A Tennessee animal welfare organization has come to the rescue of a rabbit owner who couldn’t keep up with the responsibility. The Humane Society of the United States responded to a distress call from the caregiver, who had his home overrun with more than 100 rabbits. With the help of the McKamey Animal Center, the organization visited the site to conduct a rehoming.
Photos and videos show that the Chattanooga residence of the rabbit owner was filled with roaming rabbits when the rescue team arrived on the morning of August 20, 2024. The team then rolled up their sleeves to extract the animals from the location.
The organization intervened after the rabbit’s caregiver disclosed his distress in an interview. He revealed how he had spent over 30 years caring for the pets. The job gave him a sense of responsibility, which helped him surmount a fierce battle with alcoholism.
Unfortunately, a “health crisis” surfaced, hindering him from adequately caring for the animals. The situation only grew worse as the number of rabbits continued to increase. In a press release, the organization said they saw the animals “living in extremely unsanitary conditions.”
According to the release, “The rabbits appeared to suffer from a variety of ailments including flea infestations, hair loss and injuries typical of overcrowding.” The release added that “multiple nursing litters and rabbits of various ages were found burrowing in furniture throughout the residence.” Also, they discovered that a number of the animals were likely pregnant.
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What Are 5 Facts About Rabbits?
If you think you know enough about rabbits, here are some intriguing facts that could shock you. First, did you know they can stay around for up to eight years? In some cases, they could even live up to 12 years. So, ensure that you count the cost before getting them for keeps. The journey could take you about a decade.
Secondly, they are sensitive to sound. They have a fascinating ability to turn their ears 180 degrees. This enables them to detect the precise location of sound. Also, rabbits hate to be alone. They value the company of their species a lot. Deny them of this, and you’d have sad rabbits on your hands.
Another amazing ability of rabbits is their sight. Although they are born with their eyes shut, they have impressive visual ability. They have nearly 360-degree vision. Last but not least of the interesting facts is that rabbits are big on “body language.”
They communicate using some specific body movements. For example, they clench their facial muscles when they are worried. This means that the best caregivers must be super-vigilant and sensitive.
What Is a Rabbit Classified As?
There has been controversy over the accurate classification of rabbits. While some people think that they are rodents, others strongly disagree. If you’ve been confused by this debate, your doubts will end here. We’ve got the answers you seek.
Rabbits are part of the Leporidae family of animals. This family is under the Lagomorpha order of mammals. The big question remains, “Are rabbits rodents?” The answer is “No.” Rabbits aren’t rodents. However, no one should be too quick to jeer at those who thought they were. There are legitimate reasons why people identified them as such.
One such reason is the superficial similarity between rabbits and rodents. But more importantly, there is a historical angle to it. Going back in time, rabbits and other Lagomorphs were widely classified under Rodentia, the family of rodents. Other members of this family are the rats, mice, squirrels, and marmots.
As time passed, people began to discover that rabbits were pretty different from rodents. For example, they have a digestive system different from that of the members of the Rodentia family. Although rabbits and rodents are herbivorous, that is, they feed largely on plant matter, and rabbits don’t stop there. They have a richer range of food choices, such as seeds, grains, and roots.
Also, while rabbits have four incisor teeth, rodents have just two. Rabbits’ incisors are also different in color. While theirs are white, rodents have orange incisors.
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What Should We Feed Rabbits?
If you want to keep your rabbits in the best shape health-wise, you must get their diet right. Here are some crucial guidelines to help you achieve that. First, their diet should contain enough vegetables. We’re talking 10 to 20%. Broccoli, beet tops, Brussels sprouts, Asian greens, and spinach leaves are great options.
Secondly, keep their diet free of cereals and grains. If you don’t, your rabbits will risk becoming obese. As a result, you could become a frequent visitor to a vet. The other 80% of their diet should be high-quality grass, hay, and fresh grass. We’re talking oaten, pasture, ryegrass hays, Timothy, wheaten, meadow, and paddock.
Also, don’t be in a hurry to introduce a new diet, do so slowly. Take a space of two to three weeks to bring in the new diet. Supply the rabbits with stuff to chew on to keep their teeth healthy. Lastly, your vet should conduct exams on them yearly so they don’t end up like those from the Tennessee rehoming.
What Do Rabbits Symbolize?
Rabbits mean various things across cultures, but let’s see what they symbolize in some of the world’s most popular societies. In ancient Greek culture, rabbits were a symbol of fertility and prosperity. They were closely associated with Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty.
In ancient European history, people believed holding a rabbit’s foot would bring great fortune and protection. More importantly, rabbits are a crucial part of Easter, and the Easter bunny is a popular part of the festivities.
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