COMMENTARY: Choose Chocolate, Not Fur: A Rabbit Reality Check

Bunnies bought as Easter gifts are often abandoned, mistreated or handed to a shelter within the first year.© GETTY IMAGES

"Rabbits are very misunderstood animals," says Marie Mead, creator of celebratingrabbits.com and author of the upcoming book Rabbits: Gentle Hearts, Valiant Spirits—Inspirational Stories of Rescue, Triumph, and Joy (Nova Maris Press, Spring 2007, $18.95). "They are extremely sensitive, intuitive, and gentle creatures who require extensive attention and mature guardianship—something many people don"t realize when they purchase a baby bunny. It"s a very sad fact that most rabbits don"t even enjoy a year of happiness with their new caretakers. Instead of living out their normal lifespan°°——eight to 12 years——they often die within the first year of life.

"Many rabbits are injured or become ill due to improper handling and care and, as a result, either die painful deaths or are euthanized," says Mead. "Discarded bunnies overrun the animal shelters after Easter, resulting in many rabbits being euthanized due to space constraints and other factors.

"Equally discouraging, some people who decide their rabbits require too much attention simply abandon them in the wild," Mead continues. "This means certain death for domesticated rabbits as they don"t have the skills necessary to survive on their own. Many other rabbits are relegated to cramped outdoor hutches, where they languish alone and forgotten, their eyes losing all signs of joy and life."

Mead wants everyone to understand that while rabbits do make wonderful companions, potential "pet parents" should know exactly what to expect before adopting or purchasing a bunny. Her mission is to educate people everywhere on the importance of understanding and providing proper care for these animals. Here are some basics you need to know before welcoming a rabbit into your home:

"Great pet parenthood begins before your rabbit enters your home. To ensure you are giving your rabbit the absolute best care from the get-go, research diet, health, behavior, socialization, housing, bunny-proofing, and proximity to an appropriate vet before your pet comes home. Gather information by accessing reputable sites on the Internet and good books on domestic companion rabbits. Other helpful sources are rabbit rescue groups and rabbit-knowledgeable veterinarians.

"Rabbits and small children are generally a bad combination. Although the new baby bunny tolerates being cuddled and small children love holding a cute little ball of fur, many rabbit injuries result when children mishandle or drop their new family member. Within weeks, when the rabbit reaches adolescence, he may begin running away from the youngsters. Although this is frustrating for the children, this behavior is perfectly normal for a prey animal. The rabbit flees the children as a deep-seated instinct to protect himself. "As they get older, many rabbits don"t like to be cuddled and held and, at that point, children often lose interest in the rabbit," says Mead. "It"s important to remember that as your rabbit grows up, he will feel more comfortable if handled on the floor—at his level. To have a significant relationship with a rabbit, you must work daily to build trust with him, which can be a slow, methodical process. If parents understand what is involved in creating a good relationship with a rabbit, they might think twice before giving one to their small child. In my opinion, it"s best when parents are the primary caregivers, overseeing child-rabbit interactions and all care."

"Handle with care! Rabbit injuries can result from improper handling, especially by children. It"s common for youngsters to hold rabbits too tightly or to pick them up by their ears (something that should never be done!). "When rabbits don"t want to be picked up, they will often kick and struggle," says Mead. "Many children are not strong enough to hold them and often drop the bunnies, causing injuries such as fractured vertebrae or a damaged spinal cord. Being dropped or forced to jump from too high a place is likely to damage the legs and joints."

"Pet care requires chores. Children usually lose interest after the novelty of having a new pet wears off—in other words, when the pet-associated chores begin to pile up. Children are children, after all, and shouldn"t be expected to show fully mature responsibility, long attention spans, or quiet natures. And because kids often have so many other things going on, their young bunny is left caged and alone. The rabbit then grows depressed and loses its spirit°°—and becomes labeled incorrectly as "stupid" or "boring." Says Mead, "If you"re going to adopt or purchase a bunny for your child, you must be the one responsible for the companion animal. Parents should know what is involved in the general care of the bunny and use that knowledge to teach the child and consistently model appropriate care. Let children assist whenever possible and carefully supervise any care they provide independently. When parents faithfully give proper attention and care, children learn the important lessons of love and respect for animals."