Here’s a deal for you.

The city police in Hillsboro, Ore., are giving away free rabbits.
Well, not exactly “giving away.” They are putting them up for adoption.

The Hillsboro Police acquired the rabbits in a raid last October and have been feeding, watering and cleaning cages ever since. These bunnies should be nice and fat by now.

A news report says the rabbits originated from an animal-neglect case in which police seized 158 live rabbits. They also found 88 dead ones in various freezers and refrigerators around the premises.

I have no idea why someone would put rabbits in the freezer, but my little brother tried that with the cat when he was about three.

Luckily enough, Mother heard the freezer door shut and rescued the cat quickly.

We can assume the woman who owned all these bunnies likes rabbits as much as anyone, but we have to realize trying to keep animals forever is a sure sign of insanity.

A deputy district attorney estimates the woman convicted in this case will owe the city and the Humane Society $18,000 to $25,000 for care of the rabbits. When it comes to boarding rabbits, the police are not very efficient.

The news report also says the cops were up to 211 rabbits at one point, but now they have only 141. How that happened, I have no idea.

The police lieutenant who is in charge of the rabbits was quoted as saying, “I’m not going to rush to get rid of them. If we have them a few more weeks, I don’t care.”

Hey, wait a minute, I thought. That’s what the previous owner said. I guess anyone can get attached to a bunch of bunnies.

It’s interesting to note that public agencies can’t just give rabbits away or sell them like we used to. Now, they have to put them up for adoption. I don’t know if that means the adopters will own the rabbit or the rabbit will own the people.

I do know the police and the Humane Society want to make sure these rabbits go to good homes. They plan to ask prospective parents, “Why do you want a rabbit?” Anyone who answers with
“Hasenpfeffer” will likely be rejected.

I surely hope this isn’t a one-to-a-customer type of adoption. A rabbit isn’t going to have any fun if he’s all by himself.

I’ve always liked rabbits. We hunted them when I was a kid, but those were wild rabbits. I adopted them with my 16-gauge. Wild rabbits are good to eat, and I’m sure domestic bunnies are just as good or better. My favorite recipe is Rabbit With Milk Gravy.

I would love to have one of those Hillsboro bunnies, but I’m afraid my chances of adopting one are kind of slim. When they asked me, “Why do you want a rabbit?,” I would probably say, “Milk gravy,” and they would shoo me out the door.

Readers with questions or comments for Roger Pond may write to him in care of this publication.