The media SAID that's what they found, but there's NO proof those photos are even of her animals or equipment. She wasn't allowed to photograph them herself so as to have evidence of her own to counter their accusations.


The dead animals were in the FREEZER. For MEAT.

You know how you sometimes find a dead dry kit that somehow got missed in the nest? Well, I have one out in the rabbit barn right now- I want the skeleton. I wonder how that would go over?

with these people-- not well, as you did not make sure every kit got the care it needed-- forget what animals do just because they are animals!!!

I said I wouldn't be back and all...because tensions seem rather high...

But Debe Bell has already acknowledged those pictures are accurate and of her rabbitry. Several times in print and on the radio interview.

Several people have posted that they are likely incorrect, altered, or set up. I thought it important to point out that not only has Debe acknowledged the pictures were correct and accurate, but that she was PROUD of the conditions and considered them appropriate and healthy.

There was also a dead rabbit in a cage in the rabbitry. I'm not referring to those in the freezer. The authorities on the scene followed the law as it was written. I know it doesn't seem 'fair' but what they did was correct.

All the more important to make sure that friends, family, people living in your home know what to do in the event of something like this. No warrants, no access.

Just like having CPS show up at your door merely because you homeschool.

In Texas!?

We have no kids, but I would homeschool if I did. There are a LOT of HS families in our area though, so we're fortunate.

In such a volatile and emotionally charged discussion, Sommrluv, it would be a good idea to provide links to your sources for these statements. It would add credibility to what you are saying and also would protect you from possible libel. Just sayin'.

Yes, I would like to see the sources, since what I have read regarding Deb's statements is a little bit different. Also, I had not heard about any dead rabbits in any cages...only the ones in the freezer.

Seriously? Seriously?

Are those the FULL TEXT of what she said, or are they grossly-distorted media sound bites that took what she said completely out of context? Based on statements of people who actually know her, I have reason to think what she is reported to have said is not actually what she said.

Sommerluv, most of us like to have all the info we can get on cases like these. If you have a link to the information you quoted, I would really appreciate it. I like to be as informed as I can. Thanks.

A rabbit constantly living in a dirty cage such as pictured would not be the picture of health and cleanliness, it would be dirty and worn down looking. Like mentioned the ammonia levels themselves would probably kill all those present. Out of 200 rabbits or so on an extremely hot day there was one dead in its cage... well that happens, rabbit DO tend to die despite our best efforts sometimes!! It is not in and of itself evidence of ongoing cruelty!! This is just the law of averages, the more animals the more chance that one is not well.

Funny thing... if the rabbits were in "such poor condition" how is it that they were healthy enough to be put under anesthesia to spay or neuter them right away? OR give them out to new homes?? Seem they might have needed a month there to "recover" first.

As to my earlier statement about the rabbits not minding what's in their crates they don't BUT I didn't say anything about it being ok either. What I meant was the so-called rescuers were implying that the rabbits would notice the difference in their new surroundings and be "grateful" to the rescuers for putting them into some so-called bunny-Valhalla or something..the animal rescuer types would like you to view them as the "Mother Teresa" of the animal world or something! At the most perhaps she should have been cited for the cages or cobwebs and had follow-up visits for a while to make sure things were under control. Rabbits that were healthy enough to have surgery were not obviously in enough distress to be removed immediately.