{{{Hugs}}} Petzy! There is no getting through to some people–you’re defeated before you even start. But…you might make a difference in someone and you’re definitely already making a difference for some bunnies. That makes you a winner in my book.

This isn’t entirely true though! Every time someone adopts a rabbit from you, especially a new rabbit owner, they are potentially educating a lot of people in their actions. Someone might go over to their house and see how much that rabbit is a part of the family! Think of all the changes there really have been in the puppy market in recent years. Puppy mills will probably always exist, but they have come under a ton of scrutiny. I see bumper stickers on cars that are against puppy mills. In fact, people who buy dogs from pet stores are becoming more and more frowned upon. And those that do and do actually care about their dog realize in the long term that dogs from these sources are more expensive due to many health problems. On top of that, knowing that those health problems could have been avoided and that their dog could have lived a better life will likely make them think twice before buying another dog from the pet store. Yeah, it’s going to be a slower process with rabbits since they are ‘livestock’, but every time someone adopts a rabbit instead of buying one a little bit of knowledge gets passed on.
Does it mean that people are going to stop breeding rabbits for profit/fun, or pet stores are going to stop making a profit off of them? No. But it can become something that is frowned upon by the general public because they know what we know. Even if everything I typed above didn’t happen, the people who do want to adopt, who do want what would otherwise be a throwaway rabbit still need people like you who take a lucky and deserving few into your loving arms and help them find a better life.

I don’t rescue (don’t ask how I wound up with 6 buns) but I feel your frustration. when I see ads on Craigslist, I often send the seller a short note asking them to give the new owners our website. The thing I stress is that we can show them how to create very large habitats for what they would pay for a little cage and that we have an active members forum where they can learn to care for their new bunny and hopefully some will come and learn how to feed and care for them.

So far I’ve gotten back some nice replies, but I imagine most just delete the message.

Petzy,
That is such a difficult job and it’s only due to people like you who are actively helping these bunnies that their lives are better and better.
It is very discouraging, but when that family comes to you and hears what you tell them, then leaves for the pet store, don’t discount the little ears in the group. It’s amazing what the child standing with the difficult parents is hearing and absorbing. You won’t know you’ve taught another young person about care of bunnies, but if you read some of the posts here from younger members who had arguements with their parents in order to give their bunnies the proper care, you would see that it is getting through to a new generation of bunny owners. So maybe they left for the pet shop, but maybe that kid insisted on buying hay instead of yogurt treats when they left the store – because they heard you say it.

And it’s like police work – there will always be criminals and more bunnies needing rescue, but the alternative is much, much worse. Thanks for doing all the good you do.

*hugs you*

Today I was on one of my online groups and someone said “I never knew that bunnies did that” and someone else said “I never knew ANYTHING about bunnies until I met Wendy!”.

So when I see things like that poor Barn Bunny that Lionlop posted and I cry for the hopeless look in its eyes, I try to remember the times someone says something like that to me.  I do what I can and try not to cry too much for the things I can’t do.

Really Petzy education is key – you don’t always get through to people – that’s just how it is and you eventually learn to accept it. However there will be many out there who do listen and do want to learn so it’s not always frustrating. You do have to toughen yourself up when you start rescuing too otherwise you can be miserable a whole whole lot.

Just wanted to add on what Kyt said… my friends all thought that rabbits were little caged pets until I got my foster rabbit Todd. My boyfriend thought they were that way too until he heard about my rabbit, now he thinks they’re rocking and would prefer one over a cat (but not over a dog). And I think I thought they were caged pets too until I met someone’s dormbunny in college. He would hop up and down the halls. I’m not sure because I never paid attention to my opinion on them previously, but I’m nearly sure that the dormbunny made a difference.

And honestly… do you really want these people taking the rabbits? The ones who would drop it and go to a pet store because they don’t want to have to care for them?… I don’t.

If I would have had a choice I would have gotten a rescue Bunnie but my bf surprised me and now he wants ferrets or a piggie. I can’t really sya no but I told him we are only adopting animals in need. NO more pet stores. I was at petsmart yesterday to get Yesterdays news and some lady was telling me how she got 2 piggies dumped on her front lawn. I was sadden, she knew nothing about them. And the jerk at the pet smart was trying to sell her the most expensive $*&! that prolly wasn’t even good for the piggie. I told her to call a local rescue or find a site with people who own and have expierence with piggies to help out not some guy trying to up a sale.