How to deal with insensitive comments towards bunnies?

[Noodles]

Hey friends, I was wondering if I could get some advice on how to deal with ignorant people  I’m a new bunny owner and it’s been honestly mind boggling the snide remarks that I’ve gotten.

 I can not believe how many coworkers have said to my face “wow yummy! i love rabbit stew” when I bring up Noodles!! At first I was taken aback but now I’ve just learnt to say “No thank you! he is NOT food!” and glare which has done an ok job shutting them up.

But the tipping point came today when my roommate posted a picture of Noodles and her dog. We’ve been working to slowly get them introduced so he was in his carrier and she was leashed. THREE people (all friends and even a family members of hers) commented things like “#dinnertime” or “dinner” etc AND she liked those comments!! 

Anyways… sorry for the vent session but has anyone found an effective way to shut this kind of thing down? I’m going to talk to her directly about it tonight but it’s the other people that I don’t really know what to say. I would never comment about anyone else’s pet in such a manner so why do people think it’s ok to say things like that to me just because Noodles is a rabbit??! T___T It just makes me so upset! 

[Azerane]

I’m sorry to hear about this. Unfortunately it’s all too common in regards to rabbits, and it’s certainly something I’ve experienced too. I tend to just ignore it or say a sarcastic “Haha very funny” I feel like i get nowhere if i give them a serious response about how awful it is etc. Your other option is to give the same back, in regards to those comments “yes the dog does look delicious doesn’t it? ” it generally takes people off guard.

I have no idea why people always feel compelled to make comments about eating rabbits, it is extremely rude and insensitive but somehow seen as ok. Try not to let it get to you, otherwise with the amount it can happen it can really wear you down.

[Love4Bunny]

I just ignore people if they say something, like Azerane suggested. But I imagine vegans feel the same way when people eat animals and post food pics on FB.

I think it’s perfectly fine to say, “I’m the owner of the bunny, and that’s my pet you’re referring to as “dinner”. You may find it funny, but your comments are offensive and insensitive.

In a way, you are challenging people you know to accept you for who you are. If they object, they’re not worth your time.

[Noodles]

Thanks for the advice! I ended up blocking the post from my facebook – the people that all commented were people I didn’t know so it wouldn’t have made a difference.

Love4Bunny – I really like how you phrased that. I’m going to use it next time someone says mean bunny comments to me in person

[BrunosMama]

You could always say something along the lines of “You can have my kid for dinner when I can have yours.”

Sometimes I just tell people ours are no good for eating, as they’re all fat. Lol

Sadly, people can be stupid. And you can’t fix stupid.

My guess is the less you react, the fewer comments people will make, since it’s only fun if you can get a rise out of someone.

[Q8bunny]

Keep a tiny ziplock bag of bunny poops in your pocket and use them with a peashooter to pelt jerks?
It’d be therapeutic…

[Reesebun]

When people say that, I just laugh and say I love rabbit stew. My family makes fun with all of our pets, like on our dog, we wiggle her leg and say: Look at this little pork chop! And on our cat, we poke her arm and say: Mmmm, its a little chicken wing! With Reese, we poke her belly and say: It looks like she has some good bacon! But it is all just joking

[sarahthegemini]

I absolutely hate it when people make comments about eating my rabbits. I think it’s disgusting. I get similar remarks when people find out I’m vegetarian :-/ They think they’re being witty but they’re just douche bags.

[Reesebun]

Have  any of you guys even eaten rabbit?

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By ReeseBun on 2/18/2017 8:48 AM

Have  any of you guys even eaten rabbit?

Nope. But I’ve not eaten any meat in over 10 years. 

[Reesebun]

Oh. I heard that beets are really good for vegetarians because it has iron and other nutrients that meat has that is vital to humans. Do you get to share all your meals with your bunnies?

[Q8bunny]

Yep. I have. It’s delicious. Doesn’t change how much I love my little guy, though

[Reesebun]

It’s delicious, but I think it is cool that in human minds they think it is alright to eat a wild rabbit, but they are appalled thinking about eating a domesticated rabbit. E.g. I love eating wild rabbit, but if someone says something like eating Reese, I am appalled!

[Q8bunny]

I’m with you, Reese. Never eat the ones you love

[Bam]

Rabbit isn’t traditionally eaten here. I don’t know why, really. It used to be looked down on, sort of. The primary protein source for poor people here was salted herring in the olden days. There’s a growing market for rabbit meat now though, I’m sad to say.

[Love4Bunny]

Posted By Q8bunny on 2/18/2017 11:00 AM
I’m with you, Reese. Never eat the ones you love

Oh. My. Gosh. Q8, you are so funny!!

I asked hubby for a real apology yesterday when he talked about throwing my buns out the door and then using them as mops to clean the floor, because they’d now be all wet from the rain Of course, he would NEVER do that, and I honestly thought I wouldn’t feel bad but it did rub me the wrong way and I was so annoyed!! I laughed at the mop bit, though. I was staring at delicate little Crysta when he said it, so the Mumma Bear in me was incensed. But I told him if he tried it on Thor, I was not worried, because Thor would bite him. Only MUMMY knows how to pick up Sir Thor Crankypants. He didn’t get that nickname for NO reason!

[Q8bunny]

LOL Mommies are awesomely talented that way

[Bladesmith]

Posted By Q8bunny on 2/18/2017 11:00 AM

I’m with you, Reese. Never eat the ones you love

Weeelllllll, with certain exceptions.  Not that I’d know anything about that sort of thing.

[Muchelle]

I usually back those comments by saying “also your cat/dog/whatever looks delicious! we should try to eat it!”
Stopped most of the morons from further producing bad jokes about my bun.

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