Could Someone Please Tell Me Why People Can Be So Stupid?
By pyewacket
@pyewacket (43903)
United States
April 7, 2010 10:15pm CST
Last night I was watching World News Now late at night, and they did a segment where they showed Long Beach City College in California that has become a "dumping" ground for unwanted rabbits.
Without fail, each and every Easter people will buy cute cuddly rabbits as an Easter present, not realizing the care they might need. Rabbits can be more of a handle to take care of then say cats or dogs, and even can be destructive. So people bring their now unwanted rabbits that have lost their "cuteness" and too much to handle and dump them at the college grounds where there are an estimated 300 rabbits roaming loose on campus. But of course, this type of thing doesn't just take place here at that Long Beach City College, but all over, anywhere, where moronic people insist on buying rabbits for Easter.
It's bad enough people adopt kittens and puppies, then when they discover they can't keep them for whatever reason dump them in shelters or just plain abandon them in the street. But people just don't THINK. I mean if I were to get a rabbit, I would first "inform" myself of the care involved and any special needs taking care of a rabbit.
Do you think rabbits should be banned from sale especially at Easter time? Do you think if a person adopts a rabbit (or any non-conventional type pet, like ferrets, snakes, etc) that they should be screened and understand what is involved in taken care of such a pet?
Here's a video about the Long Beach City College story:
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/bunnies--10281136
7 people like this
18 responses
@tessah (6617)
• United States
8 Apr 10
i think banning the sale would just make those of us with a brain suffer, and thats just not fair. my father gamme a baby bunny when i was a kid for easter one year.. and i loved the stuffing out of him. it was a WONDERFUL gift! but then.. even at the age of 7.. i had a brain and knew what to do and how to care for him.
i think a better idea would be to instate fines for those that do such retarded and cruel things instead. might be harder to enforce, sure.. but why make everyone suffer just because of the idiots?
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
9 Apr 10
LOL--well some of us have brains but unfortunately most people don't and it's the people who don't will discard any type of animal when it gets to be too much to handle and not just rabbits, but cats and dogs
1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
8 Apr 10
yes they should put a hold on them.
i've seen pet rabbits freak out,and honestly it's not something a small child can handle.
they used to do that with geese too.
my dad had an "easter goose" when he was little,at the time they also dyed the poor things,fully expecting them to not live long (nice,huh?)..
my dad however loved that goose like a pet dog,and it grew,moulted,and became big and white.protective,too.dad said people in the neighborhood would giggle at him and his "goosedog" going by.
3 people like this
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
9 Apr 10
he didn't-parents then bought them pre-dyed to give as "gifts".
i shudder to think what might have been in a 1942 dye if they expected them to die later.
oh yea they're aggressive.
his seemed to have bonded to him tho.
his seemed to have bonded to him tho.2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
9 Apr 10
Why did your dad dye the geese?
I happen to love geese but they can be aggressive at times...I remember that from my days I used to photograph them at Kissena Park, but then they were wild geese, not trained and not "goosedogs"--
I happen to love geese but they can be aggressive at times...I remember that from my days I used to photograph them at Kissena Park, but then they were wild geese, not trained and not "goosedogs"--2 people like this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
11 Apr 10
Hi Pye
It is with all types of Pets they do it now because they do not bother to check in the Care and things like that
It makes me really mad
I used to have Rabbits and yes they are hard work, they need cleaning attention feeding grooming and things like that so it is not a case of like it is with a Cat or Dog, because they live in their Hutches so of course they have to be cleaned
I just wish People would think before they act then these Problems would no occur
A home Rabbit can normally not survive in the wild
It is really sad that People do not realise that all Animals have feelings just like we do
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
12 Apr 10
I think that's the problem with people, they just plain don't think about what they are doing when they adopt any kind of pet and aren't ready to handle them, espeically something like a rabbit that takes more effort to keep
1 person likes this
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
8 Apr 10
i'll tell you, im starting to think anyone buying any kind of pet and not just rescueing one but buying them, should be screened and checked out and given a short orintation at least. just to much of this goes on. 
its way to sad. every time you think people can not get any stupider with the treating of pets, you find out they can
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
12 Apr 10
I think the sale of most pets in pet shops should be banned to begin with since it's taking away from pets being adopted at shelters. Or if not banned at least go through the rigorous adoption questionnaire shelters do before adopting pets out. Also one has to question just how healthy pets that are sold in shops since many come from puppy/kitten mills and I imagine there are "rabbit" mills too
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
10 Apr 10
It’s so sad…I don’t understand how anyone can dump an animal and leave it without knowing what’s going to happen to it! We adopted out cat Rosie because it appeared somebody who was not treating her very well dumped her in our area and she was wondering from house to house looking for a home. It was around Christmas time, the 23rd of December I think and when I called the shelter they told me they could not keep her very long if they took her because after every Christmas they are usually inundated with all sorts of cute kittens, puppies, bunnies etc which people received as presents and decided taking care of an animal for possibly the next 20 years was not so appealing after all. An awful lot of these ‘gifts’ end up being put down if they are not adopted in a reasonable time due to over crowding. It is heart breaking. My parents came back from a holiday and Italy and they told me that it is not unusual to see dogs dumped on the side of the freeway over there while the so called owners go away for the summer holidays! At the RSPCA where we got our other cat, we had to apply to adopt him and had to pass a small test questionnaire to determine whether we could indeed take care of him and were prepared for what responsible pet ownership entails. The lady who takes care of the felines there told me that they have not approved unsuitable people on occasion and that is good to know.
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
12 Apr 10
Yes I can imagine how overcrowded shelters become after Christmas too with pets being adopted as a present. Ironically, my very first kitty, Babette, my mother adopted for me as a Christmas present when I was five years old and would never have thought of returning her...but then we were all responsible people with pets.
I guess in pet shops though they don't go through the same rigorous adoption procedure the same way they do at shelters, they're just in it for the money aspect...to sell an animal/pet
2 people like this
@nangisha (3495)
• Indonesia
8 Apr 10
I personally the kind of person who never giving a living thing as present except flower and plant. I personally think giving rabbit as easter present is not a wise choice because it really hard to house train and the urine smell so bad. here we are not celebrating easter like that, morning sermon in church is enough.
3 people like this
@AnnieOakley1 (5596)
• Canada
8 Apr 10
Actually, bunnies will go to the bathroom in only one corner of their cage, to keep the rest of their cage clean. So, you just put a litter box in that corner and put some of his poop in it until he continues to go exclusively there. Then, you gradually expand his area to roam, just making sure he knows where the litterbox is at all times. I'm told they can be awesome house trained pets, if cared for properly and work with their natural tendencies to keep their house clean.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
9 Apr 10
Well as AnnieOakley points out here rabbits can be house trained just as well as say a cat using a litter pan. Unfortunately most people who impulsively buy a rabbit at Easter time probably just plain don't want to bother house-training which is why they get dumped
1 person likes this
@dloveli (4366)
• United States
8 Apr 10
I think that a pet of any kind is a huge responsibility. Around holidays people buy puppies and rabbits without thinking about the long term issues that come along with any pet. I feel so sick to my stomach when I think of all the rabbits that will be discarded so cruelly. I wish I could take in every animal that is in distress. No matter what the reason. Unfortunately its not possible for any one person to attempt this. Please help to spread the word about owning a pet. Education is everything. dl
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
9 Apr 10
An article idea is kicking around precisely about this. I too would love to have a sanctuary type place to take in unwanted animals...now if only I win the lotto big time
2 people like this
@nova1945 (1612)
• United States
8 Apr 10
I do think that rabbits and chicks should be banned for sale at Easter, just like many states have banned the sale of black cats at Halloween.
We took in a rabbit from a family visiting from Florida a couple of years ago because the father's solution was to just set her free in the neighborhood. But after about a year it became obvious that they did not want her back. It was getting to be a little much to take care of her along with my 2 cats and 1 dog. So I found a rescue that placed her at a farm that makes fertizizer out of rabbit poop. They had her spayed and put her with the rest of the rabbits and her only job was to eat and poop. Lol, what a life! She is happy and productive.
There are ways to take care of unwanted pets besides just dumping them. I don't know why people will not research their options.
3 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
9 Apr 10
I think one of the reasons people wind up dumping them instead of maybe placing in a shelter (which come to think of it isn't really much better, since if placed in a high kill shelter will be "euthanized" within a few days if not adopted), is due to the cost factor of placing in a shelter. Shelters will NOT take in an animal no longer wanted for free--starting fee is $50 but can range a few hundred especially for large dogs
Glad to hear that rabbit ended up well...does sound like an ideal life for her
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
8 Apr 10
hi pye wacket Isure do not know what they do act like they have taken stupid pills at times. So our Long Beach city college now has a campus
full of Easter bunnies, thats so sad that people just do not have the grace or with to take them to a vet or someone to care for instead of just dumping them like that.I say yes ban the sale of Easter bunnies as its just plain cruel to dump them like that. people will just be such jerks at times. something is not convenient or easy just get rid of it, even refers to wives at times. wish there were some smart pills to give
to the stupid ones in our country.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
14 Apr 10
Did you hear the story in the news of how that woman put her adopted 7 year old son on a flight and sent him back to Russia due to "behavior" problems? I'm really beginning to wonder like what the heck is wrong with people? First "disposable" pets and now children
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
8 Apr 10
There's a rabbit rescue group right next to the cat rescue group that I volunteer for. The whole time they were there, not one rabbit got adopted and then, right before Easter, three got adopted. And I was wondering the same thing. I hope those rabbits went to good homes with people who will take care of them.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
12 Apr 10
I sure hope those rabbits went to good homes too, and weren't dumped if the new owners didn't want them
@celticeagle (168126)
• Boise, Idaho
8 Apr 10
Oh ya! Right after Easter when we go oout to the Humane Society there are always several rabbits that have out grown their cuteness and were dumped off. I wish I had a farm where I take some of these sweet animals. I remember a guy I used to know when I was grade school. I used to follow him home from school because his family had rabbits hutches full of, yep you got it, cute little rabbits. He would let me hold them and I was in seventh heaven. Then one day I noticed a rabbits foot he pulled out of his pocket and he became my dire enemy from then on. Oh, heavens no! Do you really believe for one minute that sellers would lose money at Eatertime? Come on. Not gunna happen. We can wish all we want.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
9 Apr 10
Eww--you mean to tell me he must have killed one of the rabbits just to get its foot? How sick
2 people like this
@celticeagle (168126)
• Boise, Idaho
9 Apr 10
Ya! I thought so. I was just a young and innocent kid. I had no idea at that point in time just how horrible some people could be. He had just been so nice with the rabbits days before, showing them to me, playing with them. Ugh!
2 people like this
@kprofgames (3091)
• United States
9 Apr 10
This might not be a very popular answer but if populations of rabbits are being dumped in the city limits, then the city needs to create an ordanence about it. A rabbit can be labled a 'farm' animal and know there are several small towns and even cities that prohibit the sale of farm animals within the city limites.
Pets are nice, but this would be a sure fire way of stopping the problem period.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
15 Apr 10
I wonder what category ferrets would be? Ferrets are very "popular" for a pet, yet that's another animal people would need to understand in how to take care of. I hear they are destructive too, and don't get along with cats/dogs
I do know from that video they are trying to round up the rabbits and spay/neuter them so they don't breed like crazy
@cerebellum (3863)
• United States
9 Apr 10
I don't think the retailers would allow the sale of bunnies on Easter to be banned. The best thing would be if the sales were prescreened and the people that purchase the animal made aware of how to care for it. What strikes me as odd about the video, I kept wondering why everyone dumps their unwanted bunnies there.@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
15 Apr 10
Yes just as potential pet owners are screened at shelters, pet shops should make a point of screening people wanting to buy pets at shops. And not just rabbits, since most pet shops will also sell other animals, like gerbils, hamsters, etc
@divalounger (6117)
• United States
9 Apr 10
This makes me angry and sad. Poor rabbits. I think you are right when you say that people just don't think things through. They like the idea of a cute bunny for the holiday, but not the reality. It also smacks of lack of responsibility. We must take care of our animals. It always makes me really upset that we fail to value all animals more than we do.
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
15 Apr 10
It could be said that pet shops that sell rabbits are just as irresponsible since I think they are only looking at the monetary gain rather than the welfare of the animal and in this case rabbits being sold at Easter time
@pergammano (7682)
• Canada
13 Apr 10
Sadly enough, pye, I think this has become a continental PROBLEM! At the University of Victoria, B.C. they are guesstimating the population is over 3000..and growing..tremendously after each EASTER! 3 years ago, all the Vet Clinics banded together..the rabbits were captured, and spade or neutered and released, but each EASTER, breeding stock is again released by PERSONS that NO longer think they are cute! They are doing hundreds of thousands of dollars of damage to the property...as well as structural damage!
I love all animals..and hate the people that purchase them, thinking it is a cute idea. Pet shops should be forced to give rigorous training to perspective owners, and all should be rendered "unproductive" unless the purchaser can prove a "breeder's certificate"! If the cost of these pets reflected the costs of the de-neutering, I think a lot less would be sold and/or bred!
Incidentally...just a few days ago...I received another message from you, I did not open it, as the last time I opened your message, I had mega computer issues! Just to let you know this is on-going! Take care, dear lady and Cheers!
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
15 Apr 10
OMG--you're situation in your area is even worse than in California. I just can't understand the mind-set of people. Don't they realize whey they adopt/buy any animal it's a commitment and not something to be disposed of after the cuteness wears out?
Uh--yup know about the email thing...
Uh--yup know about the email thing...1 person likes this
@pergammano (7682)
• Canada
18 Apr 10
I think also, pye, rabbits & kittens...are the victims of; "we wanna pet, so rabbits and kittens, are the cheapest!" As I said before, if they were more expensive (as in reflecting the price of de-neutering) there wouldn't be so many nefarious purchases...therefore less "producing mills"....and less on the market! Take care..and Cheers!
@AnnieOakley1 (5596)
• Canada
8 Apr 10
Yeah, I think the sale of rabbits at Easter time should be banned. This would deter people buying a rabbit on 'impulse'. If someone really wants a rabbit, they should do the proper research on how to care for them for the long term. In my world, an unwanted rabbit can always be eaten for food. And I kinda like them, too. 
Where did you say this multitude of rabbits were? Maybe some hunters can be hired to trap them and take them to farms to be raised for food, instead of allowing them to destroy the campus and parks. Because they will overpopulate and very quickly.
Where did you say this multitude of rabbits were? Maybe some hunters can be hired to trap them and take them to farms to be raised for food, instead of allowing them to destroy the campus and parks. Because they will overpopulate and very quickly.2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
9 Apr 10
The campus is the Long Beach City college in Long Beach Calif. Actually what they are doing is rounding them up to spay/neuter them then let them free...sort of like the TNR program they have for feral cats. I could never eat a rabbit...
2 people like this
@JoieSarah (17)
• Philippines
9 Apr 10
Its not that people are stupid, its what we did that makes us a stupid person. Just my opinion. :D
2 people like this
