How about the living quarters require rabbit proofing?

The main thing I feel you should include is a nice subject line – such as the one I use “Live Easter Rabbit Bunny is an expensive 10 year commitment”

It covers a lot of the search words.

Great post! I haven’t posted mine yet and I would love to steal that from you!!

I just tried posting and it said “It looks like this ad contains content that goes against our policies”. That’s weird, never happened before. Guess I will have to stick with flyers.

I posted your ad in my area Craigslist and got an email response this morning!!  

“I am interested in a bunny and enjoyed reading your information. I must have asked ½ dozen people and no one wants to volunteer the “truth” or the “scoop” about bunnies. Too bad you do not have the time to give lectures at Pet Smart or other avenues.”

Go figure, everybody just wants to make money off the poor baby buns!  She went on to ask a few questions about bunnies…I’m going to email her back with answers and suggest she also look in a shelter if she is interested.  Maybe I’ll link her over here to binkybunny as well! I’m so excited that all this posting has finally caught somebody’s attention

Thanks! I’ve been going on CL daily and flagging ads for “Easter Bunnies”…this will be even better.

That’s Great, Peppy! It’s all worth it if you can reach even one person.

I tried again and was able to post it. I took out the website addresses. I think that’s what was not allowed. I included that sad “Easter Bunny” poem you posted in the other thread.

I thought I would share the 3 replies I got. Someone flagged my ad (probably the second reply) but as of yet they haven’t taken it down.

1st Reply:

VERY nice! Thank you for posting that ad. Alot of people don’t mean to do it, but they add to the abuse/neglect of animals often resulting in severe injury, suffering and even death. They simply don’t realize that pet ownership is a lifetime responsibility and is VERY costly spread out over a decade of care or more. I think that educating them and informing them in detail, such as you did with your ad is a great idea and a big step in prevention.

2nd Reply: (sounds like a really nice fellow)

STFU spammer

3rd Reply:

I just had to tell you, your poem really touched me, unfortunetly….too real, i have 3 bunnies, and i love them all so much and take very good care of them, i hate that people get them without knowing what they are getting into, and don’t properly care for them, it breaks my heart to think of all the bunnies that are not cared for, and that are suffering….thanks for posting this….)

There’s all sorts, huh?

You just know the not so nice replies come from breeders that make the money off the bunnies at easter

This is so frustrating, I’ve tried posting it three times in my area and it keeps getting flagged in less than an hour. Does anyone know how many flags equals a removal?

I’m not giving up!

I’m laughing at the rude comments from people. If they are so angry, why bother wasting their time with rabbit advocates?

Oh, money.

How disgusting.

I’d like to add a third type of reply that I’ve been getting:

“Do you have any left, how much are they?”

Did they even read the ad?? *facepalm*

Peppy- yup that happened to me last year.

“Does he come with a cage?” You might want to read the ad. I don’t understand people. I really don’t.

I don’t understand. People were given a pair of eyes, A BRAIN, and an education yet they fail to read.

I got this yesterday…very interesting

“Why are you listing on Craig’s List if you are so hell bent that people should not get rabbits as pets. I take care of my animals and dont need to answer questions to someone about how I am going to take care of them.”

Because if people took care of their pets, there would be no shelters

If you truly loved animals you would be grateful there are people like us trying to spread the word by any means we can. I posted the MakeMineChocolate link on my SPCA’s Facebook page and a lot of people messaged me about it, thanking me, including the manager.

Posted By Monkeybun on 04/07/2011 04:53 PM
You just know the not so nice replies come from breeders that make the money off the bunnies at easter

I have to say though, props to the breeders out there that refuse to sell their buns anytime even remotely near easter. I had originally emailed a few breeders in Kansas (where I am) and a few of the surrounding states, and I got responses from two that they weren’t selling their rabbits around Easter just because they wanted to ensure that they got a good home that was committed to giving their rabbits proper care. And that was anywhere from a week to TWO-THREE weeks ago. I thought that was very admirable since Easter is probably the best time for a breeder to make the most money. 

Personally, I’m glad I got Hemi when I did. Since he came with the cage, food, etc, he would have easily been a $200 purchase from the pet store and I got him for $40 for a rehoming fee. Its hard to even think that if I hadn’t gotten him when I did that he might have been some parent’s “dream gift” to their kid, and not even know what they were getting themselves into.

I do have to say though that if parents are planning on getting a pet for their family, specifically a rabbit, and had been planning on doing so for a while and did their research. Easter is a good time to do it for the kids, but ONLY if they were fully prepared for the family to have to take on the responsibility for the rabbit. I think the Craigslist ad is a great idea and it really puts the awareness out there. I shocks me sometimes to see how ridiculous some people when it comes to the care of their pets. Makes me want to give a home to all the pets I see on craigslist that you can tell have had a rough life.

I can’t believe people make such ridiculous comments! Why do they feel the need to get upset and flame you for posting something helpful? Ugh.

I do agree with Magpie that there are probably a lot of decent breeders out there who care about who takes their babies home. It’s probably more the backyard breeders and the ones who breed for petstores who are interested in the easter revenue. Sad, because people like that shouldn’t be breeding in the first place.

I copied your ad as well We will see what I get back!

I just saw it on the Portland craigslist lol

I just flagged all the Easter bunny ads too! )

I just flagged all the Easter bunny ads too!

Posted By Jenna, Chubs & Comet on 04/12/2011 07:58 PM
I just flagged all the Easter bunny ads too! )

Helping bunnies.. one day at a time.

I’m not sure how many flags it takes to remove a post, so just to be sure I go *ctrl+R* *click flag button* *ctrl+R* *click flag button* x15, lol!

Perhaps CL will catch the hint that animals should not be sold online…

Whenever I post something like this on craigslist and it keeps getting flagged, I’ll type at the bottom thanks for flagging me since that means my post will keep being at the very top again. Sometimes that does deter the flagging for a while.

Keep posting it, brittbritt. Don’t give up.

Peppy and I are double teaming and flagging posts in each other’s cities

The Bunny Crusaders!!!! Don’t get in our way or you will be honked at and/or pummeled!!!!

Good one rachel.

I emailed a rather.. dumb person.

Giving away her baby bunny cos her UNSPAYED FEMALE HATES THE BABY. DUH! She’s hormonal! The person wrote back saying the unspayed female is jealous and she won’t spay her cos she wants to mate her with a friends male!

WTF?

I reply back saying why would you do that? There are so many homeless rabbits out there!
And also, your bonding won’t work because your rabbit ISN’T jealous, she is territorial!!! She won’t stop unless she’s fixed!

People are a loss cause.. fail. They should not have children nor pets if they can’t take care and give proper care.

I’ve already been told to get a life LOL.

This is a response I got

I GET ONE EVERY YEAR FOR MY KIDS WHEN THEY GET SICK OF IT I JUST BUTCHER IT AND WE EAT IT I GREW UP RAISING RABBITS THEY ARE VERY GOOD TO EAT AND I HAVE NEVER BEEN BIT BY ONE

what a great lesson to teach your children! don’t worry kids, when you get sick of you pet you can just eat it!

Oh, jeez!  

I wanna say it sounds like a troll, caps and all…but I don’t doubt there are people out there that do this anyways. Sigh.  Thanks for contributing to the cause though!

Yeah, that reply message is really just to get your dander up.  I doubt they actually do it – but if you call them on it, in order to prove their superiority to someone who they don’t know over the internet, they’d probably wind up doing it, and posting pics of it.

The internet is a great place for people to shock and awe themselves into a superior position to others they don’t even know.  I usually just laugh at someone who feels the need to try and prove themselves above me and move on.

I saw (and flagged) a post last week or so by somebody who was getting rid of their 6 month old bunny because he “wasn’t nice any more” and wouldn’t be picked up and cuddled. The person said they’d be willing to trade for a bunny that was “a little less wild”.

*facepalm*

I got an email back from the lady who is selling her baby rabbit. Her ‘vet’ says that the unspayed rabbit is experiencing jealousy. And also she wants to experience the birth of baby rabbits with her children. And she doesn’t think it is a bad thing to breed rabbits, but thinks that it is bad to breed dogs or cats.
I didn’t even bother emailing back, I just trashed it.

My brain cells are better off helping people here.

Everyday more idiots are born…

Gah, I posted up Markbun’s post on the sacramento craigslist and of course it was flagged. Pfft, well it just went back up again. Sorry, “easter bunny” sellers, you’re not getting rid of me that easily!

I emailed a lady who was looking for a “tame easter rabbit for my son”…and got this in response:

We intend to keep the bunny forever. My son has had an interest (as well as myself) about getting a bunny. Easter just serves a perfect occasion and surprise factor. Thank you for being so concerned but I have done a lot of research. I am even look forward to clicker training and litter box training our bunny. This is not just an “Easter” bunny but a member of the family. We have already purchased one as well as it’s necessities. Thanks again.

Phew, slightly makes me regain hope in humanity again…

I emailed a lady who was looking for a “tame easter rabbit for my son”…and got this in response:

We intend to keep the bunny forever. My son has had an interest (as well as myself) about getting a bunny. Easter just serves a perfect occasion and surprise factor. Thank you for being so concerned but I have done a lot of research. I am even look forward to clicker training and litter box training our bunny. This is not just an “Easter” bunny but a member of the family. We have already purchased one as well as it’s necessities. Thanks again.

Phew, slightly makes me regain hope in humanity again…

..Meh.

Tame is what people think rabbits are? LOL

Whoever wants a “tame” rabbit should look at the horrid purple bruises on my left arm: Half from Bindi (trying to groom his feet) and half from Stormy trying to bite Bindi during Bonding. And these are my “cuddly” rabbits!!!!

Haha, that’s true. But in reality, some rabbits really are “tamer” than others; it’s just a bit silly of her to ask for one, because nobody will be able to know with baby bunnies. In any case, her situation isn’t perfect, but I think it’s a pretty darn good start considering what most people do.

A few weeks ago I had put the “Make Mine Chocolate” Link on my local SPCA’s Facebook Page and today in the newspaper editorial there was a letter (made Letter of the Day actually) written by the SPCA manager about the Make Mine Chocolate campaign and stating how much work a rabbit can be. I was glad to see it. I just think it would have been more advantageous had the paper printed it a few weeks ago since many bunnies are probably already bought.

I posted this on craigslist and here are the responses I got

“GREAT POST !!!!!!! Maybe it will cause people to think!”

and

“First of all rabbits are NOT as much work as a dog, not even close. I know PLENTY of very close friends who have had rabbits. Those rabbits were outside in their hutch all the time, they were let out once a week maybe, sometimes twice a week for exercise and were only fed LEFTOVER veggies that their owners didnt use and if they didnt use any veggies they would get a carrot or some lettuce. They are NOT hard animals to take care of, in fact a firend right now has a rabbit. that thing is about 8 years old, lives outside, doesnt get let out of the cage for exercise and that thing is as tame and friendly as ever. None of my firends ever had to take their rabbits to the vet and the only reason one of them died was because a snot nosed little neighbor kid went to her house at night, opened the hutch and gave the poor thing to his dog to maul.

Otherwise they have never ahd to take theirs to the vet, never had to let it out for a couple HOURS for exercise, They lived happily in their 4 foot by 2 foot cages, and also LIVED ALONE perfectly happy.

Your are right, they are not quite cuddly but if they get picked up as a baby they wont mind being picked up as an adult as long as they feel secure with one hand under their feet

If anything they are LESS work than a cat, not nearly as much work as a dog though, not even close”

and

”

Who HONESTLY spays/ nueters their pet rabbit? I have had many – Holland Lop (5yrs+) – Netherland Dwarf(6yrs)- Rex (current) plus many many meat rabbits and they are the easiest and cheapest pet that I have ever owned! You petnazis on here need to shut up! Other than the three of you who really gives a flying F*** about whether parents decide to give their kids a rabbit? At least they will learn early about whether they are pet people instead of practicing with bigger harder to move pets. And if/when the time comes, people are always looking for food for other pets as well… Besides Look on here any time of day and there are tons and tons of hutches etc that can be had for next to nothing… There is a reason we live in America… So control freaks like you who think that “monitoring” CL is some kind of worthy lifes goal! Jesus H. Christ Honey, i must have flagged off 300 posts today! Why cant these people get the message that I will not let them sell their pet cause they did not totally think through this decision and their punishment is to have to keep it FOREVER! *Insert Maniacal Laugh Here* Grow up and shut up… We dont care”

There are soo many things wrong with the last 2 responses I got.

Just got a couple more responses

” What the????
We have 4 bunnies and they require less cost then our ONE dog! They live year round in an outside hutch with an insulated box at one end. They have NEVER been to the vet and are 1 to 6 years old. No health problems, no expensive spay/neuter.
Freddy and Chessy the two Lops greet me at their cage door whenever they see me coming. They love to be petted and I can hold them like a baby. They follow me around my fenced yard and run any hop and are fun to watch!
I had rabbits growing up and was in 4H. Lots of kids did and still do!
STOP BUNNY BASHING!”
 

” First they told you you had to have expensive vet care for your dog and cat. No more $25 visit for shots and a check up. Nope…annual blood work, teeth cleaning, more and more and more shots (even though it has been prooved they are bad for your pet) All to get people to STOP OWNING DOGS!
Now they are after your bunny!
Next it will be abuse when the battery dies on your Zhu Zhu Pet!”
 

Wow.

Eh, all sorts of people out there. Just know that you are doing the right thing and ignore those who like to pretend they know better.

I’ve had people tell me too that they had rabbits who lived outdoors 24/7 in 2×4 hutches, who were “perfectly fine”. I like to tell them that yea, you can raise a rabbit in a hutch outside. Thing is, you can also raise a dog confined in a shed outside, and you can raise a kid in a closet. Does it make it right? No.

I’m proud of you Cheyann. You are doing a good thing.
These people are complete idiots. You are standing up for what you believe in. I’m doing it a lot at my job, as it is near Easter and I get a lot of mom’s in my lines (and dad’s and families in general). It is an opportunity to educate them.

Here is one I got:

Customer: I had a bunnny when I was little. She was always aggressive. She had babies, was still aggresive and we gave her up.
Me: She was aggressive because she was not spayed and was a hormonal mess.

Not much that I could do as that occured many years ago, but i REALLY don’t get the attitude of people.

Rabbits are always misunderstood.. and with people like us, it is our duty to educate the misinformed.

I will continute educating people about rabbits. I get a lot of animal people buying food for their animal, so it is a good convo starter

And, why wouldn’t you want to spend lots of money on your pet? I do!

That’s awful that so many people have that sort of mindset towards animals.

So misunderstood, our furry friends.
Have any of you heard of Equal Hoppertunity? It is a documentary. A lady goes around asking people what they know about rabbits…

I got even more responses later. An “experienced 20 year rabbit owner” said its ok to keep a rabbit in a 4 square foot cage and never let it out. She said its dangerous to feed rabbits veggies because they can cause an intestinal blockage. Thats the first time I have heard that one. Everyone (usually breeders) that says veggies can kill always have a different reason. Where did they get that from anyway? I have yet to hear of a rabbit dying or even getting sick from eating veggies. Its amazing some of the responses I got. I guess there are a bunch of idiots here.

I believe they’re making stuff up or reading old things or from word of uneducated mouth.

“Rabbit care” in the past meant raising rabbits for fur and food; the goal was to keep the rabbits alive as long as needed with little consideration for health or happiness. Only recently have they been companion animals that people actually cared about.  Sadly, raising a rabbit for livestock versus raising one as part of the family requires a very different mindset and methods of care.  There’s still a lot of people that haven’t moved past the “old school” methods of raising rabbits…I’m sure they think they’re doing a great job just because their rabbits live to be several years old. People in general are resistant to change, and nobody likes being told they are wrong!