Easter Pets – The Thoughtful Approach

by Yvonne DiVita

The other night while watching TV (I can't remember the show I was watching…what does that say about the show and about me???), I saw a bunny bouncing around the floor in the home of whatever TV character was on the screen. It charmed me but in reality, I know that this time of year can spell danger for our bunny population. 

Bunnies are not toys, folks! Far from the fun, cuddly stuffed animal our children drag around by the ears, a real bunny is flesh and blood. It needs care and attention. At the House Rabbit Society, they write, "Easter bunnies soon grow large and reach adolescence. If left unneutered they will chew, spray or dig. Many end up neglected or abandoned. The result? Humane organizations such as House Rabbit Society see a huge increase in the number of abandoned rabbits after Easter. Help us stop this yearly cycle by educating yourself and others!"

Then they share a list of facts – I recommend a hop over there to check those facts out.

Bunny Jean Cook, who has a fantastic blog that supports our rabbit friends, writes about Flopsy Parker, a bunny who became famous in a book called, The Easter Bunny That Grew Up. The touching story is a good one for children, and demonstrates the fact that bunnies are good pets, if you know what you're getting into. Speaking of the author, Gretta Parker, Bunny Jean writes, "Flopsy not only inspired her to do more, he had also become her teacher to the issues that rabbits face. The truth is rabbits are the third most abandoned animal in the United States, but they do not get the funding or protection they need due to the agricultural laws that govern their care. Gretta set her sights to changing this. By fall 2011, she started making plans to get funding for a nationwide spay and neuter program for rabbits."

I know most of you reading this are well aware of the issues with rabbit adoptions during this holiday season. I know most of you respect rabbits as much as you respect other pets. But, I also know that rabbits seem like a tempting toy pet for our kids, during Easter. How cute, cuddly and adorable! The problem is – they have personalities, they need specific care, and they aren't always the cuddly little creature shown in cartoons and other movies.

Dr. Lorie Huston from Pet Health Care Gazette is working with Petfinder.com and All Things Dog Blog to promote responsible rabbit adoption. Be aware of the special needs of rabbits before you adopt, but do consider these delightful animals in your musings…if you are planning to adopt a pet this spring. 

Want to know more about Easter and the Easter bunny? Check out The History Of Easter with thanks to Arlene Wright-Correll.