The painful reality of rabbits in Israel and the organization fighting to save them
Behind the captivating appearance of rabbits hides a painful reality of mass abandonment, unregulated trade, and mortality on the streets. The "Beit Netaniel" organization - the only one in the country fighting for their lives without institutional support - works tirelessly to save this sensitive and delicate animal, while calling on the public to mobilize urgently to assist and support the activity without which the abandoned rabbits could not have survived.
Rabbits are almost the dictionary definition of the word "cuteness". With long ears, a nose that never stops twitching with curiosity, and large, expressive eyes, it is hard not to fall in love with them at first sight. Their soft fur, along with their round body and tiny tail, give them a look that is hard to remain indifferent to. However, behind the cute appearance hides a difficult life reality.
Every day, dozens of rabbits are abandoned in Israel — a domesticated animal that is unable to survive in field conditions. They meet their death from hunger, thirst, heatstroke, or are torn to pieces in agony by dogs, cats, crows, and jackals. To this end, the Beit Netaniel organization — the only one of its kind in Israel — works for the rescue, rehabilitation, and adoption of rabbits. The organization has been operating since 2019, without institutional support, with the entire burden falling on the shoulders of a small number of volunteers.
The founder and manager of the organization, Talia Netaniel, describes a complex reality that is only getting worse: "In the last year, there has been such an extreme deterioration that we feel we are literally drowning in a phenomenon of abandoned rabbits. No authority or official body acts on their behalf. Inquiries reach us 24 hours a day, and the economic, medical, and physical burden is a daily challenge." About 250 rabbits live in the organization. About half of them are permanent residents who arrived from difficult situations of abuse and neglect, and the other half have been rehabilitated and are looking for a warm and loving home.
In fact, the main factor for the distress lies in the lack of awareness and unregulated trade. A rabbit can give birth every month. Many traders sell pairs of rabbits without the seller even knowing how to determine their gender, without proper guidance, and out of a desire to profit from unsuitable equipment and food. Within a few months, families who bought a "toy for the child" find themselves with dozens of rabbits, and the road to abandonment on the street is short.
"They are adopted from us under an adoption agreement, when they are spayed, neutered, checked by a veterinarian, and completely healthy," explains Netaniel. "So, certainly, all this happens very much because of the traders who do not bother to provide proper guidance to the people who buy, they just want to profit. Many times, the rabbits are sold as 'dwarfs', when in fact they are a few weeks old and too young to be separated from their mother. This, along with the sale of sick rabbits from breeding farms, leads to high and suffering-filled mortality of rabbits, which is created all the time in an endless cycle."
Most of the public mistakenly perceives the rabbit as a small, stupid animal that is supposed to live locked inside a small wire cage and eat lettuce and carrots. In practice, it is an intelligent, curious, and full-of-character pet, whose behavior is completely different from what is commonly thought.
"Rabbits are house members in every sense — they learn easily to do their needs in a designated box just like a cat, love to walk around freely, develop a deep and loving connection with family members, and even ask for petting," says Netaniel. "80% of their diet consists of hay, and a carrot is actually a treat for once a week. On the other hand, this is an especially delicate animal, which does not make calling or angry sounds when it suffers, is not resistant to outdoor weather conditions, and needs a protected environment inside the house and dedicated care to live happily. The recommendation is to raise a rabbit at home just like a dog or a cat. It is important to know in advance that a rabbit can live between 8 to 12 years — this is a long-term commitment."
According to Talia, every rabbit that wins a home is blessed. Alongside the fact that that rabbit won a warm home after experiencing a not-so-simple life story, space is freed up for another rabbit that also needs help, in the organization that currently operates in the moshav of Beit Lehem HaGlilit in the north of the country.
"Rabbits have only us, and we need help to help them," says Netaniel. "Alongside the rabbits that get a second chance at Beit Netaniel, there are so many who are abandoned and die a painful death on the street. The organization is currently dealing with a severe crisis. All the activity — rescue, trapping, transport, daily care, cleaning, and maintenance — is carried out with a severe shortage of manpower and without enough volunteers, which makes every day a challenge. We are in urgent search of a permanent home in the Jezreel Valley area (preferably a farm or an area with a facility for animals), where we hope to establish ourselves and give the rabbits the living conditions they deserve. Therefore, we would be happy for help in finding a suitable area for the organization, volunteering, donating, and above all — adoption. Every rabbit that finds a warm and loving home allows us to help the next rabbit waiting in line."
