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By Edison T. Rabbit
March 2002
We bunnies seem to be the essence of the Easter holiday. As Easter
draws nearer, there are drawings
hanging from every window depicting us rabbits hopping around
collecting eggs, and just having a good time. Take a look in any pet
shop at any neighborhood or shopping mall during this time of year
and you will see bumper crops of us bunnies available, looking
for a home. So naturally it would be a great for one of my
kind to come hopping home, right?
Well lets just think
this one out here, shall we?
If you want to take
one of us home, PLEASE know that you are taking on the
responsibility of catering to the needs of a living breathing
creature, NOT a disposable item. We bunnies have a life span of ten
years or more and demand the same amount of long term care that a
dog, cat, or any pet really needs.
We rabbits are not exactly the best pets for very young children.
Kids like to have a pet they can pick up and cuddle all the time. We
rabbits on the other hand like to keep all four paws on the ground.
We're prey animals, and we may panic and begin to kick and squirm if
someone picks us up. We may think that we are being captured by a
predator of some kind, and fight to break free. True there is the
rare bunny that loves being handled, but for the most part, we hate
getting picked up, and have need time and patience to get adjusted
to being handled. It is a rare child indeed that can come to this
conclusion and just gently stroke us (or in my case, gently scratch
the top of my head!)
We also need to live with you indoors in your home, not outdoors in
some cold and drafty hutch. We will be much more happier, be
protected from predators, and live longer with you indoors! Your
reward for keeping us in your home is that you can get to know our
personalities a LOT better.
Before you even bring one of us home, your home has to be
bunny proofed or we'll think that your electrical cords are twigs
and chew them. We can get burned seriously or killed if we chew
through a live cord!
Like a dog or cat we too will have to be spayed or neutered. We will
be less aggressive afterward, and will not go out and "mark out our
turf" so to speak with our urine.
These are just a few of the things to think about before you bring
one of us rabbits home this Easter. If you are not ready to take on
the tremendous responsibility of caring for a rabbit, It may be a
better idea to go to the toy store and get a plush bunny that your
child can play and cuddle with, rather than one of us live
creatures. Both you, your child, and especially us rabbits will be
better for it. I also applaud the local pet stores who, instead of
stocking up on rabbits, place a "freeze" on buying a rabbit until
after the the Easter holiday is past. Those pet stores are being
responsible and Easter Bonnets off to them all!
The sad fact is that
the majority of "Easter Bunnies" end up abandoned and left out in
the cold. Most of the poor bunnies left to fend for themselves die
of exposure, hunger, or worse yet killed for food by a predator!
If you still want to
open up your heart and home to one of us, please do contact your
local House Rabbit Society chapter, rabbit
rescue group, or animal shelter after the Easter holiday is over.
They have a bunch of friendly bunnies looking to live out their
lives in a caring loving home!
Thanks for reading and
I'll see ya soon!
With Warm
Regards,
Edison T. Rabbit
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abbit's
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