Can you report a farm?

[Deleted User]

I just recently started thinking about this, even though it happened months ago. I live an hour-ish north of Boston, and there’s the most amazing orchard in the area. Hubs and I have loved going there for years, it’s honestly our favorite fall tradition. When we were there back in September, we walked down to the farm portion. They keep several chickens, donkeys, and pigs. While we were leaving the pig barn, I noticed a group of small kids hitting this wired box that was at least 3 feet off the ground. I had a gut wrenching feeling I knew what was inside, so we started walking down towards the area. Moms were finally telling their kids to settle down and go elsewhere. 

Inside that box was a single bunny. The box was maybe a foot high, if that even, it was completely wired on all sides. There was poop piled high in every corner, the water looked like it hadn’t been changed in ages and smelled moldy, and there was a never ending supply of pellets and very little hay. The bunny looked like a medium breed female, I noticed a dewlap, but it could obviously be an overweight male. Poor thing looked absolutely petrified. My heart was breaking. John had to drag me away because I just wanted to show it a little love. I’d estimate the poor bun to be between 1-2 years old. 

We haven’t been back since, because I just didn’t want to go see a bun in such terrible conditions. I know meat rabbits, fur rabbits, and sometimes even show rabbits can live in worse conditions. But I really feel like I should’ve reported it. 

[daisy406]

Yes you can most definitely report it! I would!

[Muchelle]

I don’t know how it works over there, but over here there’s an authority that checks on hygiene and humanity conditions of animals: if alerted they go do a surprise check on the target shop/farm/whatever and if stuff is bad, they go all out on the owners.

I’d definitely give the authorities a call if you can. Maybe even sneak a few pictures to show them but I don’t know how acceptable it could be in law’s terms

[LBJ10]

You can report it. Unfortunately, that doesn’t necessarily mean anything will be done about it. If the animal is living in conditions acceptable under the law (not acceptable according to our standards), then the authorities might just be annoyed that they had to investigate an “unfounded” claim. I’m not saying that because I don’t think that the conditions this poor thing is being kept in are acceptable. I’m just trying to be realistic here.

[Author]

Messages