Envisioning a More Just Future for Domestic Rabbits

By Shaina Sadai and Shan Seahra

​Providing sanctuary for victims of the breeding, farming, and pet industries is one way people can meaningfully take action to address injustice suffered by non-human animals. In many cases, one may also gain wonderful companions. One of the most common, and possibly most misunderstood non-human animal species that has made their way into our homes as companions is the domestic rabbit. This article discusses the history, exploitation, and personalities of domestic rabbits.

Fossil records indicate that the story of the domestic rabbit began in Asia with the emergence of lagomorphs, members of the taxonomic order Lagomorpha, during the early Eocene period approximately 56 million to 47.8 million years ago. Currently, there are two living families of lagomorphs: Ochotonidae (pikas) and Leporidae (hares and rabbits). The Ochotonidae family comprises one extant genus with 28 different species inhabiting the plateau-steppe and talus landscapes in Asia and North America (Ge et al. 2013). The more diverse Leporidae family comprises over 60 extant species from around 12 genera, and are widely distributed across every continent, except Antarctica, including tropical forest, temperate steppe, plateau, desert and Arctic ecosystems. 

A still life fresco of a rabbit and four figs. Object dated to the 1st century CE; originally from Herculaneum via Wikimedia Commons.

The domestic rabbit descends from the European rabbit, a highly social species who construct extensive underground tunnels and can form warrens of up to 20 individuals, or live as a single breeding pair. Their latin name, Oryctolagus cuniculus, means “hare-like digger of underground tunnels”. The domestication process and timeline is a bit unclear, but coat colour changes were documented in the 1500s, and skeletal changes (e.g., size) were documented in the 1700s (Wei-Haas 2018). It is hypothesised that our relationship with domestic rabbits as companions may have begun during this latter period.

Domestic rabbits are now more widely used by humans than perhaps any other animal. They are companion animals, used as symbols of luck in pop culture, as a symbol of a religious holiday (Easter), in medical research, for animal testing, and farmed for their flesh and fur. The use of domestic rabbits in the meat, fur, and animal experimentation trades is often erroneously justified by claiming that they are in some way different from ‘pet’ or companion rabbits. For example, in online groups for people who have companion rabbits, there will occasionally be debates on whether ‘meat rabbits’ are in some way different from ‘pet rabbits’ and therefore less worthy of care. However, this false assumption that they are different in some way and therefore less worthy of care stems from humans denying or choosing not to observe and respect their personhood. In fact, many domestic rabbits who find themselves at shelters arrived there after being rescued from situations where they were farmed for their flesh or experimented on in laboratories. ​

Euripides, a rabbit rescued from an abusive situation in which people intended to use her for food. She now lives at Western Mass Rabbit Rescue looking for her forever home. She is spunky and loves to explore. Photo by Shaina (co-author).

All domesticated rabbit breeds belong to the subspecies Oryctolagus cuniculus cuniculus, and were selectively bred by humans. Thus, we have an ethical obligation to them to both respect their personhood and provide them with the care that they rely on. Furthermore, due to selective breeding for certain features such as lop ears and flat faces, they often require highly specialised ongoing medical care that we are obligated to provide them with. Releasing them in the wild is not a solution, as domestication is correlated with a significant reduction in antipredator responses, especially in herbivores (Geffroy et al 2020). Domestic rabbits are easily targeted by predators, hit by cars, or quickly succumb to malnutrition, parasites, and disease. Sometimes, the lucky ones are found and brought into shelters and rescues.

​Rabbits experience deep emotions, have vibrant personalities, and form strong relationships; these truths are often recognized by these same online groups for people who have companion rabbits. Their personalities are widely varying by individual and can be curious, timid, feisty, mischievous, and any other conceivable personality type. Some rabbits like to keep to themselves, while many form deep companionships with other rabbits, with humans, and/or with other species. In both mind and body, they grow and change over time in response to their environment, their experiences, those around them, and the ageing process. When discussing the way domesticated rabbits have transitioned over time to becoming family members, Mark Hawthorne aptly describes them “living indoors with people and leading lives that are deeply entangled - emotionally and physically - with others in the home” (Hawthorne, 2020 p150).

Tater, a rescued rabbit whose original family threatened to dump him in the woods. After rescue, he became deeply bonded to his new guardians, and enjoyed hopping onto the couch to sit with them and request pats. Pictured with, and photo by, Shan (co-author)

Given what we know about rabbits, we can begin to conceptualise how to bring animal politics into considerations of human-rabbit interactions. Taking a political lens to the status of rabbits in society, we can see the ways species-based oppression often dictates human-rabbit relations in the meat, fur, vivisection, and pet trade industries. Respecting their personhood and bodily autonomy means that we should support the abolition of all exploitative uses. We can put this into practice by: 

• Opposing the breeding industry; 
• Rejecting the exploitation of their bodies by refusing to wear their fur, use products that were tested on them, or eat them; and 
• Raising awareness of the need to abolish oppressive structures that harm animals.

But we can do much more than just opposing oppressive practices. We can envision a liberatory future where all rabbits are able to live in joy, safety, and community with their personhood respected. Domestic rabbits are often particularly excellent companions for vegans since they are in need of loving homes, especially given the adversity they often face, and because we are herbivores like them. Consider taking an active role in opposing oppressive practices by adopting, fostering, or volunteering to care for domestic rabbits, normalising companion rabbits as family members, providing space for them (ideally indoors), rescuing domestic rabbits who find themselves outdoors, and sharing with others the wonderful personalities of rabbits who are dear to us. 

Given that rabbits' personalities vary widely, some domestic rabbits may not be interested in human companionship, despite being highly dependent on human care. However, care and sanctuary can still be provided while respecting their autonomy and giving them the freedom to choose how they interact with us. Living with domestic rabbits is an iterative and adaptive process of observing their preferences, needs, and desires, and responding with the appropriate provisions. With active efforts to support the liberation of rabbits, we can build a more just future.

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References 
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Ge D, Wen Z, Xia L, Zhang Z, Erbajeva M, Huang C, Yang Q. 2013. Evolutionary history of lagomorphs in response to global environmental change. PLoS One. 2013;8(4):e59668. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0059668. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0059668

Geffroy, B., Sadoul, B., Putman, B.J., Berger-Tal, O., Garamszegi, L.Z., Møller, A.P. and Blumstein, D.T. 2020. Evolutionary dynamics in the Anthropocene: Life history and intensity of human contact shape antipredator responses. PLoS Biology, 18(9), p.e3000818. https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3000818

Hawthorne, M. 2021. The Way of the Rabbit. Changemakers Books. Winchester, UK, Washington, USA. Link to book
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Wei-Haas, M. 2018. The Odd, Tidy Story of Rabbit Domestication That Is Also Completely False. Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/strange-tidy-story-rabbit-domestication-also-completely-false-180968168/