Can a hare be kept as a pet?

[crouchingtigeress]

My sister bought what she thought (and was told) was a rabbit. But has since been told by friends that it is a hare, I myself cannot tell the difference.

Here's the evidence:
It resembles the pictures of hares we've seen on the internet,in that it is brown/ grey, it's ears stand up and it hasn't got a lil' fluffy tail.

It is growing very big in the 2 weeks she has had it.

It seems very restless and aggressive.

If it is a hare, can she still keep it?

changed my name for this as don't want to divulge my profession. I am a vet and i'm afraid i would be terribly up on rabbit breeds to tell you the truth.
There's a house rabbit association who may well be a ble to help you decide if this is a hare or not.
I'm not sure that every vet will know tgo tell you the truth. You should give your local guys a call and ask over the phone if anyone has an interest in rabbits etc. And ask them how much a consultation will be.
I am also not sure that the rspca will be able help you, they are busy trying to sort out cruelty cases etc.
I will try to post a link to the rabbit people, maybe you can e mail them a photo.
(maybe you can poist a photo and let me knwo if it is a hare or not - i am a bit embarrassed!!)

I will try to find a link for you.
BTW I can't believe how long this thread has been going on for!!

rabbitpeople

lapsedvet, do you not think that a pet shop selling hares as rabbits classes as cruelty to the hares?

i suppose i was thinking that we needed to Id correctly that it IS a hare first, then if it is from a pet shop then if it was a "wild hare" that shouldn't be sold, then the RSPCA amy be interested in the pet shop.
I was just trying to help crouchingtigress check if the animal WAS hare, then take it from there if necessary.

Agree with you tiredvet, it really needs to be ascertained just what breed of rabbit it is or if indeed it is a hare before the rspca would get involved.

Fingers crossed that it isn't a hare wwb, as indeed very cruel to the hare - brings up all sorts of questions such as where the hare was bred (or caught?? can you catch a hare that easily???)

Thank you again for all the advice. I think we'll try ringing the vet to check if they'll be able to help, if not I'll mail a picture to the Rabbit association. That seems the best course of action, I think.

Hello all
We eventually found a suitable vet who confirmed Gismo is a giant flemish RABBIT,who will get much bigger. So i think a bigger hutch is in order. Thank you all for your advice.

I knew someone who had one of those. She was HUGE! I mean, really big. She was 14 kg in fact.

The rabbit, that is. She was called 'Ginger'.

Oh gosh, I'll bet that's not what they were expecting!

Glad you got it sorted out in the end.

Oh, wow! They get HUGE!

Phew! Jolly glad this wasn't a Hare..this popped up while I was googling Hares.
Hares are magnificent animals, large orb like amber eyes, and black tipped ears.
Once you have ''your eye in'' it is easy to spot Hares in a large field.
Once, walking with a rescued Lurcher, a Whippet and a collie, we saw a magnificent Hare crouched in a field, hidden by a slight bank from the hounds.
We caught the dogs, and Amber Eyes the Hare kept one huge eye on us...but she did not break her cover.
Had she lost confidence and bolted, the dogs would have chased.
I have never been so close to a hare, it was a beauty.
We left the hare in peace, the dogs didn't notice her, they look for movement.
They are quite magical creatures, much wilder than bunnies.

William Cowper the 18th century poet kept 3 hares in his house, he left an account of his experience - www.cowperandnewtonmuseum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/mw_tame_hares.pdf
Sounds like they really wouldn't make good pets for children !