Transcripts
Welcome to Animal Posse, the podcast dedicated to the
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people and rescues making a
difference in the lives of animals.
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I am joined today by Maria.
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She is a passionate animal advocate
and animal rescuer here in New
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Orleans, and she is at the forefront
of a growing crisis in our city.
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Right now it is the Easter impulse
buy and the surge of dumped
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bunnies that occurs afterwards.
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She's here to help us understand
why this is happening and more
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importantly, how we can break the cycle.
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Hi Maria,
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. Thank you for coming on the show.
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Yeah, absolutely.
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You wanted to talk about an issue
that has been like an epidemic
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lately, and that's of dumped bunnies.
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Maria: Absolutely.
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So in New Orleans here, I think across
the country actually we've had an
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increase of people dumping bunnies.
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And we don't really know why that
is, but we know that people are
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really ill-informed about bunny care.
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And I would argue that bunnies are like
the biggest impulse buy of the animal
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world, and a lot of it stems back.
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To Easter, basically.
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And so right now we have an unexpected
boom of loose bunnies running around
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the city, and it's not even Easter yet.
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So we're all really concerned
because we know that after Easter,
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after a couple months go by, we're
gonna start getting notices that
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there are bunnies around the city.
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Yeah, it's been a real issue
and we're just trying to educate
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as many people as we can.
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Don't get a bunny for Easter and don't
let your friends get bunnies for Easter.
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And make sure to, let the people around
you in your communities know that.
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Because it's really a big responsibility
that's falling on the shoulders of,
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local rescues, all across the country.
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Yeah.
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Dixie: Before we talk more about that,
tell me a little bit about yourself.
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How long have you been
involved in rescuing bunnies?
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Maria: I found a bunny.
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Basically it was June 3rd, 2022.
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It was after midnight.
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We were coming home from seeing
some music downtown, and I pull up
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and in my headlights is this gray
bunny sitting in the middle of my
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street just sitting up looking at us.
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And I like threw my car door open
and I threw my bag on the ground
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and I just went after this bunny.
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Like I just instinctively knew
this bunny is not supposed to
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be there and I'm gonna get 'em.
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So I brought him home and I honestly
thought that this bunny was probably
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somebody's pet, and he actually
had a giant bump on his back, and
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I thought he probably had cancer.
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I was like, somebody's gotta
be taking care of this bunny.
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Look at him.
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He's got this giant tumor on his back.
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I posted on, the SPCA websites I
posted on all the missing pet forums.
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I even put a sign in my yard and
nobody was looking for this bunny.
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And I very quickly realized it's because
this bunny found me and I found this
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bunny and we were meant to be together.
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And he has completely changed my life.
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That's kinda where it started.
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And so I had this bunny and it was
in a weird time during my life.
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And he was helping me
keep it all together.
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He ended up being this emotional
support for me that I really
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needed in my life at that moment.
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I had to close my store
at the end of COVID.
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My house, my roof was left
open during a rainstorm.
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I had all this stress in my life
and every time I needed to just pin
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myself back down to the earth, I had
this little fluffy bunny and I just
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fell so in love with him and I was.
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Amazed at this little animal that they're
just so innocent and sweet that it
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could have this profound impact on me.
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So soon after that.
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Here in town at Lafreniere
Park, we were having a big boom.
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There've been dumped
bunnies there for years.
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And our local rescues, our regional
rescues, Bunnagain Rabbit Rescue and
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Education, Lola and Friends Bunny
Rescue of South Mississippi and the
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Jefferson SPCA, were all working
together to rescue these bunnies.
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They have something like 60 bunnies.
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I really wanted to get involved with them.
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So I had reached out to them a few
times, but the times that I was
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able to go rescue there was bad
weather and I wasn't able to go.
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And then soon after that there was Petco
was gonna start selling baby bunnies.
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And we have this like online
community house Rabbit Society.
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And everybody was working together
to try and call Petco and be
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an advocate for these bunnies
to say you can't carry bunnies.
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Like we have all these
people dumping bunnies.
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People don't know about bunnies and we
definitely don't need you to carry these
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little baby bunnies, and so what I did is.
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I had called Petco.
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I had a conversation with somebody.
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We ended up being on the phone for about
a half an hour, and I was so inspired
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by it that I opened on Facebook a
message thread with me and the three
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local rescues, and I called it bunny
advocates because that is what I am
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through and I don't have a rescue.
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But ever since then, we have been
such a strong community and we have
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worked together and we all bring
something different to the table.
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And I just feel like.
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They were the people
that I was meant to find.
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And we've been working
together ever since.
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And it's been amazing, if we all
just lift each other up and help each
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other when we can and yeah, and we've
been able to make videos and have a
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bigger reach to educate more people.
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Yeah, so right now I am just a
volunteer with the rescues, but really
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I'd like to start a rescue in New
Orleans proper, which we do need.
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I don't have the funding
for that right now.
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I wanted to make sure that I got the
experience volunteering and working with
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these other rescues to learn what I needed
to learn , before making the jump, making
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sure I was the best version of myself and
educated enough to like, make that leap.
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And hopefully I'll be
able to do that soon.
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If I don't adopt
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someone's nonprofit, I'll be able
to start my own and hopefully
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that's gonna be in the future here.
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Yeah.
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Dixie: I love hearing about the bunny
advocate group that you started and
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how all the bunny groups work together.
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Because I see a trend a lot in rescue
most of them don't work together,
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which I always think is a problem.
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But I've interviewed James
with lola and Friends.
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I've talked to Hannah
with the Jefferson SPCA.
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I talked to Donna with bunn again,
and I just think it is so incredibly
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inspiring that all work together to
get a bunny where it needs to go.
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I think it's great.
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Maria: Yeah, absolutely.
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And I think that online too, like I
mentioned about House Rabbit Society and
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they even have the Underground Railroad
where there's an organization that you
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can contact them if you have to transport
a bunny all the way across the country.
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There are different people who
are volunteer and carry that
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bunny from state to state.
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And because we have the internet.
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People have been able to really work
together and to share information
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and spread information faster.
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And this just happens to
be my local community.
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And honestly, if it wasn't for,
the internet and the way things are
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done now, maybe we wouldn't all be
as connect connected as we are now.
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It's really helped us work together.
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And I think it is important,
especially when you have this big
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boom of so many bunnies right now,
doing it alone, the isolation that
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comes with that, the risk, the fear.
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I mean it, it's a lot to take on.
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Anybody who's in animal
rescue will tell you that.
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It's a lot.
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And I think if you can have a
community, it's always gonna
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make you that much stronger.
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Dixie: What is the specific
issue that you're facing right
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now with the dumped bunnies?
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Maria: Okay, so we got we were
contacted by a local car dealership
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and they said, we've got these
bunnies running around loose.
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There's a ton of them everywhere.
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And we were like, what is going on?
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So I happen to live really close by.
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I'm only about six minutes away.
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So I ran over and looked and I saw
some of them immediately and I had
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gone around behind the property.
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I saw someone a little lot there
while I was trying to rescue a woman
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comes down the street, she starts
asking questions and I was like,
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uhoh, do you like love the bunnies?
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'cause a lot of times when
you go on these rescues.
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Sometimes people get defensive,
like they like the loose bunnies.
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They think it's fun to have 'em
around, not really understanding that
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it's not safe for them to be out, not
only parasites and cars predators.
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But she was on board.
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Like she totally understood.
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She said I've had a bunny before.
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Like I know, I'm glad you're here.
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And filled her in.
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And so she showed me around that
whole block, like that whole block is
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basically a territory for these bunnies.
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They're not just at the car dealership.
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They're at all of the property behind
there and they've actually dug tunnels.
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Underneath this woman's house, underneath
steps underneath her house, and we
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don't even have a confirmed number yet.
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I've personally seen about
maybe six, seven or eight.
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And we know that there are some litters
of babies that aren't quite out yet.
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It seems like they come out in the
very beginning of the day and then they
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tuck away and we haven't seen, so we
actually don't have a confirmed number.
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We, I think were originally
told probably, maybe.
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20 bunnies, but I don't actually know,
and I know that some have been hit.
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A couple of the younger black ones have
already been hit by a car, unfortunately.
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But yeah, it's a concern because
like I said, like Easter's
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right around the corner.
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This is a lot of bunnies for us
to take on before Easter even.
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'cause then, after Easter,
there's always gonna be more.
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And also on top of that, we recently had
a report of at Lafreniere Someone had
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dumped two bunnies and people scurried,
and they were like running across the
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street and they were trying to rescue 'em.
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They're just.
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Covered in urine stains is
absolutely heartbreaking.
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One of them did pass away, and the other,
as soon as she got to the shelter, she
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had eight babies, literally that day.
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So we already had a bunny that had babies.
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And then a couple days later Hannah at,
Jefferson, SPCA, realized her bunny was
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nesting and she had three or four babies.
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So right before we got notice
about this car lot issue, we
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already had a boom of over a dozen
bunnies, yeah, it's a concern.
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And the funding a lot of these programs
got cut with political whatever.
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It's like programs get cut, the funding's
not there, the space isn't there.
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So we're just working together and
we really need people to foster.
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You've never fostered before.
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It's a great opportunity to do it.
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It would be such a huge
help to your community.
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It would give you an opportunity
to get to know bunnies and see
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why we're so passionate about it.
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I feel like a lot of people don't
really understand bunnies until
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they find a bunny like I did.
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I didn't know.
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I always saw people that had
bunnies and , I didn't understand
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the emotional connection.
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'cause bunnies hide their emotions.
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They're nervous when
they meet somebody new.
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And then.
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You get a bunny in your house and you
see how funny they are and how much fun
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and they're like thinking and flopping
around and they're just the cutest,
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silliest, sweetest little animals.
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And you understand, it's almost like
they heal a part of your inner child.
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It's just pure joy and I wish
more people would have the
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opportunity to experience that.
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And I find that a lot of times people
don't unless they find a bunny.
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So I'm encouraging
anybody that's listening.
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Just foster one, just say, I would
like to help for a couple months.
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I know that y'all could use the
help and get to know a bunny.
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'cause you might absolutely fall in love.
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I think that's usually what happens.
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Yeah.
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Dixie: I know a lot of people when
they get bunnies and they're maybe
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not educated about bunnies, they
get a bunny and the bunny will just
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stay in a cage and they'll take the
bunny out maybe just for playtime.
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But the majority of the time
that bunny is living in a cage.
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How do.
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Fosters do it differently.
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Maria: Okay, so we are definitely
all about the House Rabbit Society.
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The free Roam bunny,
and if not, free roam.
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Free roam means they have free roam of
your house, just like a cat or a dog.
231
00:10:48,801 --> 00:10:51,441
Now, bunnies do chew on
things, but this is the thing.
232
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Cages just aren't appropriate for bunnies.
233
00:10:53,421 --> 00:10:54,771
They're not, they never really have been.
234
00:10:55,011 --> 00:10:58,221
People are getting better educated
about bunnies and understand
235
00:10:58,221 --> 00:11:00,261
that if you think enclosure.
236
00:11:00,316 --> 00:11:02,986
Instead of cage, you're
moving in the right direction.
237
00:11:03,316 --> 00:11:06,526
So the space that a bunny needs,
you should be able to basically
238
00:11:06,526 --> 00:11:08,536
lay in their space comfortably.
239
00:11:08,746 --> 00:11:12,916
A bunny should be able to hop three,
three hops like in every direction.
240
00:11:12,916 --> 00:11:14,206
That's an appropriate amount of space.
241
00:11:14,536 --> 00:11:15,556
Now if you have to go to work.
242
00:11:16,191 --> 00:11:19,881
You can have your bunny in as
enclosure, have some toys to chew.
243
00:11:20,201 --> 00:11:22,241
And then when you're home, they can
be free room in your house as long
244
00:11:22,326 --> 00:11:24,186
as they're supervised or in a room.
245
00:11:24,186 --> 00:11:26,556
A lot of people have a bunny
room, which is really fun.
246
00:11:26,556 --> 00:11:27,546
They can have like little ramps.
247
00:11:27,546 --> 00:11:29,646
They go up, they have little
tunnels they run through.
248
00:11:30,076 --> 00:11:33,526
You just have to make sure that, just like
any other animal, they need enrichment,
249
00:11:33,586 --> 00:11:37,636
they need mental stimulation, they
need toys and things to do, and they're
250
00:11:37,636 --> 00:11:41,686
foragers, they're curious, you can make
a little box and have some pellets and
251
00:11:41,686 --> 00:11:45,786
little dried, dried vegetable and some
paper and they like dig around and play.
252
00:11:46,206 --> 00:11:48,726
They're very playful and curious
animals and you can't just
253
00:11:48,726 --> 00:11:50,676
let 'em sit in a cage alone.
254
00:11:50,726 --> 00:11:52,846
There's this idea of out
of sight, out of mind.
255
00:11:52,846 --> 00:11:54,466
And that's what a lot of
people will do with bunnies.
256
00:11:54,466 --> 00:11:57,586
Like you have 'em in a hutch
outside on your back porch.
257
00:11:57,821 --> 00:12:00,671
A kid loses his interest and
then that bunny is suffering.
258
00:12:00,921 --> 00:12:01,971
And they don't do well in the heat.
259
00:12:01,971 --> 00:12:03,351
So definitely not in Louisiana.
260
00:12:03,351 --> 00:12:04,701
Your bunny needs to be inside.
261
00:12:04,851 --> 00:12:05,541
It's cruel.
262
00:12:05,751 --> 00:12:07,881
And people will compare
that to like wild bunnies.
263
00:12:08,181 --> 00:12:11,451
Wild bunnies only have a lifespan
about two years, not 10 years.
264
00:12:11,531 --> 00:12:13,841
And the reason why is 'cause , they
are prey animals and they're out
265
00:12:13,841 --> 00:12:17,771
in the wild, and they also dig deep
down under the earth to keep cool.
266
00:12:17,771 --> 00:12:19,631
But when you have an animal in a hutch.
267
00:12:19,921 --> 00:12:20,971
Outside in the heat.
268
00:12:21,291 --> 00:12:22,491
It's just really inappropriate.
269
00:12:22,491 --> 00:12:23,331
They're suffering.
270
00:12:23,361 --> 00:12:26,151
And they're also susceptible to
still parasites and things like
271
00:12:26,451 --> 00:12:28,131
fly strike, which is very brutal.
272
00:12:28,131 --> 00:12:29,241
Nobody wants to go through that.
273
00:12:29,571 --> 00:12:34,021
So having your bunny indoors in an
enclosure where they have more room
274
00:12:34,021 --> 00:12:37,351
to be comfortable and still play,
you're gonna have a happier bunny.
275
00:12:37,551 --> 00:12:40,391
There's no reason why your bunny
can't interact in your home and
276
00:12:40,391 --> 00:12:42,491
have more space and play a cage.
277
00:12:42,491 --> 00:12:43,841
If you see a bunny just sitting there.
278
00:12:44,411 --> 00:12:45,941
He's depressed, he's lonely.
279
00:12:45,991 --> 00:12:47,101
They're very social animals.
280
00:12:47,151 --> 00:12:48,411
A lot of people have two bunnies.
281
00:12:48,411 --> 00:12:50,241
It's a bonded pair, and
they're absolutely in love.
282
00:12:50,241 --> 00:12:53,331
I'm actually looking at two of mine
right now, and they're literally like
283
00:12:53,331 --> 00:12:54,711
glued together every day, cuddling.
284
00:12:55,536 --> 00:12:56,856
Like they're very social animals.
285
00:12:57,126 --> 00:12:59,876
To leave a bunny alone in a cage
is just it's not considering
286
00:12:59,876 --> 00:13:01,736
their mental health or wellbeing.
287
00:13:01,836 --> 00:13:03,606
And I think that goes
for all animals really.
288
00:13:03,906 --> 00:13:06,636
But yeah, people are learning
more about that and we had to just
289
00:13:06,636 --> 00:13:10,696
keep educating people that think
enclosure, not cage and free roaming.
290
00:13:10,746 --> 00:13:10,926
Dixie: Yeah.
291
00:13:10,926 --> 00:13:14,496
I know the last time that I spoke to
the bunny people I learned quite a
292
00:13:14,496 --> 00:13:15,906
bit that I didn't know about bunnies.
293
00:13:15,906 --> 00:13:18,956
Like the one thing that
got me was the carrots.
294
00:13:19,661 --> 00:13:22,541
Because you would always see
Bugs Bunny with a carrot and
295
00:13:22,541 --> 00:13:23,831
carrots are not good for bunnies.
296
00:13:25,076 --> 00:13:26,096
Maria: Yeah, absolutely.
297
00:13:26,156 --> 00:13:26,936
Oh my gosh.
298
00:13:26,936 --> 00:13:29,606
It's a whole thing and you'll
see me on my rescue videos.
299
00:13:29,606 --> 00:13:31,526
, I use carrots, I use Apple.
300
00:13:31,676 --> 00:13:36,446
What I do is I cut very skinny slices
of them and I give them very tiny pieces
301
00:13:36,446 --> 00:13:37,886
because what it should be is a treat.
302
00:13:38,276 --> 00:13:42,531
It's a special treat, and that is the
number one thing You see when people
303
00:13:42,531 --> 00:13:45,501
call and they say, oh, we have this
bunny running loose in our neighborhood.
304
00:13:45,561 --> 00:13:47,421
My favorite term, the neighborhood bunny.
305
00:13:47,716 --> 00:13:49,786
There's no such thing as a
neighborhood bunny people.
306
00:13:49,786 --> 00:13:52,216
It's an abandoned animal
or a dumped bunny.
307
00:13:52,436 --> 00:13:54,656
But everybody will just throw carrots.
308
00:13:54,656 --> 00:13:57,506
I went on this one rescue and
a guy came out, he's oh, I
309
00:13:57,506 --> 00:13:58,616
give these to her every day.
310
00:13:58,616 --> 00:14:01,556
And he handed me a whole bag
of mini carrots, and I'm like,
311
00:14:01,556 --> 00:14:02,516
this bunny's gonna be sick.
312
00:14:02,516 --> 00:14:03,236
I'm gonna get her home.
313
00:14:03,236 --> 00:14:05,156
And she's just gonna have
the worst upset tummy.
314
00:14:05,576 --> 00:14:07,346
Too much sugar is very bad.
315
00:14:07,346 --> 00:14:08,276
If you think of a bunny.
316
00:14:08,276 --> 00:14:11,186
A bunny is literally one big
digestive track, and they
317
00:14:11,186 --> 00:14:12,536
cannot have a lot of sugar.
318
00:14:12,746 --> 00:14:15,766
So more appropriate treats
are, romaine lettuce.
319
00:14:16,301 --> 00:14:18,781
Leafy, leafy greens herbs.
320
00:14:19,051 --> 00:14:21,961
But yeah, anything sweet like a
carrot is definitely considered.
321
00:14:21,961 --> 00:14:24,431
They can have some, but
just as a little snack yeah.
322
00:14:25,881 --> 00:14:28,641
Dixie: You mentioned earlier
too, that you think bunnies
323
00:14:28,641 --> 00:14:30,561
are the number one impulse pet.
324
00:14:30,591 --> 00:14:32,626
Why do you think is, why do
you think that's the reason?
325
00:14:34,546 --> 00:14:39,466
Maria: I think that, , it's probably also
during spring and Easter of course, you go
326
00:14:39,466 --> 00:14:40,966
and you think, oh, it's such a great idea.
327
00:14:40,966 --> 00:14:42,496
I can put him in the Easter basket.
328
00:14:42,526 --> 00:14:42,886
Oh yeah.
329
00:14:43,096 --> 00:14:43,876
And you don't even think about it.
330
00:14:43,876 --> 00:14:45,915
You just think, oh yeah, my kid is young.
331
00:14:45,915 --> 00:14:47,566
This will be a great first time pet.
332
00:14:47,566 --> 00:14:48,796
And how cute would it be?
333
00:14:48,915 --> 00:14:51,756
How excited would they be to like,
wake up in the morning and there's a
334
00:14:51,756 --> 00:14:53,196
little bunny in their Easter basket.
335
00:14:53,196 --> 00:14:54,426
Oh, I just love the memory.
336
00:14:54,476 --> 00:14:56,546
And they just do it without
even thinking about it.
337
00:14:56,546 --> 00:14:58,586
And it's not like the
pet stores offer you.
338
00:14:58,756 --> 00:14:59,926
Any information.
339
00:15:00,116 --> 00:15:02,456
I personally think that they should
be, it should probably be illegal to
340
00:15:02,456 --> 00:15:06,146
buy a bunny at a pet store, but they
don't even give you a brochure or
341
00:15:06,146 --> 00:15:08,306
nothing, no resources to learn about it.
342
00:15:08,586 --> 00:15:11,166
And the thing is they also sell
these cages at the pet store.
343
00:15:11,596 --> 00:15:12,766
They don't belong in the cages.
344
00:15:12,766 --> 00:15:16,066
Like the literally on the packaging
of the cage is a cute little bunny.
345
00:15:16,396 --> 00:15:19,486
I'm like, that is not an
appropriate size for a bunny.
346
00:15:19,766 --> 00:15:23,006
I think also part of this is because
bunnies are also considered livestock.
347
00:15:23,006 --> 00:15:27,236
So we're in this weird area where
we're dealing with people getting
348
00:15:27,236 --> 00:15:30,926
educated about pet bunnies and then
there's like this culture of livestock.
349
00:15:30,926 --> 00:15:34,446
So they have like less protection
compared to other pets like dogs
350
00:15:34,446 --> 00:15:36,966
or cats where a lot of people know
like how they should be treated.
351
00:15:37,326 --> 00:15:42,106
But I feel like when people go to a pet
store and they see this cute little bunny
352
00:15:42,286 --> 00:15:46,066
with its little face, you look at the
hamster and you're like the bunny's a
353
00:15:46,066 --> 00:15:47,836
little bit bigger for my kid to play with.
354
00:15:47,836 --> 00:15:49,816
And look how stinking cute it is.
355
00:15:49,866 --> 00:15:50,586
And you just do it.
356
00:15:50,586 --> 00:15:53,196
You just, it's an impulse all buy
because they're absolutely adorable and
357
00:15:53,196 --> 00:15:54,665
people fall in love when they see 'em.
358
00:15:55,066 --> 00:15:56,991
So I think that's why, and
maybe they think it's a little
359
00:15:56,991 --> 00:15:57,831
bit something different.
360
00:15:58,040 --> 00:16:00,741
It's not as much responsibility
as like a dog or a cat.
361
00:16:00,981 --> 00:16:02,271
A bunny will be just perfect.
362
00:16:02,786 --> 00:16:05,036
And they think that they're
gonna live as long as a hamster,
363
00:16:05,036 --> 00:16:06,656
which is only two or three years.
364
00:16:06,866 --> 00:16:08,696
And hamsters don't belong
at tiny cages either.
365
00:16:08,696 --> 00:16:11,616
But that's another topic they deserve
little habitats too, which is a
366
00:16:11,616 --> 00:16:14,316
really fun little project if it's
something people are interested in.
367
00:16:14,316 --> 00:16:16,236
But bunnies actually live longer lives.
368
00:16:16,236 --> 00:16:17,866
It can be, 10 plus years.
369
00:16:18,076 --> 00:16:19,276
And it's a misconception.
370
00:16:19,276 --> 00:16:20,476
It's an impulse buy thinking.
371
00:16:20,476 --> 00:16:22,546
It's gonna be a good beginner pet.
372
00:16:22,546 --> 00:16:24,256
It's gonna last a short while.
373
00:16:24,916 --> 00:16:25,576
Then they get it.
374
00:16:25,576 --> 00:16:29,466
They realize they bit off more that
they can chew and people think we
375
00:16:29,466 --> 00:16:31,296
know that we can't dump dogs or cats.
376
00:16:31,296 --> 00:16:31,866
That's not okay.
377
00:16:31,986 --> 00:16:33,036
But bunnies live outside.
378
00:16:33,396 --> 00:16:34,266
Bunnies are bunnies.
379
00:16:34,506 --> 00:16:37,536
And so then they think that they
could just release 'em and releasing
380
00:16:37,536 --> 00:16:38,886
a bunny is dumping a bunny.
381
00:16:38,886 --> 00:16:39,786
They're domesticated.
382
00:16:39,786 --> 00:16:42,966
They're not like wild bunnies,
domesticated bunnies, can't
383
00:16:42,966 --> 00:16:45,006
even breed with wild bunnies.
384
00:16:45,006 --> 00:16:47,046
Like it's a completely different animal.
385
00:16:47,316 --> 00:16:50,386
And their immune system
isn't ready to be outside.
386
00:16:50,386 --> 00:16:51,526
There's just all kinds of reasons.
387
00:16:51,526 --> 00:16:52,936
It's just cruel to dump a bunny.
388
00:16:52,936 --> 00:16:55,276
And so it's an impulse buy to start.
389
00:16:55,276 --> 00:16:55,540
People think.
390
00:16:56,290 --> 00:16:57,161
It won't live that long.
391
00:16:57,221 --> 00:16:59,371
Great toy for my kid loses interest.
392
00:16:59,831 --> 00:17:01,691
Bunnies are a lot more
responsibility than they were
393
00:17:01,691 --> 00:17:03,581
ready for, and it's just a cycle.
394
00:17:03,791 --> 00:17:06,161
And then people release 'em,
and then it just stops there.
395
00:17:06,161 --> 00:17:10,001
And so we gotta break that cycle
at all points if we possibly can.
396
00:17:10,031 --> 00:17:10,361
So
397
00:17:11,181 --> 00:17:17,211
Dixie: Another thing about Easter and
Bunnies that drives me crazy is I see this
398
00:17:17,211 --> 00:17:23,181
trend lately on social media where people
will go do photo shoots with baby animals.
399
00:17:24,101 --> 00:17:24,820
Have you seen those?
400
00:17:26,226 --> 00:17:27,396
Maria: I haven't actually seen that one.
401
00:17:27,396 --> 00:17:31,306
The only one that I'm aware of is
Bunnagain and Jefferson, SPCA actually
402
00:17:31,306 --> 00:17:34,726
do have one, but those are a rescue run.
403
00:17:34,816 --> 00:17:38,686
So if you see an event online where
people are doing these photo shoots
404
00:17:38,686 --> 00:17:42,496
with baby animals and a rescue is
not involved, you should either be
405
00:17:42,496 --> 00:17:44,386
asking a lot of questions to why.
406
00:17:45,101 --> 00:17:47,951
Or not supporting and making sure
that other people know not to support
407
00:17:47,951 --> 00:17:51,791
because people shouldn't be making the
money off of these animals, letting
408
00:17:51,791 --> 00:17:55,381
kids handle the animals without knowing
what's gonna happen or whatever.
409
00:17:55,381 --> 00:17:59,491
If you go to a photo shoot that's run by
a rescue, not only are you supporting a
410
00:17:59,491 --> 00:18:04,361
good cause but it's also gonna be managed
in a way to make sure that the animals
411
00:18:04,361 --> 00:18:06,131
are safe and the children are safe.
412
00:18:06,161 --> 00:18:08,991
'cause, things happen and, it's
just for everybody's best interest,
413
00:18:08,991 --> 00:18:10,311
but I actually haven't seen that.
414
00:18:10,361 --> 00:18:13,451
, Usually when I see stuff going online
that like raises a red flag for me.
415
00:18:13,811 --> 00:18:14,681
I'm pretty involved.
416
00:18:14,681 --> 00:18:16,691
Like I do consider
myself a bunny advocate.
417
00:18:16,691 --> 00:18:20,501
I will get on there and start a
conversation about what I think
418
00:18:20,501 --> 00:18:21,671
about it, but I won't be rude.
419
00:18:21,971 --> 00:18:27,551
It's more to just encourage people to
think and maybe to broaden their horizons.
420
00:18:27,551 --> 00:18:29,081
Okay, you wanna have a
photo shoot with bunnies?
421
00:18:29,131 --> 00:18:31,651
Did you consider reaching
out to your local rescue?
422
00:18:31,921 --> 00:18:32,581
Do you know what I mean?
423
00:18:32,851 --> 00:18:33,361
Instead of it.
424
00:18:33,771 --> 00:18:34,131
I don't know.
425
00:18:34,131 --> 00:18:35,681
There's ways, about that,
but I haven't seen it.
426
00:18:35,681 --> 00:18:36,581
I'll have to keep an eye out.
427
00:18:36,641 --> 00:18:38,111
'cause Easter is right around the corner.
428
00:18:38,381 --> 00:18:38,741
Dixie: Yeah.
429
00:18:38,741 --> 00:18:40,361
These weren't rescue run.
430
00:18:40,421 --> 00:18:43,931
They're just like a regular like
photo shoot, a photographer or will
431
00:18:43,931 --> 00:18:45,671
go out and get some baby animals.
432
00:18:46,031 --> 00:18:49,451
And I've seen 'em do it with the
baby ducks, the baby chicks, and
433
00:18:49,451 --> 00:18:51,618
then the baby bunnies and, yeah.
434
00:18:51,618 --> 00:18:53,418
Maria: And I wonder where
all those babies go after.
435
00:18:53,418 --> 00:18:54,618
Dixie: That's what I was gonna say.
436
00:18:54,618 --> 00:18:56,153
I wonder what happens to him after.
437
00:18:57,266 --> 00:18:59,676
Maria: There was , I guess a
famous, artist, a woman I don't,
438
00:18:59,676 --> 00:19:01,486
or a influencer, in New York.
439
00:19:01,486 --> 00:19:05,026
'cause that actually they adopted two
bunnies and then they did a photo shoot
440
00:19:05,356 --> 00:19:08,776
and then on leashes too, which you're
not supposed to put a bunny on a leash.
441
00:19:09,196 --> 00:19:13,546
And then within a week, those two
bunnies were found in a park in New York.
442
00:19:14,071 --> 00:19:16,411
And we came down on 'em hard,
but I don't even know if there
443
00:19:16,411 --> 00:19:18,271
was any repercussions for that.
444
00:19:18,271 --> 00:19:19,231
And any consequences.
445
00:19:19,231 --> 00:19:20,281
I honestly don't know.
446
00:19:20,431 --> 00:19:22,561
I did make a video about it
though, and I addressed it.
447
00:19:22,561 --> 00:19:26,101
I even tried to contact the woman and
say, even if you didn't dump these
448
00:19:26,101 --> 00:19:27,751
bunnies, somebody on your team did.
449
00:19:27,751 --> 00:19:30,451
And this is unacceptable, and
especially if you're in the public eye.
450
00:19:30,991 --> 00:19:34,111
We have a responsibility if we're
in a public eye or if we have a
451
00:19:34,111 --> 00:19:38,371
business to make sure that we're
protecting and representing animals.
452
00:19:38,421 --> 00:19:40,341
We are people who are creating culture.
453
00:19:40,731 --> 00:19:45,741
We are people who have influence in a
way that maybe an average person doesn't.
454
00:19:45,741 --> 00:19:49,151
And with that comes responsibility
to do right by the animals.
455
00:19:49,156 --> 00:19:52,996
Dixie: When you're talking to about
the dumped bunnies, a lot of them
456
00:19:53,056 --> 00:19:57,166
being pets that people just get rid
of, do you have issues with them
457
00:19:57,166 --> 00:19:58,756
being livestock bunnies as well?
458
00:19:59,758 --> 00:20:05,228
Maria: That is such a hard topic, now, the
other rescues,, I've let them know that I
459
00:20:05,228 --> 00:20:11,078
do correspond on those message threads in
some of those groups that are livestock.
460
00:20:11,633 --> 00:20:12,653
Or meat rabbits.
461
00:20:12,653 --> 00:20:17,693
And the reason why I do is because I
wanna make sure that even if these people
462
00:20:17,693 --> 00:20:22,163
are planning to feed their families with
these rabbits, I wanna make sure that
463
00:20:22,163 --> 00:20:25,493
those rabbits are well taken care of and.
464
00:20:26,113 --> 00:20:28,513
Ethically handled all the way through.
465
00:20:28,633 --> 00:20:32,173
And so I'm in this weird place
where I am a meat eater, and so
466
00:20:32,173 --> 00:20:34,093
then I also feel guilty about that.
467
00:20:34,393 --> 00:20:38,083
And I know what rabbit meat is,
and , it's a healthy meat and when
468
00:20:38,083 --> 00:20:41,363
you look at, growing livestock and,
raising livestock and all this stuff,
469
00:20:41,363 --> 00:20:42,563
like I understand why people do it.
470
00:20:42,863 --> 00:20:43,823
Does it break my heart?
471
00:20:43,853 --> 00:20:44,903
Absolutely.
472
00:20:45,353 --> 00:20:48,293
But I'm still involved
with that dialogue because.
473
00:20:48,348 --> 00:20:51,648
I want people to make sure that the
bunnies are being well taken care of.
474
00:20:51,948 --> 00:20:55,008
Do I still try to encourage people
and show people what I think?
475
00:20:55,008 --> 00:20:55,788
Absolutely.
476
00:20:56,068 --> 00:21:01,068
There was this woman, one woman who posted
a video and her mating rabbit was her doe
477
00:21:01,678 --> 00:21:04,588
was kissing her on her head, on her face.
478
00:21:05,008 --> 00:21:08,428
And so I just opened a very friendly
dialogue and I said, I just want you
479
00:21:08,428 --> 00:21:11,758
to understand that when a bunny does
that, they think of you as family.
480
00:21:12,428 --> 00:21:15,848
And I personally think that
like animals can be soulmates.
481
00:21:15,848 --> 00:21:18,638
Like not every soulmate is
gonna come back in human form.
482
00:21:18,938 --> 00:21:22,118
And if you have an animal that is bonding
with you in this way, when an animal is
483
00:21:22,118 --> 00:21:26,768
such a timid, especially, a prey animal is
so scared, if that animal is bonding with
484
00:21:26,768 --> 00:21:30,488
you and kissing you and thinking you are
family, maybe you should consider that.
485
00:21:30,488 --> 00:21:32,348
You should really think about
that and reflect on that
486
00:21:32,348 --> 00:21:35,288
before you cull or un alive.
487
00:21:35,288 --> 00:21:39,028
That bunny, I hate to say kill, but I
haven't seen any of her posts since,
488
00:21:39,028 --> 00:21:42,438
but I always just try to put that little
seed, we, a lot of these dump bunnies too.
489
00:21:42,438 --> 00:21:43,158
You know what we find?
490
00:21:43,488 --> 00:21:46,668
We had a whole bunch of dump bunnies
on the West Bank, and it seemed
491
00:21:46,668 --> 00:21:50,208
to me that someone was breeding
them and then couldn't do it.
492
00:21:50,658 --> 00:21:52,618
They couldn't they realized they couldn't.
493
00:21:53,053 --> 00:21:53,923
They couldn't cull 'em.
494
00:21:54,433 --> 00:21:56,863
And so they realized, and now I have
all these bunnies, what am I gonna do?
495
00:21:56,863 --> 00:21:58,063
And they let 'em go in the woods.
496
00:21:58,813 --> 00:22:02,263
And I think that happens more often
than people realize too, because they
497
00:22:02,263 --> 00:22:04,663
are such cute, sweet little animals.
498
00:22:04,903 --> 00:22:07,543
And then when you're working with
them hand in hand you realize that.
499
00:22:07,813 --> 00:22:11,953
So I'm in a weird place with it because
while I'm against it, I'm still gonna be
500
00:22:11,953 --> 00:22:16,213
a part of that dialogue in an effort to
make sure that they are well cared for,
501
00:22:16,213 --> 00:22:19,343
and have a good life before someone does.
502
00:22:19,748 --> 00:22:23,078
Use them to feed their family even
though it's as heartbreaking as it is.
503
00:22:23,318 --> 00:22:24,128
So I feel guilty.
504
00:22:24,128 --> 00:22:24,818
I'm not a vegan.
505
00:22:24,868 --> 00:22:29,028
I can't, until I'm vegan, I feel like I
can't go out there and it's hypocritical.
506
00:22:29,028 --> 00:22:29,898
So I'm just heartbroken.
507
00:22:29,898 --> 00:22:30,648
But I do think that.
508
00:22:31,283 --> 00:22:36,203
Here's the thing, people still have them
as livestock, but the more people realize
509
00:22:36,233 --> 00:22:40,493
how similar bunnies are to cats and dogs
and the way that they bond with you and
510
00:22:40,493 --> 00:22:46,703
how much fun they are to have as pets,
there might be less and less of livestock
511
00:22:46,703 --> 00:22:51,713
bunnies because they really are like
beautiful little additions to your family.
512
00:22:51,953 --> 00:22:52,253
Dixie: Yeah.
513
00:22:52,253 --> 00:22:56,068
See, I don't understand that, from
being a pet person, how do you
514
00:22:56,068 --> 00:22:57,868
raise 'em and not bond with them,
515
00:22:58,666 --> 00:23:02,696
Maria: yeah, there was a woman that
was also recently, like kissing on it
516
00:23:02,696 --> 00:23:05,966
and a little baby, and she was like,
oh, this is gonna be a crockpot bunny.
517
00:23:06,116 --> 00:23:07,106
But she's kissing on it.
518
00:23:07,106 --> 00:23:10,896
And I just said again, trying to open the
dialogue without being like judgmental
519
00:23:10,896 --> 00:23:12,606
and scaring 'em away or being too pushy.
520
00:23:12,606 --> 00:23:14,986
I just said, consider also the animals.
521
00:23:15,476 --> 00:23:19,016
Mental health and emotional
health, that it's a betrayal.
522
00:23:19,116 --> 00:23:23,436
If you are gonna grow an animal, if
you're gonna raise an animal to feed
523
00:23:23,436 --> 00:23:27,966
your family, make sure that there's
a boundary that you're not gonna bond
524
00:23:27,966 --> 00:23:31,416
with this animal because it's not just
about you bonding with this animal.
525
00:23:31,656 --> 00:23:33,606
It's about the animal bonding with you.
526
00:23:33,846 --> 00:23:36,186
It's a betrayal if an
animal is showing you.
527
00:23:36,821 --> 00:23:39,491
Like love, eternal love, it's
something so much bigger.
528
00:23:39,491 --> 00:23:42,431
Like when a animal loves
you, it's so special.
529
00:23:42,791 --> 00:23:45,581
And if you don't put that boundary
up, if you're gonna raise livestock
530
00:23:45,581 --> 00:23:48,671
and you're just letting these animals
love you and then you kill them,
531
00:23:48,671 --> 00:23:51,191
like that is a betrayal on love.
532
00:23:51,431 --> 00:23:55,451
So if you're gonna raise livestock
animals, I don't want to judge as
533
00:23:55,451 --> 00:23:58,961
much as it breaks my heart, but
please put that boundary up because
534
00:23:59,141 --> 00:24:00,981
it's not fair to that animal.
535
00:24:01,126 --> 00:24:04,156
Treat them well, of course, give them
a good life, treat them well, but don't
536
00:24:04,156 --> 00:24:07,006
bond with them emotionally like that
because they're emotional animals.
537
00:24:07,156 --> 00:24:07,666
Like I said.
538
00:24:07,716 --> 00:24:09,546
They like to live in a community.
539
00:24:09,546 --> 00:24:10,896
They bond with each other.
540
00:24:11,166 --> 00:24:12,906
They don't wanna be alone.
541
00:24:12,906 --> 00:24:14,256
They're very loving animals.
542
00:24:14,256 --> 00:24:17,976
So if you're gonna to eat your animals,
don't bond with them on that level.
543
00:24:18,176 --> 00:24:19,886
Have that barrier, have that boundary.
544
00:24:20,701 --> 00:24:20,941
Dixie: Yeah.
545
00:24:20,971 --> 00:24:21,721
Absolutely.
546
00:24:21,721 --> 00:24:22,171
I agree.
547
00:24:22,171 --> 00:24:25,051
I think that is the
biggest betrayal of trust.
548
00:24:25,081 --> 00:24:25,541
I yeah.
549
00:24:25,876 --> 00:24:27,616
I can't even wrap my head around it,
550
00:24:27,686 --> 00:24:27,946
, yeah.
551
00:24:27,946 --> 00:24:28,226
It's
552
00:24:28,231 --> 00:24:29,751
difficult for me to understand.
553
00:24:30,751 --> 00:24:31,381
Maria: Exactly.
554
00:24:31,441 --> 00:24:33,781
And it, I think that they're like,
oh, I'm giving him a good life.
555
00:24:33,781 --> 00:24:36,541
I'm like you can give him a good
life without betraying that love.
556
00:24:36,661 --> 00:24:38,251
That's the thing, keep that boundary.
557
00:24:38,251 --> 00:24:39,241
Don't let them kiss you.
558
00:24:39,241 --> 00:24:39,511
Then.
559
00:24:39,511 --> 00:24:40,831
Like he loves you.
560
00:24:40,831 --> 00:24:44,521
I'm like my inside, my heart screaming
like that little bunny loves you.
561
00:24:44,521 --> 00:24:45,301
Don't you know?
562
00:24:45,661 --> 00:24:48,421
But that's why I like to say just
consider, it might be your soulmate.
563
00:24:48,421 --> 00:24:52,131
Just really reflect on that before
you make this decision, I don't know.
564
00:24:52,411 --> 00:24:53,191
I don't have the answer.
565
00:24:53,191 --> 00:24:56,311
It's been difficult though,
because, you're trying to educate
566
00:24:56,311 --> 00:24:58,861
people and you want people to
bring their little bunnies inside.
567
00:24:58,861 --> 00:25:03,121
And we do have this movement for
homesteading and livestock on a
568
00:25:03,121 --> 00:25:04,831
small scale and things like that.
569
00:25:04,831 --> 00:25:06,791
So it's a weird place to be.
570
00:25:06,876 --> 00:25:07,686
It really is.
571
00:25:07,686 --> 00:25:11,761
And ultimately, I just try to put my
best foot forward and inspire people
572
00:25:12,031 --> 00:25:15,411
without making them feel uncomfortable.
573
00:25:15,561 --> 00:25:16,281
Do you know what I mean?
574
00:25:16,331 --> 00:25:18,131
That's the best that I can offer
and the best that I can do.
575
00:25:18,704 --> 00:25:23,234
Dixie: Before we end the call,
what do you think are ways to get
576
00:25:23,234 --> 00:25:28,549
people out of this impulse buying
and buying bunnies as Easter gifts?
577
00:25:30,204 --> 00:25:33,114
Maria: I wish people would talk to
their local rescues to see if there
578
00:25:33,114 --> 00:25:34,614
would be a fostering opportunity.
579
00:25:34,614 --> 00:25:37,134
Some won't do that 'cause they
still feel like it's a bad idea.
580
00:25:37,614 --> 00:25:39,324
Kids and bunnies and things happen.
581
00:25:39,654 --> 00:25:43,344
Or you could plan a visit with
bunnies or something like that, like
582
00:25:43,344 --> 00:25:44,904
a special event you could go to.
583
00:25:45,154 --> 00:25:48,334
But I think that pet stores, it
should be illegal to carry bunnies.
584
00:25:48,334 --> 00:25:51,514
And if not, if they don't ban 'em
from carrying bunnies, they should
585
00:25:51,514 --> 00:25:54,064
at least do it before Easter.
586
00:25:54,229 --> 00:25:54,619
They should.
587
00:25:54,944 --> 00:25:55,104
Absolutely.
588
00:25:55,109 --> 00:25:55,759
And ducks too.
589
00:25:55,759 --> 00:25:57,679
I know that little chicks and
little ducks and all that.
590
00:25:57,679 --> 00:25:58,579
I know it's the same thing.
591
00:25:58,579 --> 00:26:00,079
People have 'em in their Easter baskets.
592
00:26:00,379 --> 00:26:03,439
But it's not something that should
be available for the impulse buy.
593
00:26:03,439 --> 00:26:05,269
We should absolutely stop that there.
594
00:26:05,689 --> 00:26:07,489
I don't know if we'll
ever get to that point.
595
00:26:07,489 --> 00:26:10,699
So it's either work with your rescues
and that, and I guess that cities would
596
00:26:10,699 --> 00:26:14,929
have to come up with, local laws about
who can have, these little animals.
597
00:26:14,929 --> 00:26:18,029
If they would just not have them in
the pet stores, that would be ideal.
598
00:26:18,029 --> 00:26:18,449
Of course.
599
00:26:18,449 --> 00:26:19,859
Like they did that with cats and dogs.
600
00:26:19,859 --> 00:26:21,219
They started, dogs and cats.
601
00:26:21,239 --> 00:26:22,739
They started adopt don't shop.
602
00:26:23,049 --> 00:26:25,719
And that should be the exact
same situation for bunnies.
603
00:26:25,719 --> 00:26:28,839
A lot of these little animals that
are pet stores come from mills.
604
00:26:28,839 --> 00:26:32,019
It's just like puppy mills,
except they're for small animals.
605
00:26:32,019 --> 00:26:33,279
And it's absolutely terrible.
606
00:26:33,489 --> 00:26:37,599
If pet stores wanted to work with local
rescues, that's a great option too.
607
00:26:37,599 --> 00:26:39,219
You would be supporting the rescues.
608
00:26:39,219 --> 00:26:42,509
It would come with, community
and education because then you
609
00:26:42,509 --> 00:26:43,859
would be involved with the rescue.
610
00:26:43,859 --> 00:26:46,079
And we are like a little
bit of a community.
611
00:26:46,449 --> 00:26:49,949
But yeah, that's really the thing
is we need to talk to our pet stores
612
00:26:49,949 --> 00:26:53,069
and we need to say, you need to not
carry bunnies, or you especially just
613
00:26:53,069 --> 00:26:56,939
don't carry them before Easter because
of that, that impulse buy issue.
614
00:26:58,530 --> 00:27:02,230
I think that bunnies moving forward
are actually gonna be a more popular
615
00:27:02,230 --> 00:27:06,190
and a more common house pet because
bunnies are herbivores and if you think
616
00:27:06,190 --> 00:27:09,180
of the state of the world and climate
change and all this stuff, and dogs
617
00:27:09,180 --> 00:27:13,010
and cats being carnivores, our world
is changing, our future is changing.
618
00:27:13,010 --> 00:27:17,480
And to be able to take care of an
herbivore is gonna be very different than
619
00:27:17,480 --> 00:27:19,520
having to supply meat for cats and dogs.
620
00:27:19,520 --> 00:27:22,760
So I think in the future, bunnies are
actually gonna be a more common house pet.
621
00:27:23,779 --> 00:27:26,839
Dixie: Thank you so much for coming
on to talk about all of this.
622
00:27:27,547 --> 00:27:28,447
Maria: Absolutely.
623
00:27:28,447 --> 00:27:30,007
I was really thankful
that you reached out.
624
00:27:30,007 --> 00:27:31,417
I appreciate everything you're doing.
625
00:27:31,417 --> 00:27:34,777
I think it's so important and I
love listening to your podcast.
626
00:27:34,777 --> 00:27:35,947
I think it's really wonderful.
627
00:27:36,027 --> 00:27:38,987
Really excited to see what else y'all
come out with in the future too.
628
00:27:39,017 --> 00:27:39,857
So thank you so much.
629
00:27:40,344 --> 00:27:43,614
Dixie: Thanks again to Maria for coming
on the show to talk about the growing
630
00:27:43,614 --> 00:27:45,834
problem with bunnies and Easter.
631
00:27:47,109 --> 00:27:52,549
I just wanted to clarify one thing too,
after the call ended, Maria did text me
632
00:27:52,549 --> 00:27:56,959
to let me know that she forgot to tell
everybody what the bump on the back of
633
00:27:56,959 --> 00:27:58,999
her bunny was, and it was not cancer.
634
00:27:58,999 --> 00:28:00,529
Instead it was an abscess.
635
00:28:00,919 --> 00:28:03,129
So she did have a happy, healthy bunny.
636
00:28:04,044 --> 00:28:06,534
That's it for today's
episode of Animal Posse.
637
00:28:06,564 --> 00:28:09,504
If you love what we're doing,
please consider becoming a member.
638
00:28:09,744 --> 00:28:13,854
Your support directly helps us continue
highlighting the people and stories
639
00:28:13,854 --> 00:28:15,474
that save lives across the country.
640
00:28:15,894 --> 00:28:19,194
Just a quick reminder, the views
and opinions expressed by our
641
00:28:19,194 --> 00:28:23,214
guests are theirs alone and are
provided for entertainment purposes.
642
00:28:23,424 --> 00:28:27,484
They don't necessarily reflect the
official position of the show, and
643
00:28:27,484 --> 00:28:31,714
this information should never replace
the advice of your own veterinarian.
644
00:28:31,887 --> 00:28:34,137
Thanks for listening, and
we'll see you next time.
