Is there something I can say/lie? Someone wanted a rabbit from me but I did a quick check and it doesn't seem like a home I want to send my rabbit to, especially because I have a strong feeling it will be used for breeding/hunting which I don't want. Is there anything I can say or should I just not respond to the emails?
Not wanting to sell to a particular person?
- Thread starter vkalvacev
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elevan
Critter Addict ♥
Not responding to their emails would be bad for your business.
Come up with an adoption contract and have them sign it...chances are if they don't want to sign it then you're right. Otherwise be straight and tell them you have some concerns and ask them to answer your questions honestly. You can, of course, refuse to sell...but do you really ever know for sure what fate your animal has after you sell or do you really even have the right to dictate that?
You could always say that you've decided to retain the rabbit for your use too (if you wanna fib).
Come up with an adoption contract and have them sign it...chances are if they don't want to sign it then you're right. Otherwise be straight and tell them you have some concerns and ask them to answer your questions honestly. You can, of course, refuse to sell...but do you really ever know for sure what fate your animal has after you sell or do you really even have the right to dictate that?
You could always say that you've decided to retain the rabbit for your use too (if you wanna fib).
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- #3
No, I'm right for sure. I checked again and dug a little deeper, they def. shoot rabbits sooo definitely a no. I dont want to sell at all, I dont believe in contracts/anyone can break them including by not staying in contact. I also dont have a business so thats not what I'm worried about. I want to prevent anything to happen to my little babies and I've been blessed that they have gone to great homes before (my last litter).
I was thinking of saying that my friend decided to take in the last few to keep on her farm maybe?
I was thinking of saying that my friend decided to take in the last few to keep on her farm maybe?
elevan
Critter Addict ♥
Fib, any way that you want to in order to ease your mind but since you never know where your rabbit hobby might take you (could be a business later) then I would answer the email. I can certainly understand how you feel, but please understand that rabbits while they can be pets are a livestock animal....and as long as this person "shooting" the rabbits is making use of the animal for food and by products then they simply have a preferred method of dispatch imo and that doesn't make them a bad person.
aggieterpkatie
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You certainly have the right to refuse to sell to anyone you get a bad vibe from. Just tell them honestly you want the rabbit to go to a good pet home, and are not comfortable selling rabbits to them.
Can I ask a question?
Please understand this is no way a judgement or attack, I am honestly curious and my intent is not to insult you in any way.
My husband and I were talking about exactly this subject last evening. The reason we were discussing it, is that there are a lot of people selling rabbits in our area posting on craigslist, on ebay, even discussion boards much like this one where this is a mix of people raising for meat and raising for pets. 9 times out of 10 there is a note that says something like "for pets only, not to be eaten, not for pet food, " etc. And not just rabbits...cows, sheep, goats, chickens...tons of people in my area breeding but also wanting to be in charge of how the unwanted offspring are used.
I guess my confusion lies in the motive...and again, I'm not judging, I just am curious. Why breed an animal for profit that is often used as a livestock/food/bait animal if one doesn't like the idea of it being used for that? Why have babies that you don't intend to keep/can't afford to? There are hundreds of thousands of unwanted pet rabbits all over the country...you can get them at shelters easily. So I guess I just don't understand the mindset of "adoption only" when you're making a profit, and contributing to a "pet rabbit" problem.
And please understand, I'm not looking to argue in any way, I'm honestly looking for an answer, because I just don't "get it".
Please understand this is no way a judgement or attack, I am honestly curious and my intent is not to insult you in any way.
My husband and I were talking about exactly this subject last evening. The reason we were discussing it, is that there are a lot of people selling rabbits in our area posting on craigslist, on ebay, even discussion boards much like this one where this is a mix of people raising for meat and raising for pets. 9 times out of 10 there is a note that says something like "for pets only, not to be eaten, not for pet food, " etc. And not just rabbits...cows, sheep, goats, chickens...tons of people in my area breeding but also wanting to be in charge of how the unwanted offspring are used.
I guess my confusion lies in the motive...and again, I'm not judging, I just am curious. Why breed an animal for profit that is often used as a livestock/food/bait animal if one doesn't like the idea of it being used for that? Why have babies that you don't intend to keep/can't afford to? There are hundreds of thousands of unwanted pet rabbits all over the country...you can get them at shelters easily. So I guess I just don't understand the mindset of "adoption only" when you're making a profit, and contributing to a "pet rabbit" problem.
And please understand, I'm not looking to argue in any way, I'm honestly looking for an answer, because I just don't "get it".
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- #7
I highly doubt my hobby will become anything more, or at least not anytime soon for sure. I do understand that they are livestock but I think I can decide whether I want them to be treated like livestock or pets, and in this case, they are only pets. I dont think they are making use of the rabbits, but even if they are, mine weren't created for that reason, although I have nothing against it (I just dont like it and thats not where I'm selling to).
I just dont feel right mentioning that I looked them up beforehand, henceforth why I feel like I should fib in this case. meh. :/
I just dont feel right mentioning that I looked them up beforehand, henceforth why I feel like I should fib in this case. meh. :/
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- #8
No, I agree with the fact that offspring are no longer yours once theyre sold.. especially why I would never put a contract on any animal unless it happened to be something valuable, such as a show horse, that if anything, I would want returned to myself. But in this case, In my opinion, I think that it comes down to if the rabbits are bred to be pets and companions or to be meat, which in this case, mine are not meant for meat. I personally am not breeding for profit in any way, but I would prefer mine to go to pet homes. Eh, I think its just a really complicated situation with animals nowadays, for example, why people say shelters are the only way to go - well without breeding, there wouldn't be shelters, but then theres a million other questions to go with that. So no, I'm not angry with you or offended or anything of the sort 
That's just my opinion - for example, if someone wants a cheap rabbit for $10, well it sure isn't coming with any history, probably not from a good home, and probably unhandled, so I dont get why people contact me wanting to lower my price when they are worth more than those $10. If someone wants a meat rabbit, they can specifically go and contact the person selling for $8 with no info who don't really care about the homes they go to.
That's just my opinion - for example, if someone wants a cheap rabbit for $10, well it sure isn't coming with any history, probably not from a good home, and probably unhandled, so I dont get why people contact me wanting to lower my price when they are worth more than those $10. If someone wants a meat rabbit, they can specifically go and contact the person selling for $8 with no info who don't really care about the homes they go to.Thank you for answering my question.
So hard to not offend anyone on the internet sometimes. It's nice to find people that understand that we can all have different opinions and actually STILL get along.
I always answer honestly if someone asks me what I intend to do with any animal I purchase. I've only ever been asked with chickens if I plan to keep them 'forever'. I've been told no by sellers who don't like that I won't if they stop producing eggs. I don't get mad or have a confrontation, just say thank you and move on. Maybe your prospective buyer would be honest if you asked?
So hard to not offend anyone on the internet sometimes. It's nice to find people that understand that we can all have different opinions and actually STILL get along.
I always answer honestly if someone asks me what I intend to do with any animal I purchase. I've only ever been asked with chickens if I plan to keep them 'forever'. I've been told no by sellers who don't like that I won't if they stop producing eggs. I don't get mad or have a confrontation, just say thank you and move on. Maybe your prospective buyer would be honest if you asked?
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- #10
yeah i love having conversations with people so we can discuss views, I mean with x amount of people on this earth - no ones going to have the same opinion!
Im not really sure what I would do but I just have a bad vibe and I dont want to sell - quite simple. Im pretty good at figuring out who I would sell to and who I wont. I've have many people contact me but once I told them x amount of information on taking care of them (including the fact that unless the parents help out, kids under 10 should not be responsible for them) and they stopped emailing me back!
Im not really sure what I would do but I just have a bad vibe and I dont want to sell - quite simple. Im pretty good at figuring out who I would sell to and who I wont. I've have many people contact me but once I told them x amount of information on taking care of them (including the fact that unless the parents help out, kids under 10 should not be responsible for them) and they stopped emailing me back!
