UK NEWS

THE £100 RABBIT THAT CAN RUN AS FAST AS A HARE...

Belgian Hare

Thursday January 24,2008

By Emma Bamford

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WATERSHIP Down was never like this – rabbits that look, run and jump just like wild hares.

With their arched backs, massive feet and muscular frames, they can reach 30mph and leap 3ft in the air.

But they come at quite a price. These “greyhounds of the rabbit world” are the latest must-have designer pets and change hands at up to £100.

Although they are called Belgian hares, the artificially-created breed are still genetically rabbits – even if they are only distantly related to the cuddly bunnies in the pet shop.

Breeder Valerie Taylor, from Greenwich Rabbit Rescue in south-east London, said: “People like them because they are a bit different. They are very lean and muscular.”

Belgian Hare

They eat a normal diet of hay and rabbit food mix – but any similarities to ordinary bunnies end right there.

Mrs Taylor warned that they have to be kept in the right conditions because of their ability to run and jump. They could easily catch an unsuspecting owner on the bunny hop.

She said: “They need a very tall, long hutch and plenty of room to run around. They are so muscular that once they get going they build up a lot of speed. People must remember they are a very specialist rabbit and are not for everyone.”

People like them because they are a bit different.

Breeder Valerie Taylor

£100 RABBIT STEW

24.01.08, 9:19pm

thats quite an expensive stew,i suppose gordon ramsey will be offering it in his restuarant ,thats if he can catch it.

• Posted by: crazyhorse • Report Comment

£100 MY ARSS

24.01.08, 5:12pm

This hare is mine and i was slightly mis quoted in the paper, the photos were taken for a rare breed article.
Hares do not make good pets and they do not go for £100.Tthey are not your typical pet and i only have them to enter shows. My showing hares has nothing to do with me running a rabbit rescue, the two are separate.

• Posted by: TAYLOR109 • Report Comment

FOOD ITEM

24.01.08, 12:08pm

As Sadmother says this breed has been around for generations, 50+ years ago we kept them for the pot,
This breeder will be trimming sheep and selling them as Poodles next

• Posted by: Mickle • Report Comment

£100 THAT CAN RUN AS FAST AS A HARE

24.01.08, 8:02am

this will be animal cruelty at it worst, people will buy
them and still lock them in cages in the back garden
forget about them for days and with little or no
exercise,

• Posted by: ANNR • Report Comment

BELGIAN HARES

24.01.08, 1:30am

are one of Britain's oldest breeds, my uncle bred them over 70 years ago. They are not 'artifically created'- just line-bred from wild rabbit stock, as all our domestic rabbits were. this story is complete rubbish.

• Posted by: sadmother • Report Comment