Laura Frisk, PETA People
for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
April 2011
Cute, cuddly little bunnies grow up to be individual rabbits with stunningly wonderful personalities and likes and dislikes. NEVER buy an animal. ONLY adopt a bunny or a rabbit if you are willing to spend the time, resources and energy needed to provide everything he or she needs. For great information about bunnies and rabbits, visit House Rabbit Society. And always remember: animals are NOT commodities to be purchased and then discarded if inconvenient.
As Easter approaches, I start worrying about all the bunnies who will
inevitably end up in animal shelters—or, worse yet, be let loose in the
wild, once their holiday novelty wears off, which, unfortunately, usually
happens rather quickly. They end up being an impulse purchase at a pet store
rather than a thought-out and planned adoption from your local animal
shelter. With the right care, a house rabbit can live 10 to 13 years, maybe
longer. A rabbit, like a dog or a cat, is a long-term commitment and should
be considered seriously, not impulsively.
My bunny, Bosco, was most likely a discarded Easter bunny. He was found on
the side of a busy street by kind neighbors who had put up signs in the hope
of reuniting him with his family. No one called the number on the sign
except me. I took that little guy home with me, and 11 years later, Bosco is
happy and healthy and the perfect example of a well-loved and cared for
house rabbit.
Domestic rabbits are sensitive little beings who need lots of care. Having
free run of the house is important because a bunny needs room to run and
jump and do bunny dances, all of which Bosco does with gusto and great joy.
And they love being a part of the family, bonding with humans as well as the
other animals in the family. They are very social animals, and like a dog
who spends his or her life on a chain, sentencing a bunny to a life in a
cage, outside and alone, is agony for them.
Bosco, like all bunnies, is a natural vegan, which I find completely
awesome! Dandelion greens and flat-leaf parsley are his favorites, with a
side of carrots and a slice of apple for dessert. Fresh timothy hay is
important because it helps to keep his ever-growing teeth under control, and
it is what fills his litterbox. Rabbits love their hay and will happily jump
into their litterbox, munch away on some hay, and then go to the bathroom,
making them some of the easiest animals to litterbox train! By the way, I
change Bosco's litterbox every single day, so he always has clean, fresh
hay.
Spaying and neutering is very important to a rabbit's health and well being,
and it also prevents unwanted litters, should you bring in a companion for
your bunny. Unspayed females have a very high rate of uterine cancer, and
rabbits who are not altered are more apt to mark their territory all around
your house. A spayed or neutered rabbit is a calm and content rabbit.
Anyone considering bringing a rabbit (or two!) into their home should check
out the fun and informative rabbit facts at PETA.org. Your local chapter of
the House Rabbit Society is also a great place for information. And please
don't go to pet stores. Animal shelters are full of rabbits longing for
their forever home. Rabbits are wonderful animal companions who, if treated
kindly and with respect and love, will give many years of joy to their human
companions.
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