Eating a rabbit is like eating a dog to me!! I have a wonderful, loving, adorable pet rabbit that I could never imagine eating. Not him, not any other rabbit. (Even a wild cottontail/hare)
They have so much personality & make great pets. (If you are educated on them!!!)
If other wants to eat rabbits (or cows, chickens, dogs, fish, etc) that is their choice but I would never eat any animal I have owned as a pet. When you have them as a pet I think it "opens your eyes". I think the author of this story is a VERY rare person. Any person I know with a pet rabbit (or other pets) would not then eat that animal. I would feel guilty looking at my sweet rabbit, thinking I ate his mother or brother.......
K - 13 years ago
I think I would try it...but only if I dont know that I'm eating it before I try it, because rabbits are one of my favourite animals so I'm a little iffy on consuming it myself.
I can see people eating all sorts of animals, it's not a big deal.
Claudine Erlandson - 13 years ago
I love Animals, that's why I don't eat them EVER! In some countries they eat Cats and Dogs! Plus, being vegan is better for your health and for our planet! www.goveg.com
Tina - 13 years ago
Rabbits have their own form of revenge and it is called fat and cholesterol. Although you might think the fat and cholesterol level is is marginal it is not. Keep on eating meat and destroy your health.
Excellently written article. Well-balanced view. What RNRQ wrote above is very true, we have our specials, that doesn't mean we can't eat the others and enjoy them, or allow others to do the same. :) And some rabbits...simply don't make good pets. And realizing that takes away some of the cuteness factor of things.
This was a really, really well-done article examining the difficulty of rabbits' multipurpose status in the world--I enjoyed it tremendously.
As some have already noted, the method used to cook rabbit is vital to its final taste and acceptance by the consumer--so take the time and cook it properly unless it is the youngest and tenderest of rabbit.
As a long time breeder and rabbit consumer, I'm going to let you all in on a secret--almost every breeder has their 'specials' out in the barn (and sometimes in the house! *gasp*) that are simply exempt from the usual criteria for performance and replacement. Yep. We have rabbits as pets, too.
And yet the magic of anonymity works well for us. If we don't name it, and don't get attached to it emotionally, we can kill and eat it with respect and enjoyment--and still hold our heads up when we go give ol' George a good scratch before bed.
Rabbits that make good pets, have the good temper, the docility, the attitude, don't need to be used for food. The ones that don't have the pet aptitude (and believe my scars, a LOT don't!), can be used for food without remorse....but again, with respect and with honor for what taking that life means.
Every animal has a purpose in life, and some are simply meant for meat.
i have'nt and i won't who cares if other people do lol
Rocky - 13 years ago
If meat is murder then call me a felon. Yummy in my tummy. I have duck and deer in my freezer right now. Slow roasted deer is a slice of earthly heaven.
Ellwyn - 13 years ago
I have eaten rabbit although I don't especially like it. As a child, my family struggled and we often ate rabbitt, fished and crabbed, and hunted for deer as well as raising a lot of vegetables. I would not choose to eat rabbitt or deer again but I don't see why others should not eat it.
Susan B - 13 years ago
I once had pet rabbits names Elmer and Boomer. I don't eat meat of any kind and the thought of eating my lop bunny makes me want to puke. I wouldn't want any one to consider eating me, my dogs or my husband so I would prefer sticking to the vegetables!
Elmer Fudd - 13 years ago
I wuv them pesky critters!!
Arlie - 13 years ago
Great Article. It was nice to hear someone write about the choice to eat a particular meat without a complete bias about how horrible you are for choosing one side or the other. I for one love animals as pets, creatures to admire and to eat. I wouldn't actually eat one that was my pet, but then again I've never had a pet steer or chicken.
Dave - 13 years ago
Rabbit and hare are great eating. Many of us grew up hunting them or raising them for food and I suspect many people still do. The meat is excellent, but because they have no fat marbling in the meat, it must be prepared correctly or it can turn out horrible. But the near absence of fat and, for hunted/home grown rabbits, the lack of hormones makes for a very healthy meat. CAUTION: Rabbits are known to be afflicted with any number of parasites, so proper cleaning, butchering, inspecting, and cooking are a MUST!
Clarence Thomas - 13 years ago
I eat beaver. I don't see anything wrong with eating rabbit.
Cathy - 13 years ago
Other - I'm allergic to rabbit fur, and I've been too concerned to ever see if that extended to other parts of the rabbit as well.
Ron - 13 years ago
Why is the picture associated with this article on it's side? Or don't you know what a rabbit looks like standing on all four feet?
Mary Ann - 13 years ago
Rabbit has been a food source for thousands of years. It is a low cost, quickly renewable resource for many countries. Plus it's very good. And yes, I've raised and owned rabbits, non meat varieties as pets and meat variety for, well, meat. There are several varieites of rabbit; meat, fur, companion and show rabbits.
puckles - 13 years ago
MEAT IS MURDER
Shan - 13 years ago
I love rabbit. Both as pets and as food. I was raised as a farm girl and had on average 54 rabbits at a time. Grandad would butcher only those I had not named and taken a great fondness for -- until a sneaky Aunt told me, when I was about seven that all the years I believed I was eating fried chicken I had actually been consuming fried rabbit.
Grandma had made a platter of her award winning fried "chicken" it happened to be Easter day no less. As Grandma went to graciously serve the meal I lept up in tears and shouted "Noooo, not Peter Cotton Tail!"
You've never seen looks that could kill like those shot at me by my Grandmother that day. No one would touch the golden brown, perfectly seasoned "chicken".
Grandad explained how the world works on a farm that in truth, it is/was no different than eating an egg, a chicken, cow, deer, elk or a fish. I believe this and it's how my family continues to raise our children today.
I wish Grandma was still with us today--no one can match her ability to make the best ever fried rabbit.
Nellie Bly - 13 years ago
My friends have a chuckle when I tell them I don't eat "cute" food. It's completely psychological and has nothing to do with taste, but once I get something in my mouth that was a cute animal I will get so grossed out that I just can't make myself swallow it. This includes rabbits, deer, quail, etc. I'm a foodie, so I know I'm missing out, but the last time I tried (lamb), I gagged.
paul durham - 13 years ago
I have had pet rabbits. Very nice. I have eaten wild rabbits, very, very delicious!
John - 13 years ago
When properly prepared rabbit is a delicious, versatile, low fat, high protein meat. It can also be raised inexpensively under clean, humane conditions, making it ideal for families who want to produce at least a portion of their own meat supply. Americans need to get over their squeamishness, get over their ridiculous notion that animals are either pets or produce, and they need to realize that every neatly wrapped piece of meat in the grocery store was once a living creature.
K - 13 years ago
I don't like meat, but until I give up leather shoes, I won't comment on others dining preferences.
Eating a rabbit is like eating a dog to me!! I have a wonderful, loving, adorable pet rabbit that I could never imagine eating. Not him, not any other rabbit. (Even a wild cottontail/hare)
They have so much personality & make great pets. (If you are educated on them!!!)
If other wants to eat rabbits (or cows, chickens, dogs, fish, etc) that is their choice but I would never eat any animal I have owned as a pet. When you have them as a pet I think it "opens your eyes". I think the author of this story is a VERY rare person. Any person I know with a pet rabbit (or other pets) would not then eat that animal. I would feel guilty looking at my sweet rabbit, thinking I ate his mother or brother.......
I think I would try it...but only if I dont know that I'm eating it before I try it, because rabbits are one of my favourite animals so I'm a little iffy on consuming it myself.
I can see people eating all sorts of animals, it's not a big deal.
I love Animals, that's why I don't eat them EVER! In some countries they eat Cats and Dogs! Plus, being vegan is better for your health and for our planet! www.goveg.com
Rabbits have their own form of revenge and it is called fat and cholesterol. Although you might think the fat and cholesterol level is is marginal it is not. Keep on eating meat and destroy your health.
Dog is much tastier. Especially puppies.
Excellently written article. Well-balanced view. What RNRQ wrote above is very true, we have our specials, that doesn't mean we can't eat the others and enjoy them, or allow others to do the same. :) And some rabbits...simply don't make good pets. And realizing that takes away some of the cuteness factor of things.
This was a really, really well-done article examining the difficulty of rabbits' multipurpose status in the world--I enjoyed it tremendously.
As some have already noted, the method used to cook rabbit is vital to its final taste and acceptance by the consumer--so take the time and cook it properly unless it is the youngest and tenderest of rabbit.
As a long time breeder and rabbit consumer, I'm going to let you all in on a secret--almost every breeder has their 'specials' out in the barn (and sometimes in the house! *gasp*) that are simply exempt from the usual criteria for performance and replacement. Yep. We have rabbits as pets, too.
And yet the magic of anonymity works well for us. If we don't name it, and don't get attached to it emotionally, we can kill and eat it with respect and enjoyment--and still hold our heads up when we go give ol' George a good scratch before bed.
Rabbits that make good pets, have the good temper, the docility, the attitude, don't need to be used for food. The ones that don't have the pet aptitude (and believe my scars, a LOT don't!), can be used for food without remorse....but again, with respect and with honor for what taking that life means.
Every animal has a purpose in life, and some are simply meant for meat.
i have'nt and i won't who cares if other people do lol
If meat is murder then call me a felon. Yummy in my tummy. I have duck and deer in my freezer right now. Slow roasted deer is a slice of earthly heaven.
I have eaten rabbit although I don't especially like it. As a child, my family struggled and we often ate rabbitt, fished and crabbed, and hunted for deer as well as raising a lot of vegetables. I would not choose to eat rabbitt or deer again but I don't see why others should not eat it.
I once had pet rabbits names Elmer and Boomer. I don't eat meat of any kind and the thought of eating my lop bunny makes me want to puke. I wouldn't want any one to consider eating me, my dogs or my husband so I would prefer sticking to the vegetables!
I wuv them pesky critters!!
Great Article. It was nice to hear someone write about the choice to eat a particular meat without a complete bias about how horrible you are for choosing one side or the other. I for one love animals as pets, creatures to admire and to eat. I wouldn't actually eat one that was my pet, but then again I've never had a pet steer or chicken.
Rabbit and hare are great eating. Many of us grew up hunting them or raising them for food and I suspect many people still do. The meat is excellent, but because they have no fat marbling in the meat, it must be prepared correctly or it can turn out horrible. But the near absence of fat and, for hunted/home grown rabbits, the lack of hormones makes for a very healthy meat. CAUTION: Rabbits are known to be afflicted with any number of parasites, so proper cleaning, butchering, inspecting, and cooking are a MUST!
I eat beaver. I don't see anything wrong with eating rabbit.
Other - I'm allergic to rabbit fur, and I've been too concerned to ever see if that extended to other parts of the rabbit as well.
Why is the picture associated with this article on it's side? Or don't you know what a rabbit looks like standing on all four feet?
Rabbit has been a food source for thousands of years. It is a low cost, quickly renewable resource for many countries. Plus it's very good. And yes, I've raised and owned rabbits, non meat varieties as pets and meat variety for, well, meat. There are several varieites of rabbit; meat, fur, companion and show rabbits.
MEAT IS MURDER
I love rabbit. Both as pets and as food. I was raised as a farm girl and had on average 54 rabbits at a time. Grandad would butcher only those I had not named and taken a great fondness for -- until a sneaky Aunt told me, when I was about seven that all the years I believed I was eating fried chicken I had actually been consuming fried rabbit.
Grandma had made a platter of her award winning fried "chicken" it happened to be Easter day no less. As Grandma went to graciously serve the meal I lept up in tears and shouted "Noooo, not Peter Cotton Tail!"
You've never seen looks that could kill like those shot at me by my Grandmother that day. No one would touch the golden brown, perfectly seasoned "chicken".
Grandad explained how the world works on a farm that in truth, it is/was no different than eating an egg, a chicken, cow, deer, elk or a fish. I believe this and it's how my family continues to raise our children today.
I wish Grandma was still with us today--no one can match her ability to make the best ever fried rabbit.
My friends have a chuckle when I tell them I don't eat "cute" food. It's completely psychological and has nothing to do with taste, but once I get something in my mouth that was a cute animal I will get so grossed out that I just can't make myself swallow it. This includes rabbits, deer, quail, etc. I'm a foodie, so I know I'm missing out, but the last time I tried (lamb), I gagged.
I have had pet rabbits. Very nice. I have eaten wild rabbits, very, very delicious!
When properly prepared rabbit is a delicious, versatile, low fat, high protein meat. It can also be raised inexpensively under clean, humane conditions, making it ideal for families who want to produce at least a portion of their own meat supply. Americans need to get over their squeamishness, get over their ridiculous notion that animals are either pets or produce, and they need to realize that every neatly wrapped piece of meat in the grocery store was once a living creature.
I don't like meat, but until I give up leather shoes, I won't comment on others dining preferences.
If it's a pet, it shouldn't also be a meal.