Recently, I came across your article concerning the rabbits that died in transition to processing facilities. I'd like to discuss that with you now, if you don't mind.
See, I found your article to be rather concerning. Quite honestly, I found the lack of facts or information to be upsetting. You state that 38 rabbits died in transportation to the processing facility. Thirty eight out of how many rabbits? Out of 50? Or 100? Or 1000? How many rabbits made it to the processing facility alive? Because if it was 50 total being sent, that's a huge fatality rate. However if it was 38 out of 1000, that's quite a small percentage.
I also found it a bit curious that the only day you report on the fatalities is July 8th, when you received the information from January up until July 22nd. How many deaths in transit were there between January 1st and July 22nd? How many total, how many per shipment. How did the rabbits die, was it heat related, stress related, fighting? Did a transport crate containing 38 rabbits fall out of the truck? Were they kicked to death? I mean, each of these things would be interpreted a different way.
And really, how is it the producer's fault, or the slaughterhouse's fault, or the purchaser's fault? Wouldn't it be the transporter's fault that this happened? I mean, it happened on their watch, right?
I do enjoy the use of the terminology "bunny" throughout the whole thing. I understand that this is intended to tug at heartstrings, to anthropomorphize the rabbits into cute little fluffy things. I assume that the majority of your readers are not rabbit owners, and have never encountered a 10-15lb rabbit, with sharp claws and even sharper teeth, and have never had to struggle with one of these rabbits to clip nails and do health checks. They wouldn't have their heartstrings tugged at very much if they knew the evil red eyed monsters that are New Zealand Whites!
Now, I see you make the often heard, never validated claim that rabbits are the third most popular furry pet. Quite interesting - when I started with rabbits, they were apparently the third most popular pet, now they've been downgraded to third most popular furry pet. How long until they are downgraded again, to the third most popular furry pet with large ears, or the third most popular rodent(they're lagomorphs, shut up), or whatever the next step down is. When do we get to the point where you, and many others, realize that rabbits aren't the third most popular any kind of pet? When does that claim stop, or when does the information come forward? I believe that the third most popular furry pet would be a horse, myself, but have no facts to back this up.
How, exactly, do rabbit care experts care for their rabbits? And who, exactly, are these rabbit care experts? And how are they designated experts, who gave them that designation? How does one go about becoming a rabbit care expert? Are there college courses one can take at an agricultural college?
At this point, I will agree with you, and state that I am not a fan of non-penetrating captive bolts/bleeding out being used as a method of slaughter. Penetrating captive bolts would be much more effective and efficient, not to mention quicker for the rabbits, however that results in a longer wash required to remove the blood from the body. The purpose to bleeding them out while stunned but alive is that the heart continues beating, helping to force the blood from the body, resulting in a shorter wash being required. I personally would rather deal with the longer wash than be worried that the animal was feeling pain.
You state that it is not surprising that the rabbits died during transport. I'm not sure why you state this? Could you clarify why it is not surprising? Personally, I find it not surprising as I feel the number of rabbits being shipped at one time must be rather large, meaning that 38 is a small to miniscule percentage of all rabbits that were shipped.
To correct a bit of misinformation - the breeding rabbits are slaughtered as stewers, not roasters. If they're being slaughtered as roasters, than they are lucky to have had one litter. According to this 4H Literature, a fryer is 10wks or less, a roaster is 10wks - 6mths, and a stewer is over 6mths. They have weights there as well, but if the breeding rabbits are being sold as roasters, they aren't doing much breeding at all(most large breeds do not successfully conceive before a minimum of 4mths of age, though the majority are 6-8mths before a breeding attempt is even made).
You also state that in March, 38 rabbits died in one day at the slaughterhouse yard(DIY or Died in Yard, as you point out). Why did these rabbits die, what were their causes of death? And why that magic 38 again?
In bringing up the "condemned" meat, you use this as a blow against the rabbit raiser. Why were the meats condemned? What percentage was condemned? Of course there's always going to be a couple in any bunch that has something wrong with it, it's just the facts of life. A cyst, a tumour, a small infected cut or a healed broken bone from a hard birth... All those things can have a carcass designated as condemned. And don't worry, those carcasses aren't wasted, they are used to make dog and cat food, or fed to carnivores in zoos, sanctuaries or rehabilitation centers, or are used to feed snakes or other reptiles. The bodies are not wasted, they are just not sold for human consumption.
What you know, from all the "evidence" you've uncovered, but have not actually shared(in this article at least, I have no interest in reading the additional overwrought emotional claptrap that's going to infest the rest of your pages), is really just a bunch of assumptions and baseless accusations because you don't want the "cute fwuffy widdle bunny wabbits" to be eaten. You've made no case to support your claims, and keep slinging around that magic 38 number. Please, provide me with proof, concrete evidence, that rabbits being processed for Whole Foods is actually coming from animals that are not being raised humanely. Provide me evidence that these animals are being physically abused by the raisers, or are being starved, or are being tortured for fun.
I understand that you composed your article and infographic with the intent of stirring up controversy about the use of rabbits as a lean, healthy protein source. I do understand that you do not wish to eat rabbit meat, and that is your choice. I will not try to change that choice, however I do feel that you should follow your claims with facts and complete information. Never has the right choice been made by a person who knows not all the facts.
Oh, and also? Whole Foods isn't "adding one more animal to their meat counter", they're continuing a long tradition of rabbits being used as a food source. That's why they were domesticated, after all!
Lots of Love,
Herds not Hoards