Links are live
(This petition is not raising funds, please do not donate.)

Actress and social media influencer Christina DeRosa is irresponsibly promoting rabbit cafes without understanding that rabbits are prey animals - who based on their specific biology do not deal well with stress and are thus not well-suited for business platforms like animal cafes.

Ms. DeRosa has recently posted to social media several videos promoting just such a business: The Bunny Cafe.  When approached by educated, experienced rabbit rescuers and people reaching out to ask questions, Ms. DeRosa's responses indicated that she has no interest in the welfare of domestic rabbits, but instead is focused on how cute the set-up is for visitors, and that the cafe made her and others "feel good."

When asked how the rabbits might be feeling, who would provide for their medical care should one (or more) become injured or ill, what would happen if one of the people who purchased rabbits from the cafe decided they no longer wanted the bunny (an unfortunate and very common occurrence with impulse-purchases based on the cuteness of rabbits) - questions and comments were deleted, and eventually those asking them were blocked from commenting altogether. 

The simple fact of the matter is that rabbits are prey animals that are by their nature not well suited to dealing with stressful conditions. They don’t like loud noise or crowds of people surrounding them, and most do not like being handled. The stress of the conditions at a business venue like The Bunny Cafe can easily cause them to become ill, which would not be immediately apparent because rabbits, as prey animals, instinctually hide illness or injury (as best and as long as they can) because in nature the injured and ill are easy marks for predators. 

In addition, rabbits are a crepuscular creature, which means they sleep or rest most of the day and are active at morning and dusk/evening. The Bunny Cafe does its business during the hours a rabbit would be resting or sleeping, and then confines them at night (through morning) when they would naturally be most active, running and playing. 

It is clear that the specific needs of rabbits as prey animals are not important to The Bunny Cafe, nor to Ms. DeRosa, who is promoting this business.  Ms. DeRosa was asked multiple times, by multiple individuals to educate herself regarding rabbits, and was offered ample opportunity to do so by educated and experienced individuals. She refused. 

We the petitioners respectfully ask Christina DeRosa to stop irresponsibly, unethically and self-indulgently promoting rabbit cafes as self-healing, fun, cute and frivolous experiences for humans, and to respect rabbits as prey animals and not encourage unnatural practices that can be harmful to their health and overall well being. 

References
Instagram - Video Recently Removed
Twitter
TikTok
Newly added - UrleBird

Please be respectful if voicing your opinion.

For The Rabbits,
Linda Sue