The Cottage Grove Riding Club in Oregon hosts an annual event called the Animal Scramble in which 75 rabbits (specifically bred for this event) are placed in the center of the arena, and a crowd of children chase them.  If a child catches one, he/she brings the rabbit home as a pet.

There are several troubling aspects to this event:

• The rabbits are placed in a terrifying and dangerous situation during the scramble.
• The children (and their parents) who bring the rabbits home are not prepared for the commitment, nor have they been educated on proper rabbit care.
• Rabbits are being bred despite a huge overpopulation of pet rabbits in shelters (NOT that we think those rabbits should be used in this event either).
• It sends the message that live animals are simply objects of entertainment or toys; that animal welfare is not important.

Here is a video of the event created by Red Barn Rabbit Rescue who urged Cottage Grove Riding Club to discontinue the event but has so far been ignored by the organization. Warning: There is footage of rabbits being kicked and thrown in the video. Don’t watch it if you will be too upset by the imagery. Scroll below the video for contact information for the Cottage Grove Riding Club if you’d like to write letters urging them to discontinue all future Animal Scrambles.

Cottage Grove Riding Club can be reached at:

Cottage Grove Riding Club
Attn: Eugene LaRoe
PO Box 485
Cottage Grove OR 97424

To learn more, visit Red Barn Rabbit Rescue’s website.

There is an online petition on Change.org that you can also sign. Sign the petition >