To leash or not to leash; why is this even a question?

[freyalorelei]

So I joined a House Rabbit group on That Other Social Network, and all the folks there seem pretty nice, lots of squeeing over cute house bunnies and tips on keeping them healthy and happy, no problems there, all is sunshine and roses

Comments

[volare]

That's...sad. M'sieur did fine on a harness before we were able to get him an outdoor run set up. You sound like you're doing quite well by your bun and the mod is waaaaaaayyyyyyy overboard along with everyone kneejerk yelling how cruel it is; your point is exactly the truth; getting them acclimated to it early as you did isn't cruelty, especially with therapy and agility ffs.

[abserdman]

I automatically have a problem with mods who ban discussion about a topic without even entertaining opposing views (different if the same topic has been discussed umpteen million times!). I recently had the same problem on a dog group, the admin refused to allow any discussion of a particular positive training method without even telling me why.

Bruiser has worn a harness multiple times, has been on trips to the park and beach with me and even, as you can see in my user pic, has a little cardi! It doesn't stress him out so I carry on doing it.

[starrynight]

WTF. It's not cruel if they seem to be having fun. Dr. P and Snowy don't mind harnesses at all, but it does freak Penny out so I don't put her in one. I think it's perfectly okay for them to wear harnesses as long as it doesn't cause them stress.

I don't think rabbit play yards are very safe, tbh. Wild animals could try to get at them and also the stress of being outside alone may not be very good. Harnesses are perfectly acceptable.

[kikayume]

I don't think it's cruel, but I also don't think it's particularly safe. Any rabbit I've put in a harness managed to magically go neck-less and get out of it anytime they were sufficiently frightened.

[beadylady]

I don't think it is cruel, but I don't put my bunnies in a harness. We had pest problems with our last bunny that ultimately cost him his life. I don't want my girls exposed to fleas or ticks or anything. Plus, my husband's family had a terrible experience with a pet that was outdoors under supervision (they were sitting, like, RIGHT THERE) and a huge dog came and took their pet away in its mouth. I'm just too paranoid to bring them off the porch. I don't even like my DH sitting on the porch with them, actually.