3/31/2019 9 Comments Bunnies for easterAs the new month approaches, more and more people are preparing for Easter Sunday on April 21st. It’s a day filled with fun, laughter, family, food, and most importantly: bunnies! We’ve all heard of the Easter bunny. Maybe you’ve even taken a picture with one when you were little. As you pass by stores and houses throughout the month of April, almost all are accessorized with cute little white rabbits. It’s not uncommon to see little boys and girls marveling at the adorable bunnies at the store and asking for some chocolate eggs to snack on. On the night before Easter, they’ll get tucked into bed and dream of the Easter bunny leaving his decorated eggs and candy for them to enjoy in the morning. Some lucky boys and girls will wake up to something even more exciting: an adorable Easter bunny of their own! They’ll scream in excitement and joy when they see their new little friend hopping around the room on Easter morning. It’s cute seeing little kids get so happy over a baby bunny, right? Even teens fall for the cuteness overload when they pass by a box of baby bunnies on the sidewalk before Easter. However, the sale of bunnies during the Easter season isn’t always so cute. Rabbits are the third most common pet in America, and according to the Humane Society of the United States, they are also the third most abandoned. Rabbits are different. They have specific needs and health issues that are much different than ordinary cats and dogs. Many people forget that rabbits are special animals that require special care. According to National Geographic, “Vets and insurance companies consider them exotic pets, so medical care can be more expensive than for a cat or dog. Rabbits need a lot of exercise and shouldn’t simply be pent up in a cage.” People see the fluffy white cottontails, big ears, and button eyes of bunnies and are immediately ready to take one home with them. They don’t think to themselves, Am I responsible enough to care for this animal? Do I have the right conditions and supplies to keep it healthy? Will I be able to care for it 10 years from now? Lifespan is one of the most common misconceptions of rabbits. Rabbits can live from around 10 to 14 years, which is a serious commitment. Not many people would expect to take care of a rabbit for that long. Many times, a rabbit bought one Easter is given away or abandoned by the next. For many rabbits bought as a gift for Easter, they end up living mediocre lives with inadequate care. Young children easily become bored with presents they’re given on holidays. They’ll play with a new toy for a few days and end up leaving it in the back of a cabinet or drawer by the end of the week. This also happens with animals. The founder of Bunny World Foundation, a Hollywood-based rescue group, Lejla Hadzimuratovic, explains what usually happens when a rabbit is bought for Easter. She says, “As cute as they are, bunnies don't make good Easter gifts, typically bought on a whim as a toy for a child, they often live a desolate life in the corner of a filthy cage without enrichment until they are abandoned to a shelter or die of neglect. I want this Easter to be over already.” It takes a patient, caring, and prepared person to take adequate care of a rabbit for its entire lifetime. Any person who invests in a rabbit should be prepared to give it a good, full life. Abandonment is never an option. So, what’s a good way to keep your loved ones happy on Easter? A stuffed bunny, candy, or an Easter basket are all enjoyable and safe options for gifts. You don’t always have to buy an animal to make someone’s Easter special. It is always important to do research before making a long-term commitment such as buying an animal. No pet will ever not need any care or attention, so it’s important to always keep that in mind. Of course, we all want rabbits without homes to get adopted, but only when a loving and long-term home is promised. If you would like to learn more, House Rabbit Society is a good source for some helpful tips and information regarding rabbit care. Citations:
“Here's Why Easter Is Bad for Bunnies.” National Geographic, National Geographic Society, 12 Apr. 2017, news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/04/rabbits-easter-animal-welfare-pets-rescue-bunnies/. Service, City News. “Adopting Rabbits, Chicks for Easter Is Serious Commitment.” NBC Southern California, NBC Southern California, 31 Mar. 2018, www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Animal-Advocates-Remind-Prospective-Pet-Parents-That-Adopting-Rabbits-Chicks-for-Easter-is-Serious-Commitment--478452933.html.
9 Comments
Bridget N.
4/3/2019 05:14:40 am
I really liked your blog post it was very interesting and obviously you are passionate about this topic. Your intro was very interesting and I really liked how you explained how bunnies are thought of as being happy and cute but then transitioned to the serious topic of what often happens in their lives.
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Chloe J
4/3/2019 05:31:22 am
Thanks for stopping by my blog, Bridget! I am so glad you found it interesting. I am really passionate about this topic, as I have a bunny of my own. Animal rights is a really important topic, and not many people think of bunnies in these situations.
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Chloe J
4/3/2019 05:38:31 am
Hi Audrey. Thanks for stopping by! I'm glad that you learned something from this post. Not many people know of the neglect of rabbits around Easter time. It's definitely a sad topic that should be addressed.
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Bianca
4/3/2019 05:33:14 am
I like how even though you brought attention to how rabbits are nice animals to have, you also heavily focused on what people do wrong when caring for this animal. As someone who has had a rabbit before I connected with this blog and found the insight that you brought to the page. Thank you for writing this blog post it was very informative and nice to read!
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Chloe J
4/3/2019 05:40:49 am
Thanks for stopping by, Bianca! I'm glad you were able to connect with this post and that you enjoyed it. There are a lot of misconceptions regarding rabbit care.
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Hannah S
4/3/2019 05:54:31 am
Hi Chloe! I found this post really interesting especially with Easter right around the corner. I think it is really important for people to understand the responsibilities that come with caring for rabbits. It was helpful that you included alternative gifts for Easter.
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Chloe J
4/3/2019 12:21:01 pm
Thanks for checking out my blog, Hannah! I agree that this issue is really important especially with Easter right around the corner. I’m glad you found some of it helpful too!
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MattyC
4/3/2019 01:03:12 pm
Very interesting and informative post! Before, I didn't even know this problem existed. It's good that you are shedding light on a real issue like this.
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