With this year’s fiber fest looming (no pun intended) in the distance, online rabbit groups are abuzz with discussions regarding fiber fests.
Some breeders intend to sell their rabbits at this summer’s fests thus some rabbits will be sold at fiber fests.
I take issue with this.
This letter written and sent to my local fiber fest board explains why:
To Whom It May Concern on the Great Lakes Fiber Show Board:
I am a local Angora rabbit breeder/ rescuer who is concerned about the practice of selling rabbits at Fiber Festivals.
I believe that, as someone who has re- homed two rabbits (and several offspring) from the 2015 Great Lakes Fiber Festival, I am in a unique position to voice several concerns regarding the practice.
First off, I am deeply concerned about the future of any Angora- an extremely high maintenance animal- purchased on a whim. Impulse purchases are rarely thought out and, when such a purchase is made with regards to a high- needs animal, it is always the animal that suffers.
Second, there is absolutely no way to monitor the sale of Angora rabbits at fiber fests and thus no protection mechanisms in place to ensure that both selling and purchasing is done responsibly.
Rabbits could be in ill- health, carrying a communicable disease and thus be capable of infecting large numbers of other animals. WIthout any monitoring of sales and sale stock, it is impossible to discern the healthy from the sick.
Third, unlike sheep, that require a significant amount of planning, land, money, etc., people assume that Angora rabbits- being small animals, require a small amount of time, money and upkeep. Often, customers have little idea what Angora ownership entails. Sadly- and all too often- irresponsible breeders are more than happy to keep potential customers in the dark regarding the true needs of the rabbits they are trying to sell.
When grooming, upkeep, and money become an issue, the rabbit is either abandoned or kept in a state of neglect- from which he can suffer and, eventually die (wool block).
The two rabbits in my possession from last year’s fiber fest were in a state of neglect- while one of the two had been treated in a way that bordered abuse: kept in a constant state of pregnancy and lactation and fed only white bread for sustenance.
Fourth, I’d also like to mention the fact that, unless a rabbit is being sold specifically as a “fiber” or “meat” rabbit, they are being sold as pets and are subject to all laws regarding the sale and trade of “pet” rabbits (source: American Welfare Act). Clearly, the original owners of the two rescues in my possession were unaware that they were purchasing a “fiber” animal- whose fiber needed to be plucked/ sheared every 90 days. Instead, they believed that they were purchasing low- maintenance, low- cost pets that looked cute and cuddly at a fiber fest.
Moreover, the previous owner of (now) my “brood” doe, believed she had bought a low- maintenance pet that would eventually make her rich through constant and successive breedings; the “fiber” produced by the rabbit (and her many offspring) did not factor into the picture. She was selling pets and thus ought to have been subject to all laws regarding the sale of rabbits within the pet industry.
Fifth, it is my belief that any responsible Angora breeder would not dream of selling his/ her rabbits at a fiber fest. Selling a rabbit (as an impulse purchase) to someone with no knowledge/ experience of/ with Angoras is incredibly irresponsible. Selling a rabbit to someone who does not have a (large enough) cage, grooming/ feeding supplies, and pellets waiting at home (for the rabbit) only adds to the irresponsibility.
Thus, in allowing the sale of Angoras at the Great Lakes Fiber Show, you are unwillingly supporting and enabling the irresponsible breeding and ownership of Angora rabbits. Looking the other way and pretending that the rabbits purchased at your fiber fest do not fall into the wrong hands doesn’t solve the problem but, instead, only perpetuates it.
I’d like to add while, that selling Angoras at the rabbit show during the festival is another thing entirely, the chance still exists for impulse buys and thus neglect. My concern with regards to shows does not lie with legitimate, responsible breeders but rather with backyard or youth breeders looking to quickly unload stock in order to make a few bucks. Shows, too, then are in need of some sort of oversight to ensure that rabbits are not sold on a whim to impulse buyers.
Angora rabbits are not disposable pets; nor are they objects to be purchased on a whim. They are live animals that often deserve better than they get.
In closing, I hope that you will take my concerns seriously and, as a result, put an end to Angora sales at the Great Lakes Fiber Show.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
What I’d like to add for the purpose of this blog is the fact that my local market is flooded with rabbits- especially French Angoras- that will, no doubt, be sold to homes in which they will fall into a state of neglect.
Do rabbit breeders live in a state of complete isolation in which they don’t see the issues inherent in the present (local) Angora market?
Or is it easier on the conscience- and the wallet- to turn a blind eye and act like the flooded market problem does not exist?
I suppose that I view rabbits the same way I view people: that is, I do not distinguish between “mine”- ie. those I know and love and “others”- those I don’t know and love. Therefore the concern I feel for my rabbits must extend to all rabbits. Therefore, I can’t turn a blind eye and/ or pretend that the unwanted Angora issue in my area does not exist.
It isn’t enough to say “I’m responsible… I don’t sell to impulse buyers… I do this, I do that… I screen…” If you are choosing to sell at a fiber fest, rather than by private, person- to- person sales, you are a supporting element of the problem. Period.
Furthermore, for out- of- state breeders to ignore the fact/ warning that a local market is currently flooded with rabbits is both irresponsible and wrong. You are contributing to a local problem that you will not be around to help solve. Instead, local rescuers and breeders will have to clean up your mess while you continue to hide behind the banner of out- of- state, though “responsible.”
In closing, I am asking- no, BEGGING- breeders not to sell rabbits at fiber fests. However, because I know that it is impossible to expect most people to actually care more about Angora welfare than their own agenda and/ or pocketbook, I’ll rephrase my plea.
PLEASE- be careful and cautious and be considerate of your local market. Don’t sell your rabbits to just anyone who can pay. Screen potential customers. At least act like you care.
To anyone considering purchasing a rabbit at a fiber fest this summer, my advice is: DON’T. Do your research; find a reputable breeder and purchase from him/ her.
Again, if you purchase a rabbit at a local fiber fest, you are contributing to the problem; if there is no market, there will be be no vendors!
No comments:
Post a Comment