Rescue Tails / Too Cute but Choose Wisely!

By Cathy Baier

Long ears, soft fur, and the cutest cottonball tail ever! Few can resist baby rabbits’ adorableness, which is what creates their great appeal. With Easter fast approaching, there will be lots of interest in bunnies, especially as pets for children. As a shelter that accepts and cares for homeless rabbits, we strive to help families make wise choices BEFORE they get a rabbit as pet. This is especially true during the Easter season when so many children are pleading with mom and dad to let them 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 pet rabbit scene. Many rabbits never experience a quality life in a loving home.

Often a home can turn out to be only 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. In fact, most shelters and rescues see a spike in rabbit surrenders after the holiday passes, often referred to as the post-Easter “Dump” ! The novelty has worn off and the reality of care has set in. As rabbits begin to mature and hormones kick in, their behavior often changes, making care more challenging. That cute baby bunny given as a gift is no longer the highly-desired companion he or she was only weeks before.

Most rabbits turned over to shelters are young. Many 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 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 on rabbits is the House Rabbit Society ( www.rabbit.org). All of our shelter 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.

[livemarket market_name="KONK Life LiveMarket" limit=3 category=“” show_signup=0 show_more=0]