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From Snickers to Pat Benatar: A rabbit convention in Oregon

By Benazir Wehelie, Special to CNN

Updated 0029 GMT (0829 HKT) October 31, 2016

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Peyton Brackenbury, a 12-year-old from Richland, Washington, holds a French Lop rabbit at a national convention held by the American Rabbit Breeders Association.
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Peyton Brackenbury, a 12-year-old from Richland, Washington, holds a French Lop rabbit at a national convention held by the American Rabbit Breeders Association.
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Bill Nelson, of Burbank, South Dakota, holds a Polish rabbit. Polish rabbits are one of the smallest rabbit breeds.
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Bill Nelson, of Burbank, South Dakota, holds a Polish rabbit. Polish rabbits are one of the smallest rabbit breeds.
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Kaytlyn Starmer and her Holland Lop rabbit Henry are from Fresno, California. She has been raising rabbits since 2012. "At one of the shows, the cage got opened and all four rabbits ran out," she told photographer Katya Rezvaya. "I started to cry as I thought I was never going to catch them. And as I'm crying and going to get my mother, all four rabbits just started to follow me. They followed me like I was their mom."
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Kaytlyn Starmer and her Holland Lop rabbit Henry are from Fresno, California. She has been raising rabbits since 2012. "At one of the shows, the cage got opened and all four rabbits ran out," she told photographer Katya Rezvaya. "I started to cry as I thought I was never going to catch them. And as I'm crying and going to get my mother, all four rabbits just started to follow me. They followed me like I was their mom."
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Daniel and Susan Hathaway, of Bandon, Oregon, hold their rabbits Defiance and Enterprise. The rabbits are Flemish Giants, one of the largest rabbit breeds.
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Daniel and Susan Hathaway, of Bandon, Oregon, hold their rabbits Defiance and Enterprise. The rabbits are Flemish Giants, one of the largest rabbit breeds.
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Masako Miyazaki is from Japan. She is holding Sarah, a 4-month-old Holland Lop rabbit. She told Rezvaya she had about 100 rabbits of five different breeds.
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Masako Miyazaki is from Japan. She is holding Sarah, a 4-month-old Holland Lop rabbit. She told Rezvaya she had about 100 rabbits of five different breeds.
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Rob Fender, a breeder from Julian, California, holds three Californian rabbits. He names all of his rabbits with numbers.
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Rob Fender, a breeder from Julian, California, holds three Californian rabbits. He names all of his rabbits with numbers.
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Leo Lucey and Captain Adorable, a Mini Rex rabbit, are from Granite Falls, Washington.
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Leo Lucey and Captain Adorable, a Mini Rex rabbit, are from Granite Falls, Washington.
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Calvin Dow, of Orting, Washington, has 60 rabbits in his family.
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Calvin Dow, of Orting, Washington, has 60 rabbits in his family.
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Shannon Shanks, of Banks, Oregon, holds her Angora rabbit Austin. She chooses rabbit names after American cities. Austin's mom was named Dallas.
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Shannon Shanks, of Banks, Oregon, holds her Angora rabbit Austin. She chooses rabbit names after American cities. Austin's mom was named Dallas.
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Marcus Rhoden, of Chesaning, Michigan, holds his English Angora named Felicia.
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Marcus Rhoden, of Chesaning, Michigan, holds his English Angora named Felicia.
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Tommy Bentley and his Dwarf Hotot rabbit Ozwald are from Camas, Washington. Ozwald is a grandson of rabbits called Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne. "I always give names to my rabbits," he told Rezvaya. "Some people don't think about them like pets. But for me they are like family. And I know they always love you back."
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