They are barely three months old and are already “retired”. Eight rabbits, rather cute and chubby, will be offered for adoption this weekend* in the Botanic store in Blagnac, near Toulouse. It’s a priori quite commonplace. But not in their case. Because these rodents were not bred for sale, they are laboratory animals. “During the first three months of their lives, they participated in a study on the well-being of rabbit farms”, explains Odile Petit, the president of the association. Ethosph’Rspecializing in the “rehabilitation” and “resocialization” of guinea pigs.
We immediately imagine frightened little balls of fur who have only known as horizons the wire mesh of their cage and the bench of their laboratory. Well no. “It was a study intended to make a comparison with intensive farming. They therefore lived in the field, grazing clover and were pampered, caressed every day, ”says the association manager, also director of research at the CNRS. This is why these
rabbits (crossbred between New Zealand rams – with big ears – and Burgundy fawns) are quite ideal candidates for “rehabilitation”. Without the intervention of Ethosph’R, their fate would have been less enviable. They would have been entrusted to a breeding, a refuge, or worse euthanized, because the scientific structures do not have the means to keep the animals, once the protocol is finished.
Seven days of reflection
But to leave with them and offer them a “second life”, it will not be enough to pass through the aisles and crack on their little faces. To precisely avoid thoughtless “coup de coeur” purchases, the new animal welfare law, imposes on the adopter a period of reflection, and if necessary of withdrawal, of seven days. It is only once this period has elapsed that the volunteers of the association will entrust the animals. “They weigh two kilos but will grow up to five and can live for twelve years, warns Odile Petit. They can be kept indoors and if they have to live outside it is better to have two of them as they are sociable animals. Moreover, you will have to pay 50 euros to take them under your wing. A sum intended both to cover the costs of volunteers, who can be contacted for monitoring and are based in Strasbourg, but also to dissuade the clever ones from adopting them only to pass them on to the pan.
Six rabbits from the group have already been adopted in the Botanic of Valence (Rhône) which inaugurated this unprecedented rescue operation last weekend. The next could concern laboratory birds, but the association also plans to provide for the retirement of mice, chickens and even monkeys.
*Saturday afternoon and Sunday