CAMDEN — Camden residents Ray and Wendy Andresen and Merrill Tucker are waging a campaign to cease the serving of rabbits as meals at local restaurants. They said they have started a petition, on which 220 people have already signed their names.

The trio spent Saturday afternoon picketing outside Long Grain, an Asian restaurant at 31 Elm St. in downtown Camden.

While customers could be seen through the large street-front window dining inside, Wendy and Merrill stood on the sidewalk holding signs with photos of unharmed pet rabbits, as opposed to slaughtered rabbits, and chanted "Save the bunnies" to those passing by and exiting Long Grain. Next to them, Ray handed out flyers entitled "Save the Rabbits."

A vegan, Wendy said she used to be a customer at Long Grain until she learned they served rabbit.

"Rabbits are the third most popular pets after dogs and cats," said Wendy Andresen. "It's pretty horrifying for someone to sit down in a restaurant next to someone eating a pet."

Wendy said the petition is going to be submitted to all the local restaurants that serve rabbit, either as a regular offering or as a special. She named Fromviandoux, Francine, Natalie's, Chez Michel and Primo as restaurants she intended to talk to about serving rabbit and stopping it.

"We will give them a copy of the petition, our flyer, and encourage them to reconsider the serving of rabbit," said Wendy.

A couple passing by, after hearing Wendy's "Save the bunnies" chant, stopped and asked why she cared about rabbits over other animals.

"I have a pet rabbit," said Wendy.

"So, it's OK for you to keep a rabbit in captivity in your home, but not to eat them?" asked the woman who only gave her first name, Joey. "I love rabbits, but I don't see why they are better than chickens or cows. Why are they different? Because they are cute and fuzzy?"

"It's more humane to be a vegan," said Wendy. "And there are environmental reasons. The pollution caused by the livestock industry is equal to the pollution caused by the transportation industry."

"I don't think it's a legitimate argument that eating rabbits is a cause of environmental problems, and if you call yourself a vegan, than how do you explain the damage caused by vegans trying to save rabbits by setting them free, or stealing them and a doe from a farm when the doe was nursing baby rabbits and those babies then starved to death?," said Joey.

"I am sure some vegans have done some bad things, but this is my personal cause," said Wendy.

Joey and a friend, Tim, both of Lincolnville, then asked the protesters why they felt it was OK to defend the lives of rabbits by hurting a local business.

"If you really feel strongly about bunnies, why are you outside a small, local business that has done a lot to support the community," said Tim. "Both of us have many vegan friends, and I don't think they would appreciate what you are doing to this restaurant, desecrating it. I hope you appreciate you are trying to damage this business."

"I am hoping to convince them not to serve rabbit here," countered Wendy. "I have talked to them, and then the police told me not to talk to them anymore."

So, clearly they are not happy with you talking to them about it," said Tim. "And so instead you are standing outside with your signs."

Wendy agreed, and then told the pair she no longer wanted to talk to them and answer their questions. She said they have a right to stand on the sidewalk with their signs, but that didn't mean she had to talk to them.

"If you are going to stand on a corner and try to engage us in your protest, then you need to be willing to engage in discourse," said Tim. "Why are you so frustrated with our questions?"

Wendy then walked away from the group, singing, "I can't hear you, I'm not listening." When they attempted to talk to Merrill, she told them she had nothing to say.

As Joey and Tim walked away, Wendy confirmed that she had talked with the owners of Long Grain, Ravin Nakjaroen and his wife, Paula Palakawong, on two occasions about their serving rabbit. She also said the police came to her house this week and told her not to talk to them anymore.

Camden Police Officer Allen Weaver Jr. said Saturday the Andresens were issued warnings for harassment and trespassing at Long Grain Jan. 17.

When asked why she was concerned about rabbits, and not other animals regularly consumed by Americans, Wendy said, "I am not going to engage in that discussion, I am just focusing on rabbits."

"You know when that woman [Joey] asked me about the financial hardship for people, small farmers, not being able to raise rabbits for sale for food, well, my response is, and write this down, is that it must have been a huge hardship for the Southern Plantation owners to give up slaves," said Wendy. "And when she said that the rabbits served in restaurants are raised for food, and not for pets, my response is, and write this down too, is that the only thing that distinguishes a meat rabbit from a pet rabbit is opportunity. And there are lots of opportunities and if those rabbits were taken into a home and love and nurtured, they would be pets."

Editorial Director Holly S. Edwards can be reached by email at hollyedwards@penbaypilot.com or by calling 207-706-6655.