Purchasing a Bunny for Easter

Seeing that Easter is rapidly approaching, I'd like to devote this blog to purchasing a bunny.  I'm hoping to dissuade anyone from making an impulse buy and purchasing a rabbit for their child. Many of these rabbits that are purchased end up in shelters, injured, released into the wild or dead.  They are a long term commitment that requires a lot of attention. Depending on the breed, they can live ten year or longer.  They are not as hardy as a dog or cat and if they do become injured or ill the situation can worsen much more quickly than other animals.  Rabbits are considered exotic pets.  This means that the average veterinarian that deals with dogs and cats doesn’t have the expertise to properly treat a rabbit.

Rabbits have very special dietary, exercise and handling needs that differ from other animals.  They are much more fragile than a dog or cat.  When picking a bunny up, make sure to always support their hind legs.  Their hind legs are strong enough that if not supported and they panic, they have the capability of breaking their own back.  A rabbits dietary needs will change throughout the course of their lives.  They will need plenty of water, timothy hay, pellets and a proper living quarters (cage, hutch, spare bunny-proof room, etc…).  They will need some alfalfa hay in addition to the timothy hay, when younger.  As they get older, this needs to be eliminated from their diet.  They also need at least a couple of hours a day outside of the cage for exercise.  This means that the area that they are released into must be rabbit-proofed and they must be watched, at all times.  It’s like having a two year old with a hacksaw running around the house.  They can be destructive to molding, furniture, wires, etc

If you do decide to get a bunny, I recommend that you get them spayed or neutered. Bucks (male rabbits) will spray and can be aggressive. Fixing them helps with this issue. Does (females) have high rates of uterine cancer. Having them spayed will prevent this. Also remember that rabbits' teeth grow continuously. They need something to chew on constantly. This will either be toys that you provide or your furniture. You decide which is less expensive. :-)  Another concern is the pets that you already have.  Dogs and cats are predators.  Rabbits are prey animals.  In the wild, rabbits are a source of food for dogs.  I’m not saying that they can’t coexist.  But, it can be a very dangerous and stressful situation for the bunny.  Also, domestic rabbits are not the same as wild rabbits. They can't be discarded into the wild, if you become bored with them or are unable to care for them, any longer.

This was just an extremely brief and abbreviated blog.  There is actually a lot more that you need to know.  For more information please visit one of the links below:

https://www.arba.net/

http://rabbit.org/

http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/rabbits/

http://www.myhouserabbit.com/

Below are some links for shelters in CT.:

http://www.petfinder.com/awo/index.cgi?action=state&state=CT&limit=100

http://www.hopalonghollow.org/

http://www.adoptapet-directory.com/RABBITS/US/CT/NAME/1

http://hopline.org/

http://www.3bunnies.org/rescues.htm

Please check your area for local shelters. But, don't just take my word. Talk to your local veterinarian and/or breeder.

Here is the corresponding video to this blog:

..and another video that I love pertaining to the topic:

Thank you for reading.

Happy Easter!