Look Before You Leap Into Rabbits
BY: Jolene Gatas, Staff, jgatas@greenvillenews.com
Bunnies not fond of being cuddled by kids
Every year after Easter, a surplus of rabbits are dumped on animal
shelters or abandoned in the woods.
Parents who thought a real live rabbit would be just the thing for
their child's Easter basket find they should have considered more
carefully.
The Fund for Animals' Rabbit Sanctuary in Simpsonville turns away
at least 500 rabbits every year because there is no room for them,
said Patrice Pruitte, 50, a volunteer with the sanctuary for 13 years.
"The vast majority are unwanted pets," Pruitte said.
These undesired pets would not be abandoned so quickly if the
owners were more knowledgeable about rabbits, said Mary Cotter,
marketing-educational director for the House Rabbit Society, a
nonprofit rescue and education group.
"People get the impression from all the images of rabbits with
kids that permeate our culture -- the Velveteen Rabbit and the Easter
rabbit and the Energizer Bunny -- 'Wow, what a great pet for
children,'" Cotter said. "It doesn 't quite work that way in real
life."
Rabbits are prey animals and aren't comfortable in the grasp of
what they perceive to be a predator. The exuberance and energy of
children communicate to the rabbit that a predator is after them,
resulting in the rabbit's fear of being held, Cotter said.
To the surprise of many owners, rabbits require a lot of special
care. They can live 10 years or more, leaving caretakers with an
undesired responsibility.
"Your 9-year-old child will grow up and go away to college, and
you will still be caring for the bunny," Cotter said.
A rabbit owner must enjoy observing rather than holding animals
and be untroubled by a small amount of damage that the rabbit might
do to the home, Cotter said. Rabbit owners need to bunny-proof their
houses, said Caroline Gilbert, manager for The Fund for Animals'
Rabbit Sanctuary.
Gilbert advises putting electric wires, favorite rugs and floor-
length draperies out of the way, as rabbits like to chew and dig.
Rabbits also require a special diet.
Gilbert said the No. 1 thing rabbits need in their diet is good,
fresh hay, followed by greens -- including kale and carrot tops --
and vegetables. The pellets sold in pet stores were actually made for
commercial industry to fatten rabbits up and should be given to
rabbits in small amounts, Gilbert said.
Another concern is that the owners find a vet that specializes in
rabbit care.
"There are very few vets in town that will even see rabbits," said
Gina Barrett, president of Wildlife Rehab of Greenville. "Most of the
vets in town deal with dogs and cats.
Gilbert suggests that people consider carefully before buying a
rabbit, and if deciding to get one, to adopt from a shelter or
sanctuary rather than buying from a pet store.
"That way you help Easter rabbits from the past and don't add on
to that cycle of abuse," Gilbert said.
Find out how you can support the work of animal rescue workers
through a "Virtual Adopt-A-Rabbit" program by visiting
http://adopt-a-rabbit.org. An annual $20 fee to support a rabbit at Rabbit Sanctuary in Simpsonville includes a picture of the rabbit, certificate of adoption, newsletter and invitation to the annual picnic.
House Rabbit Society - http://www.rabbit.org/
Posted on SHARE Yahoo group Apr 28, 2004