The HopLine
of Massachusetts & Connecticut
P.O. Box 83 Springfield, MA 01101-0083
A nonprofit [501(c)(3)] org. All donations are tax deductible.
(413)525-9222
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The HopLineof Massachusetts & Connecticut P.O. Box 83 Springfield, MA 01101-0083 A nonprofit [501(c)(3)] org. All donations are tax deductible. (413)525-9222 |
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By Deb Young, President, The House Rabbit Connection
This familiar tune signals Spring, a time of re-birth and renewal, but for rabbit rescue groups across the United States, the tune is a harbinger of dread. Every year, well-intentioned parents succumb to their children’s pleas for a bunny without fully considering the needs of these fragile creatures. Within a few short months, the rabbits they’ve purchased to delight their children have become hormonal, mischievous adolescents, and many parents find themselves at wit’s end. Often, children have lost interest or have come to fear their rabbit after being scratched or nipped. Household furnishings may be beginning to show the signs of bunny-inflicted damage. Frequently, parents discover that they or their children are allergic to rabbits, hay, or both. Regardless, come summer, animal shelters and rabbit rescue groups are deluged with young, unwanted rabbits, surrendered through no fault of their own. Some will eventually find homes, but the majority will be euthanized; there simply are not enough homes to absorb the annual influx of discarded Easter bunnies. Others will be relegated to outdoor hutches to live out their lives in boredom and loneliness, discomfort from the extremes of the elements, and fear of animal predators passing by.
Rabbits can be charming companion animals, but it is wise to consider some basic facts before deciding to bring a bunny into one’s family. A well-kept rabbit enjoying a stimulating, indoor environment can live a decade or longer. They thrive upon the social aspect of living with humans, and these obsessively-clean animals can easily be trained to use a litter box. Rabbits can coexist happily with cats and dogs, though the introductory period must be closely supervised. Children must learn to behave appropriately with these fragile prey animals, who can be injured by improper handling or become irreparably frightened if chased or improperly handled. A potential caregiver should recognize that rabbits must chew to keep their teeth from becoming overgrown, and they will not discriminate between the cardboard boxes and discarded telephone books you offer…or the legs of your expensive furniture or the kids’ school books. Living with a rabbit requires compromise, so parents need to master bunny-proofing just as they did with toddler-proofing. In addition, rabbits are not ‘cheap’ or low-maintenance pets—their daily requirements include fresh greens and unlimited, high-quality hay, and regular grooming, especially during their seasonal shedding periods. Though rabbits do not require inoculations, they should be examined annually by a veterinarian who specializes in exotics. Finally, to ensure good health, clean litter box habits, and alleviate undesirable territorial behaviors, it is imperative that a pet rabbit be spayed or neutered, which will cost approximately $200-350 depending on the rabbit’s gender and geographical location.
There are many sources on the Internet (visit
the House Rabbit Society or search the web pages of local rabbit rescue
groups) from which to learn more about the care and behavior of rabbits. Learn
all you can before making your decision. If you decide that you — the
parent — would enjoy caring for a bunny, there are great advantages in
working with a rabbit rescue group to find the ‘right’ bun. Most
rescues offer only spayed or neutered rabbits, which can save you hundreds of
dollars in comparison to having your rabbit altered by your own veterinarian.
The majority of rescued rabbits live in foster homes where they are litter box
trained and socialized with children, visitors, and other companion animals.
Fosterers are experienced ‘bunny people,’ well-acquainted with each
of their foster rabbits’ unique personalities and preferences. Rescue
organizations are skilled at selecting a ‘best fit’ between the
animal and the adoptive family, which helps to ensure the comfort and happiness
of everyone involved, including the adopted rabbit. These groups offer expert
advice on topics such as suitable indoor housing, bunny-proofing, optimal diet,
and early symptoms of illness or disease. Most importantly, by adopting a rescued
rabbit, you and your family will potentially save the lives of two additional
unwanted rabbits: one currently at the shelter who will subsequently have space
in your adopted rabbit’s foster site, and that of the rabbit who won’t
be euthanized for lack of one additional space at the facility to which he’s
just been surrendered.
If, however, your research leads you to the conclusion that a live rabbit isn’t
the right choice for your family, you can still delight your child at Easter.
Purchase a stuffed, cuddly, soft toy rabbit instead. Its care requirements will
be minimal. It will survive those overabundances of love as well as innocent
mishandlings, and it will never cost you a fortune at the vets’ office.
No one will ever feel guilty if the child outgrows the toy’s novelty or
comfort. Best of all, you’ll never have to say you’re sorry if the
live rabbit you took in on impulse just doesn’t work out.
The House Rabbit Connection is a nonprofit [501(c)(3)], all-volunteer organization working to improve the lives of rabbits through public education. Please visit HRC's Hopline to learn more about rabbit care and behavior, or to learn more about adopting a rabbit. Donations are tax-deductible.
© 2008; all rights reserved. For permission to reprint this article, please
contact info@hopline.com
We cannot & do not take rabbits from the publicIt would really help you and us, if you read the following articles before contacting us. |