If only they came with instruction manuals!! We were just talking about bad pet owners tonight actually at home…It really is upsetting to see people take care of their pets differently or poorly compared to how we take care of ours

I feel that way. There are a lot of great pet owners out there but a lot of awful, uncaring ones too. My bunnies are so pampered and well-treated that most people I meet don’t take as good of care of their bunnies as I do. “What, your rabbits are not your whole world? You don’t leave social functions early to feed them? You inhumane monster!”

All we can do is try to spread awareness and encourage compassion.

People tell me how “spoiled” my rabbits are all the time… Um… No. This is what a rabbit SHOULD be getting.

Edit: I do often try to educate people. The people that repeatedly tell me I spoil my bunnies when I’m just taking care of them normally are my friends and family that I have talked to about bunny stuff. 

On the other hand I have have helped out and shared information with some people that I’ve come in contact with through craigslist and their bunnies have benefited. I would definitely try to share information (in a non judgemental way) before condemning them as “bad”. 

Stopped at the organic grocers on the way home as I do 3 times a week. The woman ahead of me commented that my basket looked so healthy full of fresh green veg and herbs. LOL. I then told her it was for my rabbits. My very spoiled rabbits.
She told me I have very lucky bunnies.

I don’t think that’s weird and I wouldn’t consider that a bad rabbit owner, maybe uninformed. Uninformed does not make her bad. If you felt she didn’t know you should have gotten into a conversation with her and just tried to educate her or suggest she read House Rabbit Society for diet guidelines.

You just cannot assume that someone is a bad rabbit owner based on one incident.

I don’t think the lady I spoke to has bunnies. I was amused by her reaction which wasn’t really negative. I think she approved of the spoiling.

Oh Roberta I wasn’t talking about you :~) I could see you got a positive response and that’s always fun.

I wanted to make the point to Colleenbunny not to judge this woman on being a bad rabbit owner…which she doesn’t sound like she is.

Luckily I feel like most people in my area are generally good pet owners, though I don’t really know any with rabbits. When we bought our house the previous owners had an outdoor rabbit, which made me sad, but he seemed well cared for.

I think about how awful some pet owners are around me often. My neighbors dogs are left outside ALL THE TIME – they rarely ever get to go inside. Even if they are scared and freaking out in the back yard, they aren’t comforted or allowed in. Most the dogs in my neighborhood are not even fenced, at all. They run free in the streets, with cars. And they aren’t all well behaved, I have seen joggers chased by a barking, snarling dog. I have had dogs walk up to me growling, posture defensive and hackles raised – luckily I know dog body language and how to submit in a way they understand (I lowered my eyes, held my hand out palm down and lowered myself to show I am not trying to dominate them and they backed off). And I hear stories about how a rabbit died of heat, etc all the time when someone learns I have rabbits.

All we can do is try to educate people on proper care for animals. I would love to yell at the people who let their dogs run free, for example, but it would just make them defensive. And I really can’t speak to the ones that just out right killed their rabbit and laugh about it, I usually just turn away in disgust… there is no educating someone who is that uncaring that they find it to be a funny story. But, I have dropped some hints at the pet store that NIC cube cages are way bigger, more customizable to fit in your area and cheaper when I see a pet store cage being looked at.

Posted By MoveDiagonally on 05/17/2013 06:52 AM

People tell me how “spoiled” my rabbits are all the time… Um… No. This is what a rabbit SHOULD be getting.

Edit: I do often try to educate people. The people that repeatedly tell me I spoil my bunnies when I’m just taking care of them normally are my friends and family that I have talked to about bunny stuff. 

On the other hand I have have helped out and shared information with some people that I’ve come in contact with through craigslist and their bunnies have benefited. I would definitely try to share information (in a non judgemental way) before condemning them as “bad”. 

This is EXACTLY how I feel.

I actually made a Facebook page for Java (I know, sad), and I use it to help inform people of proper care for bunnies. I think my friend’s list prefers hearing it from him than having me blab away.