Rescue Tails / Are you talking about ME?

February is Adopt a Rabbit month. The timing of this is probably not by chance since Easter is not far behind. During February, shelters and rescues make a major effort to advocate for rabbits and find homes for all the homeless rabbits under their care. This is in partly in preparation for what they know is coming—the Easter Dump. Typically, this dump happens a month or so after Easter when baby rabbits purchased as Easter gifts are no longer wanted.

With Easter fast approaching, interest in bunnies grows, especially as pets for children. Many of us can remember pleading with parents to let us get a bunny. Rabbits can make great pets! Ask any rabbit lover why they love their companion rabbit, and you will likely hear how wonderful and endearing their bunny is. Websites and videos of happy rabbits living with adoring families abound. But that’s only one side of the scene. Many pet rabbits never experience a quality life in a loving home.

A home often turns out to be a short chapter in the life of a pet rabbit. Most baby rabbits never make it past a year in a home. Many die from accidents, inappropriate care, or neglect. Rabbits are the third most common animals surrendered to shelters. As rabbits begin to mature and hormones kick in, their behavior changes, making care more challenging. That cute baby bunny given as a gift is no longer the highly desired companion it was only weeks before.

Most rabbits surrendered to shelters are young. Many others are abandoned or “set free.” But unfortunately, unlike native rabbits, domestic rabbits have not adapted to conditions in the wild, and life on the outside can be tough at best, perilous at worst. Many of our current shelter rabbits were found on the streets as strays. The most common reasons for giving up a rabbit are: too much work, children lost interest, aggressive, expensive, or simply “no longer wanted.”

Our goal at the Florida Keys SPCA is to help make life better for rabbits by presenting honest and accurate information about them—information often not offered by those selling rabbits. Most rabbit welfare organizations recognize the root cause of homeless pet rabbits: the profound disconnect between the needs of rabbits and the expectations of people getting them as pets. Bunnies aren’t who we think they are!

  • Bunnies are NOT low-maintenance.
  • Bunny care is NOT cheap.
  • Bunnies are NOT appropriate pets for very young children.
  • Bunnies do NOT like to be picked up and cuddled.
  • Bunnies are NOT a short-term commitment; their lifespan is 8-10 years.
  • BUT….
  • Bunnies are great indoor pets.
  • Bunnies can be litter trained.
  • Bunnies can be very social and affectionate.
  • Bunnies are playful.
  • Bunnies are quiet.
  • Bunnies are smart and can learn tricks.
  • Bunnies are addictive; you may want more than one!

A great source of good information about rabbits is the House Rabbit Society (www.rabbit.org). All of our FKSPCA rabbits are spayed/ neutered to prevent litters, maintain health, and improve behavior. We offer counseling to help people decide if a rabbit is the right pet for them, AND we adopt out wonderful bunnies! So, if you are considering a rabbit as a pet, please contact us. We would love to talk to you about living with rabbits and introduce you to some great bunnies! You can contact us at [email protected] or call (305) 294-4857.

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