Wrocław. There was to be an anti -stress cafe with rabbits, and there is stress for rabbits

In February, a cafe with rabbits was opened in Wrocław. Seven pupils were to attract customers, the offer even included the possibility of bringing a rabbit to the table and patting. After a wave of indignation on the Internet, animals are no longer brought. Now you can look and stroke, but only when they are in aviaries and when they want it.

Antistrescafe is a cafe with a farm full of rabbits and the first place of this type in Wrocław. Until now, only cat cafes operated in the city, but the owners decided to stand out from the existing ones on the market. Everyone did not like the idea, some believe that such treatment of rabbits violates the act on the protection of animals.

– It is different with rabbits, because they were not selected in terms of contact with man, but above all for breeding for meat and leather. Of course, these are domestic rabbits, but their biological features are so different from a dog or cat that I am very skeptical about this idea. The rabbit is adapted to short -term stress, he listens, smells and when he feels threatened, he runs away. In the case of such stress, there is practically no damage to the body. It is different in the case of prolonged stress, and such can be in a cafe, if there is noise, a lot of people, it is not possible to hide. Long -term stress for animals and people is also degrading, contributes to various diseases – explains Dr. Robert Maślak, a zoologist from the Faculty of Biological Sciences of the University of Wrocław.

Seven rabbits live in the cafe, two of them come from adoption. We visited the cafe to see the conditions in which rabbits live and to talk to the owners.

– Our rabbits are under the constant care of the veterinarian, have health books and all necessary vaccinations and tests. We have seven rabbits, including two adopted. For rabbits we have approaches, houses, a litter box, there is also hay – says Tetiana Bakumenko, co -owner of the cafe.

Rabbits are in two farms. Marald male has a separate cage until it is castrated, while females are divided by one large aviary.

– When it comes to this particular cafe, when you get in, the first impression is not very negative. Rabbits are there in two aviaries that are quite extensive. What caught my attention was the ground from the floor covering, the inability to dig, very small hideouts, such that the rabbit barely fits there and the lack of even some pipes that would imitate the burrows, where animals can run and hide. In addition, continuous contact with people. It is true that the size of these catwalks is that of course these rabbits can retreat further, but I would not call that these conditions are perfect or very good, these are conditions that would have to be changed and improved – says Maślak.

Special offer withdrawn

In the first days after opening, the cafe was promoted by a special offer – you could buy the service “bringing a rabbit in a basket to the table”. Such an attraction met indignantly on the internet.

Unfortunately, the comments on Facebook and on Instagram of the cafe are already closed, they cannot be seen. Only the grades and opinions on Google Maps remained, which probably could not be hidden. The place has a rating of 3.3 out of 52 reviews. Most of the lowest ratings concern just the health of animals and their well -being.

“Block comments and opinions everywhere. I hope someone will be interested quickly what you do. The case reported to the services. Poor animals !!!!” – Mrs. Sandra wrote.

“” Antistres “is probably only for customers, because for rabbit residents it is” gigastrescafe “” – comments Mr. Robert.

“It's a pity those animals that stay there. I hope that this shrine will disappear quickly as it appeared,” writes Małgorzata.

“This is the tiring of animals. Such places should never open. Rabbits are not only sweet animals, but very delicate and it is not the right place and conditions for them” – says Mrs. Dominika.

“I hope that someone will take the place under Lupe. Happy story at the expense of animal health …” – comments Mr. Adrian.

These are only part of the comments that our editors decided to quote. After such a lot of pressure on the internet, a special offer was quickly removed.

– We didn't know there would be so many volunteers. It was an experimental, temporary service, so we gave it up not to stress either ourselves or rabbits – explains the owner.

– Rabbits do not like lifting at all, because for them it is a threat comparable to a predator attack. Their whole life strategy is to avoid predators, so it causes them to be stress, so you should avoid wearing rabbits. Of course, each individual is different, it must also be taken into account in their breeding. Such breakfast with them and forcing them to contact strangers is a really bad idea – says the zoologist.

There are restrictions, including age

There are special regulations in the cafe. It was forbidden here, among others lifting rabbits, taking photos with a flash, leaving children unattended or drinking alcohol. There are also age restrictions.

– There is always a guardian at rabbits, who cleans the farm every 20 minutes, feeds them, watches how customers behave with animals. Also, the guardian makes sure that everyone disinfects his hands, does not resist the playpen. We do not allow the entrance to the farm and stroking the rabbits “by force”. In our cafe there are principles of peace and quiet, parents with children are informed about it, if someone does not comply with these rules, please leave. We already had several such situations. Disinfection of hands is obligatory, there is also age restrictions, children from 3.5 years old may stay here – says the owner.

It is also forbidden to bring your food and feed rabbits. Sometimes they are fed with parsley, but only by staff. We asked the owner what is currently allowed in the premises.

– You can calmly drink coffee, watch rabbits, stroke them if they want to. Even now we can see that the herald looks, where there are people to make someone stroke him. They are willing to stride – explains Tetiana Bakumenko.

Although rabbits are willing to contact people, the task of dr. Robert Maślak a few things should be changed.

– If I am to assess the well -being of this particular cafe, he is not bad. I can't say that this is rabbit bullying, but it would require a lot of changes. During my visit, which lasted 10-15 minutes, rabbits wanted to contact people, while the risk that these are the wrong conditions for them is very high – says dr. Robert Maślak.

They wrote an application to the inspectorate to check them

Currently, the biggest stress for rabbits creates a weekly carrying them to a veterinary clinic a few kilometers away. The owners are not a small car, so this process is very complicated. Each animal is placed for a separate transporter, after which they are all taken by taxi for tests. At the moment, the owners are looking for a veterinarian who will agree to come to the premises and examine the state of rabbits on the spot.

– We wanted to cooperate with a veterinarian who could come to us and check the state of rabbits. Every week we take rabbits in containers to the vet with a taxi, which causes them stress – says the owner. And he adds that they also sent an application to the Poviat Veterinary Inspectorate in Wrocław with a request to check their premises. They care about peace, which they do not have due to a large hate in social media.