Rabbits Aren’t Party Props: Why Public Events Aren’t Safe or Suitable for Prey Animals

At first glance, it might seem innocent — even heart-warming — to see rabbits at a child’s birthday party, in a café, or at a petting zoo. They’re often presented as calm, cuddly animals who love attention. But take a moment to look beyond the surface. Have you ever considered how the rabbit actually feels in that moment?

Despite their quiet nature, rabbits are highly sensitive prey animals. Their stillness in crowded, noisy environments isn’t a sign of contentment — it’s a survival response. And the growing trend of using rabbits in pop-up petting zoos, mobile animal experiences, yoga sessions, and animal cafés puts their welfare at serious risk.

As responsible owners, we must ask ourselves: are we truly putting our animals' needs first, or are we feeding our own desire for novelty, entertainment, or comfort?

Rabbits Are Prey Animals — and That Changes Everything

Unlike dogs or cats, rabbits haven’t evolved as predators or companions. In the wild, they are prey, constantly alert for threats. Even in a domestic setting, their instinct to hide or freeze when frightened is deeply ingrained. When a rabbit is passed around by strangers, exposed to loud noises, unfamiliar environments, and constant handling, they don’t feel relaxed — they feel terrified.

The problem is that fear in rabbits often looks like calm. They may go completely still, lie flat, or tuck themselves into a corner. To the untrained eye, this can be mistaken for contentment. In reality, it’s often a silent scream — a desperate hope that by not moving, the perceived danger will pass.

Stress Isn’t Harmless — It’s Dangerous

Chronic or repeated stress isn’t just unpleasant for rabbits — it’s physically dangerous. A frightened rabbit can go into gut stasis, a life-threatening condition where their digestive system slows or stops entirely. Ongoing stress weakens their immune system, making them more susceptible to illness, and can lead to long-term behavioural issues, such as aggression, withdrawal, or over-grooming.

What looks like a fun experience to us can be deeply distressing for the rabbit. And when these experiences are repeated — as they often are in commercial settings — the harm compounds over time.

Why These Events Happen Anyway

The sad truth is, these events are designed around human desires, not animal needs. Whether it’s the joy of seeing animals up close, the novelty of “bunny yoga,” or the comfort of a petting zoo in a care home, the focus is on our enjoyment, not their wellbeing.

That’s not to say people don’t care — many do. But good intentions aren’t enough when they’re rooted in a lack of understanding. We must move beyond what animals can offer us, and instead consider what we owe them in return for their trust and their lives in our care.

Responsible Ownership Means Prioritising Their Welfare

As guardians of domestic animals, we have a duty of care — not just to feed and house them, but to ensure their emotional and psychological wellbeing. For rabbits, this means stability, familiarity, freedom to express natural behaviours, and protection from fear and stress.

Dragging them into a room full of strangers, loud noises, sudden movements, or unfamiliar smells strips them of all control and safety. It’s not enrichment — it’s exploitation, even if unintentionally.

We cannot claim to love animals while ignoring what they’re trying to tell us. And when a rabbit is huddled silently in the corner of a playpen, they're not having fun. They're enduring it for our sake.

We Domesticated Them — Now We Owe Them

Rabbits didn’t ask to live in our homes. They didn’t ask to be bred for convenience or cuteness. As the species who domesticated them, it’s our responsibility to meet their needs — not twist them to suit our lifestyles or expectations.

That means resisting the temptation to involve them in human-centric events. It means speaking out when we see them used as entertainment. And it means educating others about their real needs, even when the truth is uncomfortable.

What You Can Do Instead

• Say no to events or businesses that use rabbits (or other prey animals) in petting zoos, cafés, or mobile encounters.

• Speak up — kindly and constructively — when you see animals being used in ways that compromise their welfare.

• Educate others about why these environments are harmful, and what rabbits truly need to feel safe.

  
  

The bottom line is simple: if it isn’t for their benefit, we need to ask why we’re doing it. Because true love for animals isn’t about how they make us feel — it’s about how we make them feel. And they deserve to feel safe.