Angry rant #1 – “Dumping” pet bunnies

[boogercj]

I’ve just read della luna’s post on her new bunny, Luna and it seems to have struck an angry chord  (with the neighbours that is). Apologies if this has been covered before but I need a good rant!

So, what is it that makes some people think that if they suddenly get bored of a pet rabbit (or any pet for that matter)  or decide they can’t care for it properly, that it’s OK just to “let it go” into the expanse of the outside world?

They’ve (hopefully) been kept in a safe place, fed, watered and had human company until all of a sudden they are betrayed by the people who they trust. No one to pet them, no guarantee of a decent meal or a drink and a hundred animals and birds of prey that would happily eat them given half a chance. Not to mention all the roads filled with motor vehicles and numerous other man-made hazards.

I just don’t know how anyone could bring themself so be that selfish or ignorant. If you look at the Animal Welfare Act 2007 for England and Wales you’ll see that turfing a pet rabbit out on the street actually fails to abide by every single one of the laws. Anyone found doing so should, in my mind at least, be prosecuted.

http://www.rspca.org.uk/servlet/Satellite

There are plenty of animal rescue organisations in every westernised country so there’s absolutely no excuse for this kind of neglegence.

That is all!

 

 

[Sage Cat]

They see animals as objects, not as a living being that needs them – that is how they “bring themselves so be that selfish or ignorant”
It is up there with the “I can kill, and so can my dog” attitude.

[MarkBun]

In the case of rabbits, most people still see them as wild animals. Although there are wild cats and canines, none really look like the domesticated breeds. Domestic rabbits, however, look a lot like their wild cousins save the coloring in most cases. So they figure they can live just as easily – that their ‘instincts’ will kick in. Trouble is that many of the survival instincts have been ‘bred out’ of them. My girlfriend just recently had a rabbit left on the back doorstep of the thrift store she works at. In December. in Pittsburgh, PA. But you’ll all be happy to know that Goblin is doing just fine.

My mom worked at a cat rescue for a while and the ones that got her goat the most? When they turned in the cat because they just remodeled their living room and the cat no longer went with the decor.

[Sarita]

I agree, but it is all too common (with all animals). That is also the problem with pet stores selling animals – they normally don’t really screen them and they don’t allow you to return them even though they are their “merchandise”. I think what is even worse is that many people don’t spay or neuter their animals and that’s how many animals end up out on the street or being given away in Walmart parking lots or of course ending up at the shelter – it’s truly a vicious cycle.

MarkBun glad Goblin ended up in someplace safe! I love the name Goblin too.

[TARM]

Dumping animals does suck but if people didn’t do that I wouldn’t have my Zinnia…so in her case I’m grateful that she was caught hopping across someone’s lawn because I love her to pieces!

[LittlePuffyTail]

That is also the problem with pet stores selling animals – they normally don’t really screen them and they don’t allow you to return them even though they are their “merchandise”.

I think this is normally the practice, although, what I was told about Olivia was that she had been bought at the pet store and then returned. Not sure why. No one really knew anything else about her other than she had been at the pet store a while, had babies, was bought and then returned. I’m glad they took her back for me to find, who knows where she would have ended up.

[MimzMum]

We have a local radio show that is used for advertising stuff (like an electronic garage sale) and someone was on there this morning offering husky pups. He has 45 dogs already and can’t handle 3 more. (Musher, obviously) The threat is that they’re going to be pounded if not adopted, which may be the humane thing to do, but personally, I don’t see the point in 45 dogs, even if it is your livelihood.
Fiver was returned to the pet store where I found him. And I am so glad. He is such a lovely little bunny, so full of love to give, so needing of reassurance that he won’t be abandoned again. I will definitely be looking for any further bunnies at our shelter, or whenever there’s an adoptables day in town. I often monitor our shelter page and I see bunnies returned there all the time. It’s sad.
Some folks look on all animals as disposable and “here for humans to use as they see fit.” I know, it’s supposed to be biblical, but I don’t think God wants us to be so unkind to our first friends.
One of my favorite quotes on the subject was by a Hindu teacher from a vegetarian cookbook; “All animal life looks to us for protection, how can we bear to be its predators?”

[jerseygirl]

Ditto your anger and rant. I’m currently on “rabbit alert” in my neighbourhood for this very reason. Someone has either let their rabbits breed then they’ve escaped or set unfixed rabbits loose. I don’t quite know what I’m going to do but I do know local council & RSPCA will not be doing anything proactive.

[Sage Cat]

People laugh about the city of Boulder, CO passing the “guardian” law but, I think it is awesome!
If you don’t know about this, it basically states that humans are their pets guardians, not their owners.

[Monkeybun]

That is very awesome Sage! Every state and country needs that law.

[boogercj]

If it protects the pets, then it needs to be country-wode for sure. We’ve only had our most recent “Animal Welfare Act” since 2007 (The first fundamental review in the laws for 94 years!) but the laws are very clear:

The Animal Welfare Act includes a new ‘welfare offence’ – which put simply means that the owner of a pet is legally obliged to care for their pet properly, by providing:

a proper diet, including fresh water
somewhere suitable to live
for any need to be housed with or apart from, other animals
the ability to express normal behaviour
protection from and treatment of, illness and injury.

Simple.

[LittlePuffyTail]

“All animal life looks to us for protection, how can we bear to be its predators?”

[LittlePuffyTail]

“All animal life looks to us for protection, how can we bear to be its predators?”

Mimzmum, I love that!

[MimzMum]

I’ve heard of the Guardian Law. I think only California has it in force right now, correct? Or did it get shot down there too?

Those few rules don’t sound so hard to stick by. I certainly hope the people who can’t manage those don’t become the caretakers at my nursing home.

[MarkBun]

Marin County in CA has the Guardian Law. Do realize though that when you become the ‘guardian’ of the pet and not the owner, the state now has more of a right to interfere with the way you treat your pet. For example, if a vet decides your decision for your pet is a wrong one, not only can they refuse you the treatment but they can get a court order stopping you from doing it at all and possibly even take the pet away from you.

[MimzMum]

*shakes head* Ah, I get it…just another revenue builder and a way to put the government even further in your back pocket.
That’s scary stuff, Mark.

[Nat]

My 2 cents-

I’ve thought it over a bit, and nothing makes me more confused, angry and… bewildered.

[Cassi&Charlie]

I can never understand this. I have always loved animals, and always felt that a certain level of care must be given at all times. I remember having a few run ins with my folks about it (and still do) because they were brought up on farms and see pets a bit differently to me.
I just can’t imagine dumping an animal. I was so upset when I had to rehome my guinea pig Coco, because Charlie wanted him dead. It took me a while and I screened so many places before I found the perfect home for him. It’s our duty of care as pet owners. Grrr, the idea just makes me so mad!

[Lintini]

I love animal planet but I can’t even watch the “animal cops” show anymore because those stupid people who abuse and mistreat their pets absolutely disgust me. I don’t understand it, I don’t want to understand it. I just want the people to pay for what they do and it should be taken way more seriously than a slap on the wrist and a 500$ fine – so that they can’t afford food now for their other dog, or cat, or whatever. UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[sammyp]

I’ve had to deal with this sort of thing a lot lately. I stay in a house that shares a common garden with another house, and my previous neighbours used to have cats, which were habitually left out in the rain Naturally, they started hanging out in our house

The current neighbours have a dog who is penned in a small area all day, utterly ignored, and till recently never received food and water during the day (only at night when she was let loose in the garden) until i tired of speaking to them about it and flatly stated that the next time I saw that, they would be receiving a visit from the spca inspector. These new neighbours have been trying to befriend us for a while, but I think they haver the message now that I am more interested in their dog’s welfare than theirs Idiots.

I also see a lot of neglect by people, as I volunteer at spca where I live… and yes, people really are stupid and ignorant.

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