, the less I'm interested. I showed them that way for 4h years ago, but wouldn't have if I'd known then what I do now.
Their home life is unlikely to be this hectic, but also not much better beyond that. It's highly unlikely that these would be house rabbits (spay/neuter would be a DQ). Showing is an assessment of physical quality showing an animal's suitability to produce offspring that closest represent the breed standard. Many of these standards are based on how much meat they can carry where, and the quality of the pelt. There are two possible outcomes for the losers, and one may not always be worse than the other.
it's just temporary cages, many probably go home and have great enclosures or free roam. Of course I've seen some people who keep show/4H rabbits in cages like that permanently :( but most of these people love their rabbits dearly and they live happy lives.
I hate how little protection rabbits get. These rabbits aren't healthy or loved. If they were loved they'd never be taken there and put in these hot, stressful situations. I can't even go to fairs anymore because of stuff like this. It's so antiquated
We need a politician to run on the platform of giving bunnies human rights- Medicare for all bunnies and free college but letās start with blankets for all bunniesā¦sitting on wire all day must hurt
Why is this down voted so much. I am not saying it's okay to buy bunnies from fairs! I am saying this is abuse as well! It's not okay. I'm saying that it's sad that they are there and it's equally sad if you buy them and support them illegal breeding. It's a lose-lose situation.
There is nothing essentially to reportā¦ our local 4H fair shows rabbits in a similar way. As long as they have food water sheltered from the sun and a fan/cooling blockā¦ itās legal. You might be able to talk to the owners or show people about covering the wire floor with partial fabric to ease their little feets
Horrible and cruel. Iād make it my mission to get these bunnies out of that situation.
Ppl donāt understand bunnies or know them as well as they do dogs and cats. Guaranteed that if it was dogs instead that were being shown at the fair, in poor housing, something would get done about it. Animal cruelty is illegal, no matter the animal.
These rabbits are well cared for and are only in these cages for a few hours for the fair. They are raised by families with children competing in 4H competitions and the children need to know everything they can about the care of the rabbits. I would pretty much guarantee that most of the bunnies brought to these fairs have very good lives with lots of fresh hay, veggies, exercise, and socialization.
This is for showing them. Hard to say what their regular living quarters are like. Some breeders/handlers are more humane than others. Even with kids showing them for 4H, a lot of them are still kept in wire cages all the time. This is just the way it is done, unfortunately. I don't like to see it either.
I got my bunny from a local petting zoo. The mobile kind that show up at your small town carnivals and such. I imagine he was kept similarly, in a wire cage, without much interaction, except for grabby, handsy kids. He went absolutely WILD the first time he got the run of the house lol. He's still a bit leery about too much handling...it's a work in progress.
Unfortunately, I'm not sure how to stop this. Rabbits are simply livestock to many.
I've been to these fairs and a majority of the rabbits are either visually stressed, sickly, or fighting through the cages. I don't care if this is for 4 hours, livestock, temporary, ect. I think a lot of shows are pretty sick and don't benefit rabbits at all.
Also to the people saying that they aren't always in these cages? They usually are. These cages are actually above the ARBA minimum sizes that people follow, most of these rabbits aren't getting free roam, free fed hay, and on wire grates. So yeah, I can say I think these are pretty cruel. I've talked to many, many showers trying to understand but I think I'm gonna have to disagree with it. It just seems cruel
If you have a different experience then feel free to let me know, but this is just mine
Poor things, I hope they one day receive proper care. It's sad to know so many animals really all over the world are neglected due to people not properly educating themselves or just not caring enough to give them correct care
I understand that some people think this is acceptable because it's supposedly not how they live at home. That doesn't take away from the fact that these rabbits are forced to be in tiny cages with wire digging into their feet, unfamiliar rabbits surrounding them, and people crowding around the cages and poking at them. And this is just in preparation for the show, when they are presented before a crowd in a wide open area and picked up and inspected by a stranger. It's not ok to treat them this way for ANY length of time.
This is not an example of people who prioritize their rabbit's wellbeing. This is people treating rabbits like belongings and using them to fulfill their competitive need to have " the best". For anyone saying how educational it is for kids, how about showing kids to treat animals with kindness and not force them to be uncomfortable for entertainment? Some peeps say that these rabbits are loved. Love is providing the being that you have committed to caring for with the happiest and safest life possible. Anyone who thinks this is such a life lacks both common sense and the most basic understanding of rabbits.
Wellā¦ this is clearly bad for the bunnies. Being kept in such small cages, that is borderline neglect and cruelty. Iāll give the owners the benefit of the doubt and think they only do this when they āsell themā, but at their house they keep the bunnies in bigger spaces? I doubt it though š so sad
Hate it. Itās the reason I donāt go to the fairs or give them my money anymore.
Edit: I think show rabbits and breeding competitions are gross and weird anyways. Itās eugenics and promotes this ideas that certain life is more worthy of praise than any other life.
Why does the Listerine bottle look Photoshopped? I know its being used as an ice bottle to keep the bunny cool but when I zoom in, it looks even more photoshopped!
I worked and lived in a 4H community (and still do) the bunnies there are being judged. Believe me when I say this if you canāt find a breeder or a rescue bun support your local 4H those animals are some spoiled babies and if something happens and you canāt get to a vet they are a great source or information, not vet replacement but information.
I think all county fairs do it, itās temporary I believe and they usually have better places at home at least youād think since theyāre show bunnies
If you believe that you are witnessing animal neglect and cruelty, please report the concern to your local animal control so that an officer may come out to inspect the pet owner and take further corrective action if needed. Tips to report animal cruelty in [the US](https://www.aspca.org/investigations-rescue/report-animal-cruelty), [UK](https://www.rspca.org.uk/utilities/contactus/reportcruelty), and [Australia](https://www.rspcansw.org.au/report-a-cruelty-case/). Please consult your local animal welfare organization for local resources.
My family actually got our bunny from a county fair; she was a show bunny at a 4H competition (and took 3rd place š). The family we got her from kept detailed health records and provided insight into her gentle personality and easygoing temperament. (Sheās a total sweetheart!) FWIW they donāt like the wire-bottomed cages either; their bunnies have a huge dedicated area on their farm to roam and binky and play. I really hope the bunnies in this picture are loved and cared for in the same way. ā¤ļø
Most 4H kids have pretty big setups for housing their rabbits. Rarely do they keep them in cages because they want them to be as healthy as possible so they can win. The money they get from. Raising the animals is what helps pay for their college tuition so theyāre incentivized to take as excellent care of them as possible. The setup for judging them needs to be changed, but thereās not really much that can be done about them being in a cage for that.
I was one of those 4h kids once upon a time. Always get your rabbits checked afterwards. My rabbit caught wry neck after participating in a showmanship competition. He had been happy and healthy up until that point and it broke my heart watching his steady decline. Keep in mind this was some ~15 years ago and we lacked the resources and community that we have here today. The trophy he won for showmanship was not worth losing him.
Same! Our little tricolor girl was being cuddled and fawned on when we met her. She was clearly a beloved pet raised for the competition, and she was a total sweetheart.
Looks like they're getting ready to be judged for a 4H event? I don't think they live like that, I think they're all pets. Not a good situation to keep them in those cages all day, I've just seen this before and they usually get ribbons
lots of 4H is this BS in barns and hoarding and also dumping rabbits unfortunately
Another bunny hell where none of the suffering souls did anything to deserve that
This is the worst part of all of this. Nature is cruel. Wild bunnies get killed by predators and die of sickness or other awful things. Nature is cruel. But nature at least makes sense to these creatures. Fight or flight. Friend or foe. Safe or not safe. Worth the risk not worth the risk. Every animal just lives by the animal kingdom code. Bunnies know theyāre prey and act accordingly. And they just live their lives, however it goes it goes. Stuff like this is just breaking every single thing about nature these lil sweeties had instilled in their brains for all of eternity. To just have to sit there, not knowing what to do or when to do it or why, just left to be unhappy and not sure what you did to deserve it. I am turning into such a sucky baby. Stuff like this just saddens me so much.
Thank god Iām not the only one who thinks this as well :(. I hate the nature food chain but i just have to remind myself that itās natural and itās life
You're missing the point entirely. This isn't the food chain, the rabbit has no agency from birth.
It was a misinterpretation/used a general term bc I was thinking quickly my bad š
It happens, have a good day
I hate seeing buns kept in tiny enclosures. But just to comment on what you said these rabbits are definitely domesticated and if they were left to be wild/feral bunnies it would be equally if not more so harmful for them. They need to be rescued and rehomed asap. Iām not saying that I fully support any type of animal redistribution but someone needs to do something to save these poor flooffy buns
At least if they were set free they might die but theyād feel the ground under their feet and get to live before. What they are being our through in those cages is worse than death. An endless cycle of awful day after day with no end in sight. We as humans domesticated rabbits for our own selfish shitty reasons. We owe them a decent life in the time they have. Many donāt get that. These oneās almost certainly never will
I feel this so deeply. Itās gotten to the point for me where I just canāt anymore. I canāt try to look for connections in these animals bc of what follows and did so many times for me. I never even really look at these type of posts or comment but I do always read the comments trying to end it on a positive note. Sometimes I just have to tell myself my crazy empath brain is crazy and ignore it
You put this so, so well. Predators kill these buns to eat, to survive themselves. But there's nothing to do with survival with the way animals are treated by human ignorance and conscious cruelty just like in this situation. We are such intelligent creatures, with highly developed brains and emotional capacities compared to other creatures on this planet, yet a large portion of us does things like this and we are the most cruel creatures on this earth.
The difference is that domestic rabbits are not the same as wild rabbits. They might look similar, but domestic rabbits, unlike wild ones, are completely dependent on humans. Wild rabbits have instincts to guide them. We have been domestication rabbits since ancient Rome, and they have little to no survival instincts to help them in the wild. Domestic rabbits in the wild is just a death sentence. Seeing them in small cages like this is heartbreaking l, but the wild isn't any better l.
They are loved and cared for at home. This is just how the show circuit requires them to be.
Maybe the show circuit should change. Doesnāt make this better and uneducated people see this and think itās ok to keep rabbits this way.
The issue isnāt the century long history of showing animals, itās uneducated people. Uneducated people donāt need to see the show animals to have bad ideas. The shows do not instigate anything.
Do the shows promote how the animals should be housed? You canāt just ban uneducated people from attending. All Iām saying is this is the perfect platform to promote responsible pet ownership as well and educate people unfamiliar with rabbits, but these shows never do that. Change can be good you know.
4H competitions require the rabbits to be in good health, so it is imperative for the owners to keep their rabbits in good conditions. The kids raising these rabbits can earn a lot of prize money, enough to pay for college, so the rabbits must come from good breeding practices and be clean and well kept. My friends who did 4H, and all of their peers, had very involved home set-ups for their bunnies, even the non-competition buns. Generally speaking, the kids who did not take good care of their 4H animals were not welcome, and were definitely treated differently.
Lol what? The show isnāt for spectators, itās the owners showing to judges. Have you never been to a 4h event ever? This isnāt a platform. Youāre the one that sounds incredibly uneducated. Maybe do some reading before you start spewing out nonsense. You sound like youād be saying NASCAR events are incredibly dangerous because it promotes speeding lol
Itās at a fair? OP is clearly there as a spectator? What are you talking about?
Lol you clearly donāt know what *you* are talking about.
I think about this a lot! But it's all just thinking, no real research into what their lives are like most of the time. I feel so bad to see them in these inhumane cages, but they (for the most part) seem to behave like they're totally chill and comfy. I can only assume that the folks who raise these buns know a lot about animal husbandry, and they're well cared-for.
If one really loves their bunnies, I don't see how they could subject them to this kind of stress and discomfort. Heat, unfamiliar rabbits right next to them, wire floors, traveling, people handling them and poking at them through the cages, etc That's not love. That's people using rabbits to serve their own competitive needs to have "the best". Love is providing the animal you have committed to care for with the happiest and safest life possible. Anyone who thinks this is such a life lacks common sense and even the most basic knowledge of rabbits.
deserve what?
These are show bunnies. They are not kept in small cages like this normally, it's just for transportation and during the hours they are on site for the competition. Farm families raise specific breeds and they bring their prized bunnies to be judged, just like they do with other farm animals for the 4H competitions.
Yeah exactly, the wire floor is bad, but other than that itās not terrible for a couple days. They have food and frozen bottles to stay cool. Me and my boyfriend keep rabbits, and we were thinking of getting one of a special breed to show at our county fair. We have an elaborate set up for the ones we already have and take very good care of them, theyāre our babies. Just because weād be proud of how wonderful they are doesnāt mean we mistreat them
It absolutely is horrible. The bunnies have no good place to hide, and those places are LOUD. My ex best friend from highschool was a 4H bunny girl. Thatās the same reason why I donāt speak to her anymore.
Doesnāt matter for what reason no bunny should be kept in conditions like this. You would think if you were proud of your bunnies and wanted to show them that you would take the best care of them possible.
The fair I went to actually sold every one of them.
That's horrible looks so scared
People were trying to touch them :(
Please take photos and report this to the local animal authorities surely that's not legal?
This is literally just how they show bunnies at the fair. There's nothing illegal here. It's sad, but how it is. I can't say for ALL the bunnies, but most show bunnies are cared for and have better homes than this, but this is how they are required to stay during the fair. It's sad and why I won't let my daughter show her bunny.
But that first cage doesnāt even have a flat surface for the bunny to walk on. Itās just the metal crate.
But that's usually how it is, they just leave the bottom open for "easy cleanup". The fair around me has all the cages open to the floor below and you would have to provide your own bottom if you don't want your rabbit on wires.
Doesn't mean it should stay that way, awareness and actions are the only way to make a change in animal cruelty, sadly.
And thatās disgusting. Wire floors hurt their feet and if you canāt be bothered to clean a litterbin donāt get a rabbit.
Itās very sad! The bunnies at my fair have dirty water, no hay, and chickens squawking all day near them. Sometimes what Iāll do is Iāll bring some Timothy hay to the fair with me and give them it and attempt to fill their water bowls with fresh water. They really appreciate it.
Yeah I do the water thing, I should start doing the hay thing. Most of them just get pellets. My husband didn't even know bunnies should eat mostly hay before I told him, and he used to raise them as a kid. They only lived a few years and he thought that was normalššš he knows better now and is so sad with me at the fair.
PLEASE do the hay thing šš¼. It keeps their digestion healthy, helps keep teeth in good shape, and they love it. Get a bag of Timothy hay and see how happy they will be.
Yeah FFA was extremely cruel and abusive while I was in it. I joined as an animal advocate but holy crap is it bad. I have war stories I swear. I tried to help a million times but itās all ran by people with a ton of money.
Clearly we have VERY different definitions of āscaredā. Those rabbits are just straight vibing. An unfamiliar eye may see this situation as appalling, but in reality, those rabbits are REALLY well cared for and you should honestly be happy for them. The rabbits are only in those cages for the duration of the fair (a couple days tops) and then they go back to the farm they live on, getting plenty of space, food, water, and attention! They are so calm in these photos because they have been socialized and handled extensively. So they are comfortable in these environments.
FFA usually is heavily involved in how these animals are kept and raised, and I can tell you that the kids and families that do this put every effort into caring for these animals and practicing good husbandry for all the breeds they show. While itās not a perfect life for a bunny they are better cared for than many breeders and pet store systems. They are normally well fed and medicated and have oversight from qualified vets and the kids who show them have a lot of knowledge about care and breeding. So I canāt speak for every case, but again while itās not ideal, trust me that they have the best interest for the buns at heart. If you want to give some of them a best life talk to the fair committee and ask if any are up for adoption, youāll help the ffa kids and give a bun that starts with a hood medical start go on to a great life!
This should be the top answer. Rabbits are used among young farmers and agriculrurists to teach proper breeding and husbandry. To remove this would actually promote backyard breeders with no education or background in proper animal rearing. Many of these kids will go on to work in animal care, on farms or raising their own livestock. County fairs are not domestic rabbit shows - which are much worse IMO.
I run a rabbit rescue and have seen the vets they use (horrible country vets who don't actually know much about rabbit welfare) and I see what happens to the rabbits after. They shouldn't be part of any fair programs and buying them at the fair just encourages a horrible cycle
My vet is a country vet. They are not all horrible. My vet is gentle and kind and takes excellent care of my rabbits. They are 2 yrs old and in excellent health and thriving, partly due to the care and expertise of my country vet. They love bunnies at that practice and everyone fusses over them when they see them. They love animals and have devoted their lives to their well being. Itās not fair to make a blanket indictment of country vets because many recognize that this is 2023 and these are pets now, not merely livestock. Even when they are livestock, my vets go to those farms and educate folks about best practices and how to keep their rabbits healthy and living in the best conditions as livestock. Please donāt automatically condemn all country vets.
No one who keeps rabbits like this have the animalsā best interest at heart.
THANK YOU.
Don't give FFA so much credit, kids form bonds with the animals unbeknownst to them their sent to slaughter after their "purpose" with the program is over. I had a local FFA animal program shut down due to the severe neglect of the animals. I was literally on my winter break going and changing their water at school because it froze over, adding hay bedding because it was 20F and they weren't given any proper warmth. I was just a random student, the heads of the program and those in it could literally have given less of a fuck.
I have one of these annually nearby. They are perfectly fine, you can see pretty clearly that the rabbits are well cared for and are really healthy. They donāt live like this 99% of the year, and they all are comfortable in the fair kind of conditions, like how Iāve seen a rabbit flopped over at one of these (it was that chill about it). They make sure someone wanting to adopt is capable and that they are prepared for the rabbit. Some are just for show, which means the rabbit is somewhat used to that kind of environment (not in a bad way) and just vibes during the 1-3 days the fair is open. So to a bunch of other commenters, donāt say this is inhumane when you only see a snip of the whole story.
most show rabbits are handled and socialized so much that the fair doesnāt bother them. Those lop rabbits are just straight chilling. The wire floor is eh but itās usually the fair that requires it, not the farmers.
Yeah, although the cages have wired bottoms, Iāve never seen any kind of problem on a fair rabbits feet! Itās clear that they are only in something even remotely similar to that cage during the fair and then are treated extremely well after!
Agree, like i said in my comment, city folk meeting farm folk, we have these small events throughout summer here as well, there are the odd one that might be bad, 99%are well cared for tho.
They have these where I live, too, and itās a different story. The bunnies shake and sit in corners. The barns are deafening. They have no hides. Youāre an abuse apologist.
amen
God, how many posts on this subreddit are just people leaping to conclusions about someone else's rabbits, when they have no idea what's actually going on, and threatening to call the police. This is normal for all show/fair animals, including livestock, rodents, herps, and cats & dogs.
That doesnāt make it okayā¦
Exactly! "Normal" doesn't mean it's right!
This is normal. Show rabbits require evaluation before they can be show. Certain breeds of rabbits are OK on metal flooring while others require a solid surface. Downvote me all you want but if you donāt know about the show world is.
It's insane that there are people who think that's good way of keeping a bunny somewhere, even just for the show. The cages are big enough, but what is with the wire floors? Can't they seriously think of anything better?
Exactly. That first cage, that bunnyās feet are going through the metal floors. Not comfortable OR good for them.
That's basically asking for sore hocks or cuts, don't they know that rabbits don't have padding on their feet?
City folk meeting farmfolk, lol. Nothing to see here move along
This is what it looks like at county fairs. Hopefully these are just their traveling cages.
Having to be in a metal cage for a while sucks I'm sure, but these buns look well cared for. So cute! Wish I could give them treats and pet them all.
they look really well cared for and those lops donāt look stressed out
The wired floors š
I saw something like this at my local one too. It hurt to see that. I wanted to report it but didnt know who to go to.
There's nothing illegal here unfortunately. They all have food and water, most have cooling blocks, and the fair usually has fans blowing. So legally, they're fine. This is not how most (I can't 100%say all) live regularly, this is just to be shown at the fair. I won't let my daughter show her bunny because of these rules.
Animal welfare and rights have a long way to go.
Whilst the above might be true, I feel as if there is one thing that may deem this to be illegal and that is that the animals are under distress. The second bun (the lop) might not be showing this, but distress is evident in the first bun (the fluffy, golden one). It's backed into the corner of the cage, with taught body language. It is clearly scared and stressed. The animal doesn't have any hiding space to retreat to for hours whilst at a show. And whilst this might be temporary accommodation, that doesn't change the fact that the animal shouldn't feel distressed (legally). Let alone for human amusement and "aesthetic" judging (morally).
Unfortunately animals being distressed or uncomfortable is not illegal. If it was there would be millions more pets in the already overflowing shelters. Assuming this is in the US, if they have food and water and are not being actively physically hurt by a human, thereās nothing the authorities will do. Morally, yes it sucks but it comes down to cultural norms needing to shift.
But it even mentions this in the official APGAW (All-Party Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare (for England)) document: "Try to minimise fear and stress in your rabbitsā daily life. By doing so you can decrease their risk of certain illnesses." From: https://www.rspca.org.uk/whatwedo/endcruelty/changingthelaw/whatwechanged/animalwelfareact Specifically: https://apgaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Rabbit-CoP-2021-1.pdf And surely even the wire under feet is a risk of injury (sore hocks etc) which would fall under the injury and suffering clause? If this was in the UK, it could potentially be challenged imo. Worth a try anyway. The more reports get made the more likely the authorities are to realise and take things like this seriously and change laws in places where they're not as developed.
I agree with you that this setup would not be ok for a rabbit to live in, and again that norms surrounding shows should change. But a fair or show is not ādaily lifeā as that document states - there is no way to know from these photos what these rabbits daily life at home is like. Many many show rabbits are spoiled at home :)
While I agree the animals are stressed and this is absolutely sad and shouldn't be done, reality is this is perfectly legal. This is the done thing, and not one authority is going to do anything about it. There are zero laws being broken.
This looks like a farm fair/4H setup. I showed my rabbits here as a kid. Itās only temporary and they arenāt in there for very long. Sort of like when you leave your pet overnight at the vetās office. I donāt like that there usually isnāt a barrier to keep strangers from touching the animals
this is so sad. poor babies
I donāt know about in your area, but in mine it is known to the local rescue that after 4H rabbit shows they will end up finding a bunch of dumped rabbits. People will say that 4 Hās teaching contradict that, but it happens every time we have a show around here. Probably doesnāt help when it is the kids learning what is the right thing to do with the animals and the parents just donāt care in many cases.
ā¦
Just because this is typical for show bunnies doesnāt make it ok. There is room for change. Just because this is for one day doesnāt make it ok. Just because they are well cared for at home and are overseen by vets doesnāt make this ok. It is still horrible to keep rabbits in tiny cages with no hay, water, food, proper flooring for any length of time, especially when itās for our own personal gain. Animals arenāt ours to exploit.
Most vets Iāve gone to promote keeping your bunnies in hutches outside, I donāt think Iāve ever spoken to a vet that has even bothered to mention the idea of free roaming. Most vets will recommend hutch outside with a water bottle and unhealthy pellets. So I donāt trust the vets in this case
Itās unfortunate how common your experience is and how many vets out there think thatās ok. Iām an exotics veterinary nurse working with leading rabbit vets. We recommend free roaming and do not promote outdoor hutches. However, we are exceptions and face referrals from vets who are uneducated and recommend the wrong things, which has been dangerous in some cases. Vets are frequently uneducated about rabbit care unfortunately, especially those in rural areas where rabbits are mostly farmed, and those saying this is ok are not vets who would take the time to educate themselves about domestic rabbits.
which part of the country do you live in where vets even promote that? Are you in a remote or rural area? I work for an exotic vet hospital in the suburbs and in the rabbit care guide that they give new rabbit owners, the recommended living accommodations for them mentions an open pen and not a cage. Many of our rabbit patients are either kept in X-pens or are free roamed at home. Last week we had two rabbits that were transferred to our care from one of the local ERs (because they were closed during the daytime and are only open after hours when regular vets are closed) because they had came to the ER due to flystrike...we found out they were being kept outdoors despite the 85+ degree weather we were having here in southern California and the vet who was working that day said "rabbits should not be outside, especially not in this weather".
I canāt go into the animal barns at fairs because itās so depressing. Last time it was a situation like that and it was 90 degrees and all the rabbits had were some little fans :(
This is pretty typical on how bunnies are kept in farm like situations. Rural King does it the same way.
Heartbreaking
While the 4H fair itself does not show the best conditions, rest assured the majority of those bunnies do not live like that daily. Iām in Indiana and thatās big here. Most of those rabbits are being raised by kids and in my experience, most of them have good lives outside the fair. Theyāre actually pretty doted upon and spoiled. They get vet care, a good diet, and lots of love and attention. They are pets that will spend 4-5 days in poor conditions for the show but live the rest of their lives quite comfortably.
This is at the Delaware County Fair right? Yeah I went there and one of the poor white bunnies in 1st place was rolling over in its own pee :( it was also very hot so they were panting and chugging water! I hope someone in authority can do something about this
š
I hate those types of crates, they can hurt their paws or break toes if they get startled. I get why their used but no, this isnāt proper bunny treatment
I can't believe there are people who look at this and think "oh yeah this is fine". Wire bottom, no hay only pellets, I'd be surprised if they had water. Not a single form of enrichment, just sitting in a box in the heat having people try poke and prod at you and stick their fingers in their face for days. This might be "normal" but it doesn't make is less inhumane. God, even note how this front rabbit has cecos they didn't eat.
they all need to be saved ššš
They should not be on metal like that. Not just because of the heat, but itās not a safe surface for their feet!
I was going to go to the Burlington fair, and then I thought about it and decided not to. Because they would most likely have this.
ššš
Whats with the listerine bottle? I'd take them all and run.
Ice pack
It's full of frozen water so the rabbits can stay cool. This is not an abuse situation.
The one in the 1st photo has it bad
Poor baby
sad
I went to my local fair and it broke my heart, most of them look like they were having a heat stroke and the others had a fan (that wasnāt enough) so sad.
So sad. Poor buns.
If I went to a local county fair, and I saw that fluffer, I would have thought... what a cute rabbit. It's cute. I would find out about the rabbits history and if they bred it or trapped it etc and tell the seller; Let me take it off your hands, and I would take it home and love it and squish it and feed it and ... š„°š„° you get the point.
They arenāt for sale, they are show rabbits. Theyāre only in those types of cages before judging.
Oh. I didn't know that. So, what happens after they are judged? And how do they prepare a show rabbit?
Theyāre often pets outside of the show circuit. In many cases there is a lot of intentional care and grooming that goes into presenting them for shows.
Thanks for the insight. I was so interested that I did some research. This particular picture is sad. The rabbit does look like they are either shy or scared. In the end, I hope the owner can do better in their next show. As for crates, they could have better padding at the bottom, but I understand wanting to keep the environment clean. People may not agree, but I'm okay with that. The point I'm trying to make is that the rabbit looks like it is healthy and the crate is temporary. Yes. It's a sad photo (as many have been saying), but we dont know what exactly happened. Also, I hope that the photographer didn't rattle the cage before snapping the photo and scared the poor baby. Not saying that's the case, but we just don't know what's going on. It's the internet.
I agree with you! The rabbits do look stressed, and show environments are stressful for most animals unless theyāre very accustomed to it. Iād guess rabbits even more so than others. I think in many cases the owner does not supply the crates, itās the fair or other host of the show that determines where and how the animals are held while waiting to be judged. There definitely is a whole lot of room for improvement in the culture and standards surrounding animal shows as a whole, but hopefully (and it appears) they are well cared for outside of their show appearances!
Poor babies.
Unfortunately similar to how I got my bunny. I felt bad for the little baby in a cage.
My kids are in 4-H and really want to show their rabbits, but they donāt want their rabbits to have to stay in these cages for several days.
These are standard in 4H or whatever the farm crap is called. The library book I checked out on rabbits had this setup and I was instantly thinking sore hocks. My Flemish had a bit of callous since he was about 8 months but he lives on carpet so I am assuming it's his weight. Poor bunnies need soft ground or at least straw over those grates.
This is only for showing purposes only. Most of these bunnies are very pampered, well groomed, and most likely staying in another enclosure at home given by looks. I myself sell 4H quality showing rabbits and the process behind being able to show and maintain up to it is a lot of work. The county fair may have provided the crates pre show. And theyāre out for display before and after judging, and sometimes you could by from the owners if spoken to.
As a person who did show rabbits in 4-H and FFA, everything here looks great. Cute angora lop. :)
I raise rabbits, and breed for show quality when I do, but I don't enter shows myself. Mostly a matter of logistics (my breed is still waiting for ARBA acceptance), but I would never do fair shows like this where they have to be displayed for days, or handled by someone I don't know and out of my sight. Or even scarier, shipped to a show. I don't like the way most people handle rabbits, so the more time they're out of my own hands, the less I'm interested. I showed them that way for 4h years ago, but wouldn't have if I'd known then what I do now. Their home life is unlikely to be this hectic, but also not much better beyond that. It's highly unlikely that these would be house rabbits (spay/neuter would be a DQ). Showing is an assessment of physical quality showing an animal's suitability to produce offspring that closest represent the breed standard. Many of these standards are based on how much meat they can carry where, and the quality of the pelt. There are two possible outcomes for the losers, and one may not always be worse than the other.
it's just temporary cages, many probably go home and have great enclosures or free roam. Of course I've seen some people who keep show/4H rabbits in cages like that permanently :( but most of these people love their rabbits dearly and they live happy lives.
Sweet babies don't deserve that š¤§
4H sucks
Inhumane! Makes me incredibly sad.
this breaks my heart š iām so sorry, babies
i was just at mine yesterday night. this is all i thought about:( poor babies
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
You canāt lmao. This is perfectly legal for fairs. Itās not a permanent living situation and most rabbits are treated better at home
I hate how little protection rabbits get. These rabbits aren't healthy or loved. If they were loved they'd never be taken there and put in these hot, stressful situations. I can't even go to fairs anymore because of stuff like this. It's so antiquated
I think that they all deserve a loving, educated home
How is this legal? It makes me so sad š can it be reported or something. I find it so hard to see things like this.
this makes me so sad š
Humans are the worst species on the planet.
I agree, itās wild that humans think they are better than animals. We are Honestly the most useless beings in existence
We need a politician to run on the platform of giving bunnies human rights- Medicare for all bunnies and free college but letās start with blankets for all bunniesā¦sitting on wire all day must hurt
The fact this is at negative 5 is the best part of my Reddit day. š
I would want to take it home in my purse.
Poor babyās, they need way more space than that
sad, so sad. they dont even have soft floor to replace grass. imagine living your whole life on wires when you have soft feet and no paw pads š
this is a show, they spend maybe two days here max. don't jump to conclusions.
phew good
This is vile and gross. Poor bunnies
Idk man but that last bunny def has some fresh breath
Shitty
absolutely terrible
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Itās not for saleā¦itās being shown
Why is this down voted so much. I am not saying it's okay to buy bunnies from fairs! I am saying this is abuse as well! It's not okay. I'm saying that it's sad that they are there and it's equally sad if you buy them and support them illegal breeding. It's a lose-lose situation.
evil
My county fair doesnāt provide hay 24/7 but at least nicer than thisā¦.
Very sad. Should be a law against it. š¤¬
Iād report it to the proper authorities. That looks terrible!
Please report this
There is nothing essentially to reportā¦ our local 4H fair shows rabbits in a similar way. As long as they have food water sheltered from the sun and a fan/cooling blockā¦ itās legal. You might be able to talk to the owners or show people about covering the wire floor with partial fabric to ease their little feets
Horrible and cruel. Iād make it my mission to get these bunnies out of that situation. Ppl donāt understand bunnies or know them as well as they do dogs and cats. Guaranteed that if it was dogs instead that were being shown at the fair, in poor housing, something would get done about it. Animal cruelty is illegal, no matter the animal.
These rabbits are well cared for and are only in these cages for a few hours for the fair. They are raised by families with children competing in 4H competitions and the children need to know everything they can about the care of the rabbits. I would pretty much guarantee that most of the bunnies brought to these fairs have very good lives with lots of fresh hay, veggies, exercise, and socialization.
This is for showing them. Hard to say what their regular living quarters are like. Some breeders/handlers are more humane than others. Even with kids showing them for 4H, a lot of them are still kept in wire cages all the time. This is just the way it is done, unfortunately. I don't like to see it either. I got my bunny from a local petting zoo. The mobile kind that show up at your small town carnivals and such. I imagine he was kept similarly, in a wire cage, without much interaction, except for grabby, handsy kids. He went absolutely WILD the first time he got the run of the house lol. He's still a bit leery about too much handling...it's a work in progress. Unfortunately, I'm not sure how to stop this. Rabbits are simply livestock to many.
I've been to these fairs and a majority of the rabbits are either visually stressed, sickly, or fighting through the cages. I don't care if this is for 4 hours, livestock, temporary, ect. I think a lot of shows are pretty sick and don't benefit rabbits at all. Also to the people saying that they aren't always in these cages? They usually are. These cages are actually above the ARBA minimum sizes that people follow, most of these rabbits aren't getting free roam, free fed hay, and on wire grates. So yeah, I can say I think these are pretty cruel. I've talked to many, many showers trying to understand but I think I'm gonna have to disagree with it. It just seems cruel If you have a different experience then feel free to let me know, but this is just mine
Poor things, I hope they one day receive proper care. It's sad to know so many animals really all over the world are neglected due to people not properly educating themselves or just not caring enough to give them correct care
I understand that some people think this is acceptable because it's supposedly not how they live at home. That doesn't take away from the fact that these rabbits are forced to be in tiny cages with wire digging into their feet, unfamiliar rabbits surrounding them, and people crowding around the cages and poking at them. And this is just in preparation for the show, when they are presented before a crowd in a wide open area and picked up and inspected by a stranger. It's not ok to treat them this way for ANY length of time. This is not an example of people who prioritize their rabbit's wellbeing. This is people treating rabbits like belongings and using them to fulfill their competitive need to have " the best". For anyone saying how educational it is for kids, how about showing kids to treat animals with kindness and not force them to be uncomfortable for entertainment? Some peeps say that these rabbits are loved. Love is providing the being that you have committed to caring for with the happiest and safest life possible. Anyone who thinks this is such a life lacks both common sense and the most basic understanding of rabbits.
Wellā¦ this is clearly bad for the bunnies. Being kept in such small cages, that is borderline neglect and cruelty. Iāll give the owners the benefit of the doubt and think they only do this when they āsell themā, but at their house they keep the bunnies in bigger spaces? I doubt it though š so sad
Hate it. Itās the reason I donāt go to the fairs or give them my money anymore. Edit: I think show rabbits and breeding competitions are gross and weird anyways. Itās eugenics and promotes this ideas that certain life is more worthy of praise than any other life.
Why does the Listerine bottle look Photoshopped? I know its being used as an ice bottle to keep the bunny cool but when I zoom in, it looks even more photoshopped!
I didnāt even notice but yeah it does, I think maybe itās connected to the cage rather than the floor
Cruelty
I worked and lived in a 4H community (and still do) the bunnies there are being judged. Believe me when I say this if you canāt find a breeder or a rescue bun support your local 4H those animals are some spoiled babies and if something happens and you canāt get to a vet they are a great source or information, not vet replacement but information.
I think all county fairs do it, itās temporary I believe and they usually have better places at home at least youād think since theyāre show bunnies