Rabbits came to South Africa in the 1850s, where they were to be used primarily as meat, especially for the islands where the lightkeepers were, to sustain them.
Soon, however, the people realized, like in the rest of of the world, that rabbits make excellent pets and companions. Especially in the ADHD and Autism world, Rabbits have proven to be amazing companions, as they are also in tune with the sensitivities that these neurodivergent people have; feeling energies, anxieties etc. A rabbit understands, and usually only these neurodivergent people understand the rabbits. Rabbits can properly ground their owners, and stroking them and feeling the soft textures can prove excellent in stimming and calming.
While we have different factions of rabbit keeping in South Africa, this website will concentrate on rabbits as pets or more likely as companion animals.
On this day, we celebrate the heritage of the rabbit all over the world as a companion animal.
There are so many different shapes and sizes. So many different hair colors. So many different hair lengths. So many different personalities.
A rabbit is like a 5-year-old child. They’ve got the emotional capabilities of a 5 year old, they like routines like a 5 year old, and they can throw tantrums like a 5 year old. Fight, play. They sense danger, they fear, they feel threatened. And hungry.. and off course they want treats!!!
They also fear you; at the start of your relationship. And you have to take time to get to know them before you can actually bond with them.
Rabbits are not the easy little pet that everybody thinks they are. Instead, they are extremely complex animals.
Understanding rabbits, their systems and hierarchies, and how they operate is actually 1 of the most misunderstood complexities of this world.
Rabbits are, unfortunately, also the most exploited and harmed animal. They are the most discarded because they are misunderstood. They are the most cruelly treated because they don’t really make sounds. They are the most overlooked and the most harmed. They are, however, far more intelligent than most cats and dogs. They are more complex than most other pets, which is why they require a specialized veterinarian as well.
Do you have a pet rabbit companion?
A furry friend or a best friend. Let us know on any 1 of the social media platforms, share a photo, and stand. A chance to win 1 of our big prizes at the end of this Awareness Week!
Happy International Rabbit Day!!
