Rabbits/Expert Profile

Expertise

***ATTENTION -- I DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT WILD RABBITS AND I CAN NOT HELP YOU WITH WILD RABBIT QUESTIONS*** Please do not ask me questions about your pet rabbits if you have no intention of taking them to a vet. I DO NOT CONDONE THE BREEDING OF RABBITS THAT ARE NOT PUREBRED AND PEDIGREED. ACCIDENTLY LITTERS OR RABBITS INTENDED FOR MEAT ARE ACCEPTABLE. *** I WILL NOT ANSWER QUESTIONS RELATED TO BACKYARD BREEDING. IF YOU ARE SERIOUS ABOUT BEING A RESPONSIBLE BREEDER I WILL HELP YOU. PLEASE DO NOT ASK ME ABOUT BREEDING RABBITS TO SELL TO PET STORES, TO USE AS PETS ETC. *** *** DO NOT HOUSE UNALTERED MALE AND FEMALE RABBITS TOGETHER, EVER! THIS IS WHERE BABIES COME FROM*** I WILL NO LONGER GIVE ADVICE TO PEOPLE WHO ARE CARELESS AND THINK THAT IT IS OK TO PUT 2 RABBITS TOGETHER WITHOUT KNOWING THEIR SEX*** Rabbits are not toys. They are living creatures. I believe that people are responsible for their animals. If you can't afford a vet, in my opinion, you can't afford a rabbit. I can answer questions on genetics, rabbit behavior, breeding, and health of all rabbits including meat breeds. I am a certified Vet Tech but am currently not working due to a disability. I can help you understand the basic treatment or most ailments, be advised that this may include emergency veterinary care. If your rabbit is sick I may tell you what I think is wrong but I strongly suggest that you take it to a doctor for an exam. I must stress that I am not a doctor and I can't "diagnose", especially over the internet without seeing your rabbit. All answers are just my opinion and must be taken at face value. I will absolutely NOT give you advice pertaining to the un-ethical treatment of animals.

Please do not ask me how to process rabbit meat. I have eaten rabbit meat in the past but I have no idea how to process a rabbit anymore than I would know how to process cattle. That is what butchers get paid for.

Experience in the area

I have raised Mini-Rex, American fuzzy lops, and Holland lops and a few meat breeds for over 5 years. Our meat breeds are not butchered and are used for rabbit agility and pets. I have a basic knowledge of meat breeds but absolutely have no clue how to process them. I am uncomforable answering questions about rabbits raised for meat but if you cant find someone else I will do my best to help. All animals need care even farm and meat animals. I have been studying rabbit behavior for over 5 years. I enjoy working with difficult bunnies. I spend 100% of my time with my rabbits and helping others to train theirs. We are currently working with rabbit agility which is very time consuming. I am NOT part of the House Rabbit Society, but believe they have the best interest of the animals at heart and that is what is important. I believe there can be a halfway point between breeders and the HRS. Many breeders will outright tell you the HRS is bad, and many HRS members will tell you that all breeders are bad. Neither is the case but in any situation you are always going to find people who are pig-headed and ignorant. In my life time I would like to see a common middle ground between the Rabbit Breeders Association and the House Rabbit Society. Perhaps just an acceptance that they can just agree to disagree. I am in the minority but have met people on both sides who agree. The most important issue I can stress is that breeding must be "responsible" no matter what you intend to use the rabbits for. It is competely irresponsible to breed rabbits just because you want to. If you want to eat them I have no problem with that, but if you have a litter of say 6-10 rabbits and only bred them for fun, you better have figured out what you are going to do with those kits or before you know it you are going to have 600 rabbits in yours house and you aren't going to have a place to sleep.
Organizations
American Rabbit Breeder's Association. Several local and specialty rabbit breeder's clubs. 4-H Leader, Many volunteer organizations.

Organizations

American Rabbit Breeder's Association. Several local and specialty rabbit breeder's clubs. 4-H Leader, Many volunteer organizations.

Education/Credentials

Veterinary Tech. Retired Paramedic. Full-time Farmer.

Awards and Honors

Multiple achievements in showing nationally. Volunteer of the year 2008, dedication above and beyond.

Past/Present Clients

I was employed by an exotic animal hospital for 2 years. I left due to a disability. I now spend all of my time training my rabbits and helping others to properly train and bond theirs.

What do you like about this subject?

I love rabbits. They are my passion in life. I love taking care of them, whether they are brood stock, meat herds or pets. I love the hospital I work for, not to many vet hospitals specialize in exotics and rabbits.

What do you still hope to achieve/learn in this field?

I would like to learn everything there is to know about rabbits and other exotic pets. I love studying genetics and am considering returning to college to learn as much as I can about this subject.

Something interesting about this subject that others may not know:

Did you know that you can teach a rabbit to fetch? It takes alot of work but when you accomplish your goal it is so rewarding.

Something controversial or provocative about this subject

The never ending battle between the HRS and ARBA has to end. It is the un-educated people who are not members of either organization that are contributing to the over population of unwanted rabbits. You don't have to be a member of ARBA to breed rabbits, but you should at least think about responsibilities. I am only concerned about the welfare and humane treatment of these precious animals.