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22/03/2025
Rabbits are wonderful companions for the right person, but they require commitment and education, and should never be an Easter impulse.
WHY ADOPTING A RABBIT REQUIRES SERIOUS THOUGHT
Every year, thousands of rabbits are purchased as Easter gifts, only to be abandoned or surrendered to rescues when the novelty wears off (or worse - they are abandoned outside). Rabbits are not low-maintenance pets, are generally not suitable for children, and require specialized care. Many people realize this too late, especially around Easter.
🐰Children, while often enthusiastic about having a pet, are not developmentally equipped to provide the consistent and responsible care that bunnies (and other animals) require. Young children lack the necessary understanding of an animal’s physical and emotional needs, including proper handling, feeding, exercise, and veterinary care. Their attention spans, impulse control, and sense of long-term responsibility are still developing, making it easy for them to lose interest or forget essential tasks like feeding or cleaning. Additionally, they may unintentionally mishandle or stress an animal, leading to injury for either the child or the pet. Because of this, an adult should always be the primary caregiver for any family pet, ensuring its well-being, safety, and long-term care. While children can certainly participate in supervised pet care to learn responsibility and compassion, the ultimate responsibility must fall on a committed adult who understands the lifelong needs of the animal.
🐰 Rabbits Are a 10+ Year Commitment
🐰Rabbits are not easy-care pets
- They require hay 24/7, clean water daily, daily fresh greens, and pellets
- Their litter box needs daily cleaning
- They need plenty of space to roam and play
- They need a proper home base - no cages
- Bunnies need socialization and exercise every day
- Bunnies are destructive, they dig and chew - it is just their nature, so they need lots of enrichment
🐰 Rabbits and young children generally don’t mix well
- Rabbits are fragile and easily injured if picked up incorrectly
- They dislike being held, which can frustrate young children
- If scared, they can kick, scratch, or bite - not because they’re mean, but because they’re prey animals and get scared.
🐰 Rabbit care is expensive
- Veterinary care for rabbits is specialized and costly - not all vets treat rabbits! Finding a rabbit-specific exotic vet is absolutely necessary
- Spaying/neutering is essential to prevent health issues and behavioral issues
🐰 Rabbits should be indoors as a family member and not in a hutch outside
- Outdoor rabbits are at risk from predators, weather, illness, loneliness, parasites, etc.
-Rabbits are social animals and need interaction with their family
- They need temperature-controlled environments (too hot or cold can be fatal)
🐰 Rabbit health needs are unique
- Their teeth never stop growing and require proper diet & chew toys to stay healthy
- They are prone to digestive issues, which can be life-threatening if untreated. Learning all about G.I. Stasis is necessary.
🐰 Rabbits naturally dig and chew. They need plenty of enrichment and ways to burn energy, and safe places to run and play, in rooms that are bunny-proofed, by blocking off areas with cords, using cord covers, keeping unsafe items off of the floor, etc.
A SAD REALITY
🐰 Rabbits are the 3rd most surrendered pet in shelters after dogs and cats
🐰 Thousands of Easter rabbits are abandoned each year
- Many are released outdoors, where they cannot survive -domestic rabbits do not have the skills of wild rabbits.
- Others are surrendered to shelters, which often do not have the resources to care for an influx of unwanted rabbits.
🐰 According to the House Rabbit Society, 80% of Easter rabbits don’t make it to their first birthday due to neglect, improper care, or abandonment.
- Many shelters report a 30-50% increase in rabbit surrenders a few months after Easter.
- In some cities, rabbit abandonment spikes by 60% in the months following Easter.
WHAT CAN YOU DO INSTEAD OF BUYING A RABBIT FOR EASTER
💙 Give a stuffed bunny
🧡 Take time to learn about bunnies - read books, websites, and articles from rescues
💙 Support rabbit rescues – donate, engage on social media, volunteer
🧡Learn about fostering a rabbit to see what it is like to have one in your home
💙 Adopt, don’t shop – If you’re serious about getting a rabbit, adopt from a rescue, not a pet store or breeder! Every rabbit rescue is already overflowing with bunnies that need homes.
