In the labs, rabbits are housed one per cage, usually in steel cages free of toys or soft materials to rest on. This dull, monotonous life of confinement is in stark contrast to the lives that rabbits who live as companion animals experience in homes around the world. Rabbits are intelligent, curious and social animals who thrive in an environment full of mental and physical stimulation. Alone in a cage with no contact with others of their kind, or other friendly creatures, they withdraw emotionally and often become aggressive. A domestic rabbit who runs free in a house, by contrast, displays a fascinating range of behaviors, including leaping in the air for joy, flopping on the ground in contentment, biting and boxing when angry, chewing, digging, exploring the environment, and playing with other animals and humans.
Rabbits play with toys as well, and love to climb, tunnel, throw things and shred for pleasure.
For people who live with rabbits , as does this writer, it is inconceivable to imagine the bleak and sorry lives that these quick-witted, playful and expressive creatures must endure for often the most ridiculous of reasons.