Why should I spay or neuter?

Why shouldn't I breed my rabbit?

First, take a look at my "unwanted rabbit" statistics for the past 3 years, including the number I was able to save. The rabbits I was unable to save are rabbits who most likely died because there were not enough homes for all of them. Unwanted rabbits come in all colors, ages and breeds. They come in friendly temperaments and not so friendly temperaments. 

Aprox. 75% of the calls I get from people wanting to turn over their rabbits have rabbits between 9 months and 18 months of age. These rabbits are still very young, too young to be unwanted. Too young to die simply because there are not enough good homes for all of them. Too young to die because their owners didn't properly research what living with a rabbit is really like.

What happens to rabbits when there are not enough homes for them? 

Some of these unwanted rabbits 

• end up as snake or people food

•  euthanized at animal shelters

• dumped in residential neighborhoods where they are chased by children; poisoned by angry neighbors; hit by cars; attacked by dogs; etc...

• others are dumped in the woods or at "bunny colony sites" where they starve to death; die from dehydration, injuries or illness; are eaten by wild animals; are attacked by other rabbits; etc...

• Still others are passed from home to home, forgotten and unloved, becoming increasingly more depressed and anti-social, being fed improper diets, having their illnesses left untreated because no one wants to spend money on "that animal", finally dying and being released at last from a life that was miserable.

There are reasons to breed, very valid ones such as breeding because you want to better the breed. If you are going to breed to make money, don't waste your time. Reputable breeders are not getting rich, just ask one how much money they made last year after expenses. Breeding is done because of a love of the breed, not for profit. 

If you are going to breed, please think carefully. Do you have purebred rabbits? Are they excellent quality rabbits from excellent quality rabbits, not rabbits from a pet store or from a person who let their mixed breed rabbits have young? Have you researched the genetics of the colors so you are going to get proper colors? Have you researched your area so that you know that the breed you are considering is one that others in your area actually are interested in? How will you place these rabbits, what does it cost to advertise, are you set up to keep any babies that don't sell, etc...? (a pet store should not be an option in 99% of the cases)

More and more breeders are refusing to sell to pet homes if the talk on the streets is true. It's hard to find good pet homes for the rabbits because many pet owners purchase on impulse. If you do decide to place in a pet home, be positive you are prepared to do either home checks or careful screening and education to ensure the home is going to be a permanent one before you adopt out a single rabbit.

If you breed and plan to sell to pet homes, you need to plan on taking any rabbits back if they become unwanted in the future. If you are not willing to take back every single rabbit if the owners decide they can't keep a bunny, you will have at least some babies of yours who wind up like the rabbits above, even with careful screening of the homes beforehand. Be sure you are committed to taking those babies back, even when they are rebellious teenagers or older adults if these homes don't work out despite screening. Are you willing to take back not only the rabbit you sold them, but the "accidental litter" that happened if you didn't insist that every pet rabbit sold MUST be spayed and neutered at breeding age? At some point, it's going to happen, be prepared.

Please don't be like some of the breeders who have "emergency sales" (aka selling to anyone with the money to take one, regardless of how good the home is) to sell older babies because they get "too crowded". Breeding is something you CAN control if you are responsible. If you are not prepared for the number of babies that might not sell as babies,  needing to live with you for the rest of their lives, DON'T breed! 

If you aren't prepared for the responsibility of any of this, you are part of the problem, even if you allow your rabbit to have just "one litter". YOU are responsible for the feeding, housing, vet care, socialization, etc, of EVERY single rabbit you create through breeding. Can you live with that? Can you afford that? Do you have the time for that? Think about it before you breed. Too often I get calls from people who put two bunnies together and now can't find homes for the babies and can't afford to house the teenagers. (or worse, don't separate the teens so now THEY had babies too) Don't become a "bad breeder", one who breeds without a well thought out plan ahead of time. 

Here are articles with more points to consider before breeding your rabbit.

Another problem that unspayed rabbits face is uterine cancer. Reading this article will help you understand what can happen to your rabbit if she gets it. I have seen 4 rabbits who died as a result of uterine cancer and have heard about many others all over the world. It is something I hope I never have to see or hear about again. Sadly, until more people spay their rabbits, it will happen, over and over again. Your unspayed rabbit is at risk. If she dies from cancer because you didn't spay her but chose to breed her instead, can you live with knowing you could have prevented it?

Unspayed and unneutered rabbits can often develop behaviors that can be undesirable habits for a pet to have! Pets with undesirable habits are often rehomed.

Altering your rabbit's future

Spaying and neutering your pet rabbit: What happens and why?

Frequently asked questions about spaying and neutering

Credit for this article does not go to me (Angie) if you click on any of the links embeded in the article that will take you to this person's home page.

I just needed to get something up here about de-sexing...Quickly.

One of these days I'll write my own article.

Angie.