Transcripts
Welcome to Animal Posse, the podcast dedicated to the
2
:people and rescues making a
difference in the lives of animals.
3
:I am joined today by Maria.
4
:She is a passionate animal advocate
and animal rescuer here in New
5
:Orleans, and she is at the forefront
of a growing crisis in our city.
6
:Right now it is the Easter impulse
buy and the surge of dumped
7
:bunnies that occurs afterwards.
8
:She's here to help us understand
why this is happening and more
9
:importantly, how we can break the cycle.
10
:Hi Maria,
11
:. Thank you for coming on the show.
12
:Yeah, absolutely.
13
:You wanted to talk about an issue
that has been like an epidemic
14
:lately, and that's of dumped bunnies.
15
:Maria: Absolutely.
16
:So in New Orleans here, I think across
the country actually we've had an
17
:increase of people dumping bunnies.
18
:And we don't really know why that
is, but we know that people are
19
:really ill-informed about bunny care.
20
:And I would argue that bunnies are like
the biggest impulse buy of the animal
21
:world, and a lot of it stems back.
22
:To Easter, basically.
23
:And so right now we have an unexpected
boom of loose bunnies running around
24
:the city, and it's not even Easter yet.
25
:So we're all really concerned
because we know that after Easter,
26
:after a couple months go by, we're
gonna start getting notices that
27
:there are bunnies around the city.
28
:Yeah, it's been a real issue
and we're just trying to educate
29
:as many people as we can.
30
:Don't get a bunny for Easter and don't
let your friends get bunnies for Easter.
31
:And make sure to, let the people around
you in your communities know that.
32
:Because it's really a big responsibility
that's falling on the shoulders of,
33
:local rescues, all across the country.
34
:Yeah.
35
:Dixie: Before we talk more about that,
tell me a little bit about yourself.
36
:How long have you been
involved in rescuing bunnies?
37
:Maria: I found a bunny.
38
:Basically it was June 3rd, 2022.
39
:It was after midnight.
40
:We were coming home from seeing
some music downtown, and I pull up
41
:and in my headlights is this gray
bunny sitting in the middle of my
42
:street just sitting up looking at us.
43
:And I like threw my car door open
and I threw my bag on the ground
44
:and I just went after this bunny.
45
:Like I just instinctively knew
this bunny is not supposed to
46
:be there and I'm gonna get 'em.
47
:So I brought him home and I honestly
thought that this bunny was probably
48
:somebody's pet, and he actually
had a giant bump on his back, and
49
:I thought he probably had cancer.
50
:I was like, somebody's gotta
be taking care of this bunny.
51
:Look at him.
52
:He's got this giant tumor on his back.
53
:I posted on, the SPCA websites I
posted on all the missing pet forums.
54
:I even put a sign in my yard and
nobody was looking for this bunny.
55
:And I very quickly realized it's because
this bunny found me and I found this
56
:bunny and we were meant to be together.
57
:And he has completely changed my life.
58
:That's kinda where it started.
59
:And so I had this bunny and it was
in a weird time during my life.
60
:And he was helping me
keep it all together.
61
:He ended up being this emotional
support for me that I really
62
:needed in my life at that moment.
63
:I had to close my store
at the end of COVID.
64
:My house, my roof was left
open during a rainstorm.
65
:I had all this stress in my life
and every time I needed to just pin
66
:myself back down to the earth, I had
this little fluffy bunny and I just
67
:fell so in love with him and I was.
68
:Amazed at this little animal that they're
just so innocent and sweet that it
69
:could have this profound impact on me.
70
:So soon after that.
71
:Here in town at Lafreniere
Park, we were having a big boom.
72
:There've been dumped
bunnies there for years.
73
:And our local rescues, our regional
rescues, Bunnagain Rabbit Rescue and
74
:Education, Lola and Friends Bunny
Rescue of South Mississippi and the
75
:Jefferson SPCA, were all working
together to rescue these bunnies.
76
:They have something like 60 bunnies.
77
:I really wanted to get involved with them.
78
:So I had reached out to them a few
times, but the times that I was
79
:able to go rescue there was bad
weather and I wasn't able to go.
80
:And then soon after that there was Petco
was gonna start selling baby bunnies.
81
:And we have this like online
community house Rabbit Society.
82
:And everybody was working together
to try and call Petco and be
83
:an advocate for these bunnies
to say you can't carry bunnies.
84
:Like we have all these
people dumping bunnies.
85
:People don't know about bunnies and we
definitely don't need you to carry these
86
:little baby bunnies, and so what I did is.
87
:I had called Petco.
88
:I had a conversation with somebody.
89
:We ended up being on the phone for about
a half an hour, and I was so inspired
90
:by it that I opened on Facebook a
message thread with me and the three
91
:local rescues, and I called it bunny
advocates because that is what I am
92
:through and I don't have a rescue.
93
:But ever since then, we have been
such a strong community and we have
94
:worked together and we all bring
something different to the table.
95
:And I just feel like.
96
:They were the people
that I was meant to find.
97
:And we've been working
together ever since.
98
:And it's been amazing, if we all
just lift each other up and help each
99
:other when we can and yeah, and we've
been able to make videos and have a
100
:bigger reach to educate more people.
101
:Yeah, so right now I am just a
volunteer with the rescues, but really
102
:I'd like to start a rescue in New
Orleans proper, which we do need.
103
:I don't have the funding
for that right now.
104
:I wanted to make sure that I got the
experience volunteering and working with
105
:these other rescues to learn what I needed
to learn , before making the jump, making
106
:sure I was the best version of myself and
educated enough to like, make that leap.
107
:And hopefully I'll be
able to do that soon.
108
:If I don't adopt
109
:someone's nonprofit, I'll be able
to start my own and hopefully
110
:that's gonna be in the future here.
111
:Yeah.
112
:Dixie: I love hearing about the bunny
advocate group that you started and
113
:how all the bunny groups work together.
114
:Because I see a trend a lot in rescue
most of them don't work together,
115
:which I always think is a problem.
116
:But I've interviewed James
with lola and Friends.
117
:I've talked to Hannah
with the Jefferson SPCA.
118
:I talked to Donna with bunn again,
and I just think it is so incredibly
119
:inspiring that all work together to
get a bunny where it needs to go.
120
:I think it's great.
121
:Maria: Yeah, absolutely.
122
:And I think that online too, like I
mentioned about House Rabbit Society and
123
:they even have the Underground Railroad
where there's an organization that you
124
:can contact them if you have to transport
a bunny all the way across the country.
125
:There are different people who
are volunteer and carry that
126
:bunny from state to state.
127
:And because we have the internet.
128
:People have been able to really work
together and to share information
129
:and spread information faster.
130
:And this just happens to
be my local community.
131
:And honestly, if it wasn't for,
the internet and the way things are
132
:done now, maybe we wouldn't all be
as connect connected as we are now.
133
:It's really helped us work together.
134
:And I think it is important,
especially when you have this big
135
:boom of so many bunnies right now,
doing it alone, the isolation that
136
:comes with that, the risk, the fear.
137
:I mean it, it's a lot to take on.
138
:Anybody who's in animal
rescue will tell you that.
139
:It's a lot.
140
:And I think if you can have a
community, it's always gonna
141
:make you that much stronger.
142
:Dixie: What is the specific
issue that you're facing right
143
:now with the dumped bunnies?
144
:Maria: Okay, so we got we were
contacted by a local car dealership
145
:and they said, we've got these
bunnies running around loose.
146
:There's a ton of them everywhere.
147
:And we were like, what is going on?
148
:So I happen to live really close by.
149
:I'm only about six minutes away.
150
:So I ran over and looked and I saw
some of them immediately and I had
151
:gone around behind the property.
152
:I saw someone a little lot there
while I was trying to rescue a woman
153
:comes down the street, she starts
asking questions and I was like,
154
:uhoh, do you like love the bunnies?
155
:'cause a lot of times when
you go on these rescues.
156
:Sometimes people get defensive,
like they like the loose bunnies.
157
:They think it's fun to have 'em
around, not really understanding that
158
:it's not safe for them to be out, not
only parasites and cars predators.
159
:But she was on board.
160
:Like she totally understood.
161
:She said I've had a bunny before.
162
:Like I know, I'm glad you're here.
163
:And filled her in.
164
:And so she showed me around that
whole block, like that whole block is
165
:basically a territory for these bunnies.
166
:They're not just at the car dealership.
167
:They're at all of the property behind
there and they've actually dug tunnels.
168
:Underneath this woman's house, underneath
steps underneath her house, and we
169
:don't even have a confirmed number yet.
170
:I've personally seen about
maybe six, seven or eight.
171
:And we know that there are some litters
of babies that aren't quite out yet.
172
:It seems like they come out in the
very beginning of the day and then they
173
:tuck away and we haven't seen, so we
actually don't have a confirmed number.
174
:We, I think were originally
told probably, maybe.
175
:20 bunnies, but I don't actually know,
and I know that some have been hit.
176
:A couple of the younger black ones have
already been hit by a car, unfortunately.
177
:But yeah, it's a concern because
like I said, like Easter's
178
:right around the corner.
179
:This is a lot of bunnies for us
to take on before Easter even.
180
:'cause then, after Easter,
there's always gonna be more.
181
:And also on top of that, we recently had
a report of at Lafreniere Someone had
182
:dumped two bunnies and people scurried,
and they were like running across the
183
:street and they were trying to rescue 'em.
184
:They're just.
185
:Covered in urine stains is
absolutely heartbreaking.
186
:One of them did pass away, and the other,
as soon as she got to the shelter, she
187
:had eight babies, literally that day.
188
:So we already had a bunny that had babies.
189
:And then a couple days later Hannah at,
Jefferson, SPCA, realized her bunny was
190
:nesting and she had three or four babies.
191
:So right before we got notice
about this car lot issue, we
192
:already had a boom of over a dozen
bunnies, yeah, it's a concern.
193
:And the funding a lot of these programs
got cut with political whatever.
194
:It's like programs get cut, the funding's
not there, the space isn't there.
195
:So we're just working together and
we really need people to foster.
196
:You've never fostered before.
197
:It's a great opportunity to do it.
198
:It would be such a huge
help to your community.
199
:It would give you an opportunity
to get to know bunnies and see
200
:why we're so passionate about it.
201
:I feel like a lot of people don't
really understand bunnies until
202
:they find a bunny like I did.
203
:I didn't know.
204
:I always saw people that had
bunnies and , I didn't understand
205
:the emotional connection.
206
:'cause bunnies hide their emotions.
207
:They're nervous when
they meet somebody new.
208
:And then.
209
:You get a bunny in your house and you
see how funny they are and how much fun
210
:and they're like thinking and flopping
around and they're just the cutest,
211
:silliest, sweetest little animals.
212
:And you understand, it's almost like
they heal a part of your inner child.
213
:It's just pure joy and I wish
more people would have the
214
:opportunity to experience that.
215
:And I find that a lot of times people
don't unless they find a bunny.
216
:So I'm encouraging
anybody that's listening.
217
:Just foster one, just say, I would
like to help for a couple months.
218
:I know that y'all could use the
help and get to know a bunny.
219
:'cause you might absolutely fall in love.
220
:I think that's usually what happens.
221
:Yeah.
222
:Dixie: I know a lot of people when
they get bunnies and they're maybe
223
:not educated about bunnies, they
get a bunny and the bunny will just
224
:stay in a cage and they'll take the
bunny out maybe just for playtime.
225
:But the majority of the time
that bunny is living in a cage.
226
:How do.
227
:Fosters do it differently.
228
:Maria: Okay, so we are definitely
all about the House Rabbit Society.
229
:The free Roam bunny,
and if not, free roam.
230
:Free roam means they have free roam of
your house, just like a cat or a dog.
231
:Now, bunnies do chew on
things, but this is the thing.
232
:Cages just aren't appropriate for bunnies.
233
:They're not, they never really have been.
234
:People are getting better educated
about bunnies and understand
235
:that if you think enclosure.
236
:Instead of cage, you're
moving in the right direction.
237
:So the space that a bunny needs,
you should be able to basically
238
:lay in their space comfortably.
239
:A bunny should be able to hop three,
three hops like in every direction.
240
:That's an appropriate amount of space.
241
:Now if you have to go to work.
242
:You can have your bunny in as
enclosure, have some toys to chew.
243
:And then when you're home, they can
be free room in your house as long
244
:as they're supervised or in a room.
245
:A lot of people have a bunny
room, which is really fun.
246
:They can have like little ramps.
247
:They go up, they have little
tunnels they run through.
248
:You just have to make sure that, just like
any other animal, they need enrichment,
249
:they need mental stimulation, they
need toys and things to do, and they're
250
:foragers, they're curious, you can make
a little box and have some pellets and
251
:little dried, dried vegetable and some
paper and they like dig around and play.
252
:They're very playful and curious
animals and you can't just
253
:let 'em sit in a cage alone.
254
:There's this idea of out
of sight, out of mind.
255
:And that's what a lot of
people will do with bunnies.
256
:Like you have 'em in a hutch
outside on your back porch.
257
:A kid loses his interest and
then that bunny is suffering.
258
:And they don't do well in the heat.
259
:So definitely not in Louisiana.
260
:Your bunny needs to be inside.
261
:It's cruel.
262
:And people will compare
that to like wild bunnies.
263
:Wild bunnies only have a lifespan
about two years, not 10 years.
264
:And the reason why is 'cause , they
are prey animals and they're out
265
:in the wild, and they also dig deep
down under the earth to keep cool.
266
:But when you have an animal in a hutch.
267
:Outside in the heat.
268
:It's just really inappropriate.
269
:They're suffering.
270
:And they're also susceptible to
still parasites and things like
271
:fly strike, which is very brutal.
272
:Nobody wants to go through that.
273
:So having your bunny indoors in an
enclosure where they have more room
274
:to be comfortable and still play,
you're gonna have a happier bunny.
275
:There's no reason why your bunny
can't interact in your home and
276
:have more space and play a cage.
277
:If you see a bunny just sitting there.
278
:He's depressed, he's lonely.
279
:They're very social animals.
280
:A lot of people have two bunnies.
281
:It's a bonded pair, and
they're absolutely in love.
282
:I'm actually looking at two of mine
right now, and they're literally like
283
:glued together every day, cuddling.
284
:Like they're very social animals.
285
:To leave a bunny alone in a cage
is just it's not considering
286
:their mental health or wellbeing.
287
:And I think that goes
for all animals really.
288
:But yeah, people are learning
more about that and we had to just
289
:keep educating people that think
enclosure, not cage and free roaming.
290
:Dixie: Yeah.
291
:I know the last time that I spoke to
the bunny people I learned quite a
292
:bit that I didn't know about bunnies.
293
:Like the one thing that
got me was the carrots.
294
:Because you would always see
Bugs Bunny with a carrot and
295
:carrots are not good for bunnies.
296
:Maria: Yeah, absolutely.
297
:Oh my gosh.
298
:It's a whole thing and you'll
see me on my rescue videos.
299
:, I use carrots, I use Apple.
300
:What I do is I cut very skinny slices
of them and I give them very tiny pieces
301
:because what it should be is a treat.
302
:It's a special treat, and that is the
number one thing You see when people
303
:call and they say, oh, we have this
bunny running loose in our neighborhood.
304
:My favorite term, the neighborhood bunny.
305
:There's no such thing as a
neighborhood bunny people.
306
:It's an abandoned animal
or a dumped bunny.
307
:But everybody will just throw carrots.
308
:I went on this one rescue and
a guy came out, he's oh, I
309
:give these to her every day.
310
:And he handed me a whole bag
of mini carrots, and I'm like,
311
:this bunny's gonna be sick.
312
:I'm gonna get her home.
313
:And she's just gonna have
the worst upset tummy.
314
:Too much sugar is very bad.
315
:If you think of a bunny.
316
:A bunny is literally one big
digestive track, and they
317
:cannot have a lot of sugar.
318
:So more appropriate treats
are, romaine lettuce.
319
:Leafy, leafy greens herbs.
320
:But yeah, anything sweet like a
carrot is definitely considered.
321
:They can have some, but
just as a little snack yeah.
322
:Dixie: You mentioned earlier
too, that you think bunnies
323
:are the number one impulse pet.
324
:Why do you think is, why do
you think that's the reason?
325
:Maria: I think that, , it's probably also
during spring and Easter of course, you go
326
:and you think, oh, it's such a great idea.
327
:I can put him in the Easter basket.
328
:Oh yeah.
329
:And you don't even think about it.
330
:You just think, oh yeah, my kid is young.
331
:This will be a great first time pet.
332
:And how cute would it be?
333
:How excited would they be to like,
wake up in the morning and there's a
334
:little bunny in their Easter basket.
335
:Oh, I just love the memory.
336
:And they just do it without
even thinking about it.
337
:And it's not like the
pet stores offer you.
338
:Any information.
339
:I personally think that they should
be, it should probably be illegal to
340
:buy a bunny at a pet store, but they
don't even give you a brochure or
341
:nothing, no resources to learn about it.
342
:And the thing is they also sell
these cages at the pet store.
343
:They don't belong in the cages.
344
:Like the literally on the packaging
of the cage is a cute little bunny.
345
:I'm like, that is not an
appropriate size for a bunny.
346
:I think also part of this is because
bunnies are also considered livestock.
347
:So we're in this weird area where
we're dealing with people getting
348
:educated about pet bunnies and then
there's like this culture of livestock.
349
:So they have like less protection
compared to other pets like dogs
350
:or cats where a lot of people know
like how they should be treated.
351
:But I feel like when people go to a pet
store and they see this cute little bunny
352
:with its little face, you look at the
hamster and you're like the bunny's a
353
:little bit bigger for my kid to play with.
354
:And look how stinking cute it is.
355
:And you just do it.
356
:You just, it's an impulse all buy
because they're absolutely adorable and
357
:people fall in love when they see 'em.
358
:So I think that's why, and
maybe they think it's a little
359
:bit something different.
360
:It's not as much responsibility
as like a dog or a cat.
361
:A bunny will be just perfect.
362
:And they think that they're
gonna live as long as a hamster,
363
:which is only two or three years.
364
:And hamsters don't belong
at tiny cages either.
365
:But that's another topic they deserve
little habitats too, which is a
366
:really fun little project if it's
something people are interested in.
367
:But bunnies actually live longer lives.
368
:It can be, 10 plus years.
369
:And it's a misconception.
370
:It's an impulse buy thinking.
371
:It's gonna be a good beginner pet.
372
:It's gonna last a short while.
373
:Then they get it.
374
:They realize they bit off more that
they can chew and people think we
375
:know that we can't dump dogs or cats.
376
:That's not okay.
377
:But bunnies live outside.
378
:Bunnies are bunnies.
379
:And so then they think that they
could just release 'em and releasing
380
:a bunny is dumping a bunny.
381
:They're domesticated.
382
:They're not like wild bunnies,
domesticated bunnies, can't
383
:even breed with wild bunnies.
384
:Like it's a completely different animal.
385
:And their immune system
isn't ready to be outside.
386
:There's just all kinds of reasons.
387
:It's just cruel to dump a bunny.
388
:And so it's an impulse buy to start.
389
:People think.
390
:It won't live that long.
391
:Great toy for my kid loses interest.
392
:Bunnies are a lot more
responsibility than they were
393
:ready for, and it's just a cycle.
394
:And then people release 'em,
and then it just stops there.
395
:And so we gotta break that cycle
at all points if we possibly can.
396
:So
397
:Dixie: Another thing about Easter and
Bunnies that drives me crazy is I see this
398
:trend lately on social media where people
will go do photo shoots with baby animals.
399
:Have you seen those?
400
:Maria: I haven't actually seen that one.
401
:The only one that I'm aware of is
Bunnagain and Jefferson, SPCA actually
402
:do have one, but those are a rescue run.
403
:So if you see an event online where
people are doing these photo shoots
404
:with baby animals and a rescue is
not involved, you should either be
405
:asking a lot of questions to why.
406
:Or not supporting and making sure
that other people know not to support
407
:because people shouldn't be making the
money off of these animals, letting
408
:kids handle the animals without knowing
what's gonna happen or whatever.
409
:If you go to a photo shoot that's run by
a rescue, not only are you supporting a
410
:good cause but it's also gonna be managed
in a way to make sure that the animals
411
:are safe and the children are safe.
412
:'cause, things happen and, it's
just for everybody's best interest,
413
:but I actually haven't seen that.
414
:, Usually when I see stuff going online
that like raises a red flag for me.
415
:I'm pretty involved.
416
:Like I do consider
myself a bunny advocate.
417
:I will get on there and start a
conversation about what I think
418
:about it, but I won't be rude.
419
:It's more to just encourage people to
think and maybe to broaden their horizons.
420
:Okay, you wanna have a
photo shoot with bunnies?
421
:Did you consider reaching
out to your local rescue?
422
:Do you know what I mean?
423
:Instead of it.
424
:I don't know.
425
:There's ways, about that,
but I haven't seen it.
426
:I'll have to keep an eye out.
427
:'cause Easter is right around the corner.
428
:Dixie: Yeah.
429
:These weren't rescue run.
430
:They're just like a regular like
photo shoot, a photographer or will
431
:go out and get some baby animals.
432
:And I've seen 'em do it with the
baby ducks, the baby chicks, and
433
:then the baby bunnies and, yeah.
434
:Maria: And I wonder where
all those babies go after.
435
:Dixie: That's what I was gonna say.
436
:I wonder what happens to him after.
437
:Maria: There was , I guess a
famous, artist, a woman I don't,
438
:or a influencer, in New York.
439
:'cause that actually they adopted two
bunnies and then they did a photo shoot
440
:and then on leashes too, which you're
not supposed to put a bunny on a leash.
441
:And then within a week, those two
bunnies were found in a park in New York.
442
:And we came down on 'em hard,
but I don't even know if there
443
:was any repercussions for that.
444
:And any consequences.
445
:I honestly don't know.
446
:I did make a video about it
though, and I addressed it.
447
:I even tried to contact the woman and
say, even if you didn't dump these
448
:bunnies, somebody on your team did.
449
:And this is unacceptable, and
especially if you're in the public eye.
450
:We have a responsibility if we're
in a public eye or if we have a
451
:business to make sure that we're
protecting and representing animals.
452
:We are people who are creating culture.
453
:We are people who have influence in a
way that maybe an average person doesn't.
454
:And with that comes responsibility
to do right by the animals.
455
:Dixie: When you're talking to about
the dumped bunnies, a lot of them
456
:being pets that people just get rid
of, do you have issues with them
457
:being livestock bunnies as well?
458
:Maria: That is such a hard topic, now, the
other rescues,, I've let them know that I
459
:do correspond on those message threads in
some of those groups that are livestock.
460
:Or meat rabbits.
461
:And the reason why I do is because I
wanna make sure that even if these people
462
:are planning to feed their families with
these rabbits, I wanna make sure that
463
:those rabbits are well taken care of and.
464
:Ethically handled all the way through.
465
:And so I'm in this weird place
where I am a meat eater, and so
466
:then I also feel guilty about that.
467
:And I know what rabbit meat is,
and , it's a healthy meat and when
468
:you look at, growing livestock and,
raising livestock and all this stuff,
469
:like I understand why people do it.
470
:Does it break my heart?
471
:Absolutely.
472
:But I'm still involved
with that dialogue because.
473
:I want people to make sure that the
bunnies are being well taken care of.
474
:Do I still try to encourage people
and show people what I think?
475
:Absolutely.
476
:There was this woman, one woman who posted
a video and her mating rabbit was her doe
477
:was kissing her on her head, on her face.
478
:And so I just opened a very friendly
dialogue and I said, I just want you
479
:to understand that when a bunny does
that, they think of you as family.
480
:And I personally think that
like animals can be soulmates.
481
:Like not every soulmate is
gonna come back in human form.
482
:And if you have an animal that is bonding
with you in this way, when an animal is
483
:such a timid, especially, a prey animal is
so scared, if that animal is bonding with
484
:you and kissing you and thinking you are
family, maybe you should consider that.
485
:You should really think about
that and reflect on that
486
:before you cull or un alive.
487
:That bunny, I hate to say kill, but I
haven't seen any of her posts since,
488
:but I always just try to put that little
seed, we, a lot of these dump bunnies too.
489
:You know what we find?
490
:We had a whole bunch of dump bunnies
on the West Bank, and it seemed
491
:to me that someone was breeding
them and then couldn't do it.
492
:They couldn't they realized they couldn't.
493
:They couldn't cull 'em.
494
:And so they realized, and now I have
all these bunnies, what am I gonna do?
495
:And they let 'em go in the woods.
496
:And I think that happens more often
than people realize too, because they
497
:are such cute, sweet little animals.
498
:And then when you're working with
them hand in hand you realize that.
499
:So I'm in a weird place with it because
while I'm against it, I'm still gonna be
500
:a part of that dialogue in an effort to
make sure that they are well cared for,
501
:and have a good life before someone does.
502
:Use them to feed their family even
though it's as heartbreaking as it is.
503
:So I feel guilty.
504
:I'm not a vegan.
505
:I can't, until I'm vegan, I feel like I
can't go out there and it's hypocritical.
506
:So I'm just heartbroken.
507
:But I do think that.
508
:Here's the thing, people still have them
as livestock, but the more people realize
509
:how similar bunnies are to cats and dogs
and the way that they bond with you and
510
:how much fun they are to have as pets,
there might be less and less of livestock
511
:bunnies because they really are like
beautiful little additions to your family.
512
:Dixie: Yeah.
513
:See, I don't understand that, from
being a pet person, how do you
514
:raise 'em and not bond with them,
515
:Maria: yeah, there was a woman that
was also recently, like kissing on it
516
:and a little baby, and she was like,
oh, this is gonna be a crockpot bunny.
517
:But she's kissing on it.
518
:And I just said again, trying to open the
dialogue without being like judgmental
519
:and scaring 'em away or being too pushy.
520
:I just said, consider also the animals.
521
:Mental health and emotional
health, that it's a betrayal.
522
:If you are gonna grow an animal, if
you're gonna raise an animal to feed
523
:your family, make sure that there's
a boundary that you're not gonna bond
524
:with this animal because it's not just
about you bonding with this animal.
525
:It's about the animal bonding with you.
526
:It's a betrayal if an
animal is showing you.
527
:Like love, eternal love, it's
something so much bigger.
528
:Like when a animal loves
you, it's so special.
529
:And if you don't put that boundary
up, if you're gonna raise livestock
530
:and you're just letting these animals
love you and then you kill them,
531
:like that is a betrayal on love.
532
:So if you're gonna raise livestock
animals, I don't want to judge as
533
:much as it breaks my heart, but
please put that boundary up because
534
:it's not fair to that animal.
535
:Treat them well, of course, give them
a good life, treat them well, but don't
536
:bond with them emotionally like that
because they're emotional animals.
537
:Like I said.
538
:They like to live in a community.
539
:They bond with each other.
540
:They don't wanna be alone.
541
:They're very loving animals.
542
:So if you're gonna to eat your animals,
don't bond with them on that level.
543
:Have that barrier, have that boundary.
544
:Dixie: Yeah.
545
:Absolutely.
546
:I agree.
547
:I think that is the
biggest betrayal of trust.
548
:I yeah.
549
:I can't even wrap my head around it,
550
:, yeah.
551
:It's
552
:difficult for me to understand.
553
:Maria: Exactly.
554
:And it, I think that they're like,
oh, I'm giving him a good life.
555
:I'm like you can give him a good
life without betraying that love.
556
:That's the thing, keep that boundary.
557
:Don't let them kiss you.
558
:Then.
559
:Like he loves you.
560
:I'm like my inside, my heart screaming
like that little bunny loves you.
561
:Don't you know?
562
:But that's why I like to say just
consider, it might be your soulmate.
563
:Just really reflect on that before
you make this decision, I don't know.
564
:I don't have the answer.
565
:It's been difficult though,
because, you're trying to educate
566
:people and you want people to
bring their little bunnies inside.
567
:And we do have this movement for
homesteading and livestock on a
568
:small scale and things like that.
569
:So it's a weird place to be.
570
:It really is.
571
:And ultimately, I just try to put my
best foot forward and inspire people
572
:without making them feel uncomfortable.
573
:Do you know what I mean?
574
:That's the best that I can offer
and the best that I can do.
575
:Dixie: Before we end the call,
what do you think are ways to get
576
:people out of this impulse buying
and buying bunnies as Easter gifts?
577
:Maria: I wish people would talk to
their local rescues to see if there
578
:would be a fostering opportunity.
579
:Some won't do that 'cause they
still feel like it's a bad idea.
580
:Kids and bunnies and things happen.
581
:Or you could plan a visit with
bunnies or something like that, like
582
:a special event you could go to.
583
:But I think that pet stores, it
should be illegal to carry bunnies.
584
:And if not, if they don't ban 'em
from carrying bunnies, they should
585
:at least do it before Easter.
586
:They should.
587
:Absolutely.
588
:And ducks too.
589
:I know that little chicks and
little ducks and all that.
590
:I know it's the same thing.
591
:People have 'em in their Easter baskets.
592
:But it's not something that should
be available for the impulse buy.
593
:We should absolutely stop that there.
594
:I don't know if we'll
ever get to that point.
595
:So it's either work with your rescues
and that, and I guess that cities would
596
:have to come up with, local laws about
who can have, these little animals.
597
:If they would just not have them in
the pet stores, that would be ideal.
598
:Of course.
599
:Like they did that with cats and dogs.
600
:They started, dogs and cats.
601
:They started adopt don't shop.
602
:And that should be the exact
same situation for bunnies.
603
:A lot of these little animals that
are pet stores come from mills.
604
:It's just like puppy mills,
except they're for small animals.
605
:And it's absolutely terrible.
606
:If pet stores wanted to work with local
rescues, that's a great option too.
607
:You would be supporting the rescues.
608
:It would come with, community
and education because then you
609
:would be involved with the rescue.
610
:And we are like a little
bit of a community.
611
:But yeah, that's really the thing
is we need to talk to our pet stores
612
:and we need to say, you need to not
carry bunnies, or you especially just
613
:don't carry them before Easter because
of that, that impulse buy issue.
614
:I think that bunnies moving forward
are actually gonna be a more popular
615
:and a more common house pet because
bunnies are herbivores and if you think
616
:of the state of the world and climate
change and all this stuff, and dogs
617
:and cats being carnivores, our world
is changing, our future is changing.
618
:And to be able to take care of an
herbivore is gonna be very different than
619
:having to supply meat for cats and dogs.
620
:So I think in the future, bunnies are
actually gonna be a more common house pet.
621
:Dixie: Thank you so much for coming
on to talk about all of this.
622
:Maria: Absolutely.
623
:I was really thankful
that you reached out.
624
:I appreciate everything you're doing.
625
:I think it's so important and I
love listening to your podcast.
626
:I think it's really wonderful.
627
:Really excited to see what else y'all
come out with in the future too.
628
:So thank you so much.
629
:Dixie: Thanks again to Maria for coming
on the show to talk about the growing
630
:problem with bunnies and Easter.
631
:I just wanted to clarify one thing too,
after the call ended, Maria did text me
632
:to let me know that she forgot to tell
everybody what the bump on the back of
633
:her bunny was, and it was not cancer.
634
:Instead it was an abscess.
635
:So she did have a happy, healthy bunny.
636
:That's it for today's
episode of Animal Posse.
637
:If you love what we're doing,
please consider becoming a member.
638
:Your support directly helps us continue
highlighting the people and stories
639
:that save lives across the country.
640
:Just a quick reminder, the views
and opinions expressed by our
641
:guests are theirs alone and are
provided for entertainment purposes.
642
:They don't necessarily reflect the
official position of the show, and
643
:this information should never replace
the advice of your own veterinarian.
644
:Thanks for listening, and
we'll see you next time.
