[Oh come on; pool bunny isn't *actually* sipping a *real* martini. Also, rabbits can't talk. - Ed.]
http://teho.vox.com/library/photo/6a00c2252668128e1d00d09e50469ebe2b.html

“Even the expert bunny sites acknowledge that there are, in fact, some bunnies who love water.”

OK, how about some quotes + URLS? (I’m not trying to be provocative; I would like to see your sources.)

Just for you, mousewife -

Great info. on spot-bathing rabbits (a better, far less stressful way to help those who have difficulty with messy butts):

http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/buttbath.html

“Can be” doesn’t equal “always is in every case”. Many rabbits don’t like water. Some do. Some love water.

Even the expert bunny sites acknowledge that there are, in fact, some bunnies who love water.

So can all the nuffers get over themselves long enough to realize that the owners wouldn’t subject their poor little bunny to something that would kill it, AAAAND, if the bunny didn’t like the water it would probably be DEAD by now, given that this isn’t the only picture of this bunny in the water?

Info. from one of the professionals who posts regularly on Etherbun (Yahoo group):

“Bathing is stressful for the rabbit, and often ends in a panic reaction as
soon as the fur is wetted, or in death from heart-arrest. A jump out of the
bathtub can lead to broken limbs or fracture of the spinal cord. The thick
fur of rabbits takes furthermore very long to dry, even when dried with a
towel or a hairdryer. This increases the risk of respiratory diseases like
pneumonia or skin diseases like dermatitis, fungal problems.

Exceptions are possible, for sick or disabled rabbits. Usually only the
dirty part is washed, like bottom, or a face, and carefully dried. A face
can be cleaned with a washcloth. In any case, rest of food or dried liquid
should always be removed. The product itself can irritate the skin, and the
sugary content can be a growth medium for bacteria and fungi, leading
serious skin diseases.”

@ all of you who keep claiming that this bunny is just fine – well, not so much.

Please see http://www.rabbit.org for *real* info. on how to care for buns. (Like – it’s unwise to get them all wet in this manner, among other things.)

Sorry if this sounds like harshing the cute, but… rabbit peeps like me don’t react well to situations like the one shown in this photo.

i seem to be the only person who remembers the enraged rabbit who swam towards jimmy carter for encroaching on his territory back in the late 70s, and it makes me feel old… and the thing is, i’m not even in my 20s…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Carter_rabbit_incident

also, i think the rabbit’s nails look fine… they may be a little twisted from not being clipped nearly enough (which isn’t THAT bad), but they probably only look worse because his fur is wet and it makes them look longer.

another thing: enough with the blanket statements! if you think that “all rabbits hate water”, then you probably think that “all rabbits love carrots”, too. my bun HATES carrots!

They have shown this exact same thing with other Bun’s on Animal Planet, a lot of people in really warm states do this and the rabbits love it. They wouldn’t showcase it on Animal Planet if it was cruelty.

i heart bunbuns but not nuffers. that is all.

This is a great example of: I love something, it makes me smile and feel hapi and someone else has to come and be a hater and make it a big drama. You know these people. They are the same ones that can’t be supportive when you lose weight or meet someone awesome. They hate hapi-ness. Must create drama…just Ignore. they: Fail. they go awwwaaayyyy.
YEAAAHH!