Animal rights group protesting sale of rabbit meat at Whole Foods stores

Protests will be held Sunday outside the Whole Foods stores in Monterey, Santa Cruz and Capitola as part of a coordinated day of action against the grocery chain’s sale of rabbit meat.

The local protests are part of a nationwide protest planned by rabbit rescue organization House Rabbit Society.

Whole Foods said in a recent news release that they were testing out the sale of rabbit meat at some stores in northern California and Washington, D.C. in response to consumer demand.

Community protests will be held outside more than 40 Whole Foods Market locations nationwide. There’s also an online petition being circulated, started by Lisa Rockwell of Menlo Park.

The protests will include passing out brochures that say “Whole Foods Market sells pets in their meat case. #Savethebunnies.”

Lori Albee from Friendly Farms Sanctuary will be holding an informative rabbit adoption event at the Petco at Del Monte Shopping Center on Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. in connection with the demonstration.