Who doesn’t love the site of a cute furry bunny advertising chocolaty goodness and clucking like a chicken! Easter is that time of year when we are bombarded with cute baby animals paired up with children smiling as they snuggle with tulips and Easter eggs all around them.
The unfortunate thing is children and rabbits don’t make a good pair. Bunnies by nature are timid shy animals who like a quiet environment with little stress. Does that sound like a toddler to you? I know this is definitely not my 3 year old. She squeals with delight at anything that is cute and fluffy and proceeds to drop it if anything happens that might be “gross”. She can also be pretty rough when handling animals, just ask my labs when they get in her way.
The truth is rabbits aren’t meant for everyone. It is reported that only a few months after Easter the number of rabbits surrendered to rescue agencies jump by 25%. Rabbits live a lot longer than many people realize being anywhere from eight to ten years. They require annual medical exams and need specialized care as they are considered an exotic animal. Some rabbits need to have their teeth trimmed regularly, and spaying or neutering your rabbit is strongly recommended for health reasons as well as to prevent marking and aggression. They can be litter trained and left out to roam the house, but your home needs to be fully rabbit proofed to prevent unfortunate accidents such as chewed wires or ingestion of foreign objects. If you plan to cage your rabbit you need to insure they have adequate space to move and it is still recommended that they get exercise and play out of their cage regularly.
If you still think that a rabbit is for you please remember there are always rabbits available for adoption at your local SPCA or rescue, and don’t hesitate to contact your local veterinarian for advice.
Here are some rabbit websites that offer great resources:
Karen Pryor Rabbit Clicker Training
Karen Pryor Rabbit Agility Video
