However, contrary to Easter-time hype, rabbits and small children aren't a good match.
The majority of rabbits we are asked to take in were either purchased at Easter as a pet for a child under 10, or were purchased as a pet for an older child who is now going away to college.
Sadly, we are unable to help with these requests as there are too many abandoned rabbits looking for homes and not enough space in our foster homes.
Therefore, we focus our rescue efforts on rabbits at shelters whose time has run out. So, we are trying to get the word out before all those cute little bunnies appear in pet stores.
Our goal is simply this: Help to educate about what it is really like to live with a rabbit BEFORE a rabbit is purchased.
We want to answer your questions about how much time, effort, and money a rabbit takes, and what is realistic to expect when interacting with a rabbit. (Most are surprised to learn that rabbits don't like to be held and prefer for you to get on the floor with them to interact!)
If you are considering bringing home a rabbit we hope you'll find a few minutes to research if one will fit into your household. We've listed a few facts here and lots of web links at the top of this page to help you out.
Still unsure if a rabbit is right for your household? Have questions we haven't covered? Please email us info @alabamaEARS.org.
Surprising Facts About Rabbits
* Rabbits are not "low-maintenance" pets, and are as much work as a dog.
* Rabbits live 8 to 10 years.
* Rabbits eat lots of hay. Hay is the primary source of a rabbit's diet. If anyone in your household has allergies, please get tested before bringing a rabbit in to your house.
* Rabbits purchased from pet stores are usually very young and will need to be spayed and neutered when they reach maturity. The cost of spay or neuter varies but can be as much as $250. It is essential to spay or neuter, even if you only have one rabbit, or your rabbit will mark your house with feces and urine, dig up your carpet and eat your baseboards. Altering your rabbit will also help with behavior issues you will experience once your rabbit becomes a "teenager" and make litter box training easier.
* Your home must be bunny-proofed, or Thumper will chew cords and furniture.
* Baby BUNNIES in pet stores are often very young and docile. Because they are so young they give the impression that they are easy to hold, handle, cuddle and pet. Couple that with the absolute adorable-ness of a tiny ball of fur and it's hard to resist taking one home. The problem with this is that every baby BUNNY grows into a RABBIT and it is the RABBIT who lives 8 to 10 years and a RABBIT has his own ideas about being held (see below).
* Children often like a companion they can hold and cuddle and most rabbits are not suited for such attention. Rabbits love to stay on the ground and often feel frightened and insecure when held and restrained. They might kick, bite or scratch to get away which can result in injury to both the rabbit and the holder.
* Caring for a rabbit does not teach responsibility. We frequently receive inquiries about how to make a child interested in caring for their rabbit. Once a child tires of the chore of taking care of the rabbit, the burden falls on the already too busy parents. From our email, we've learned that it can become an unfortunate (almost daily) argument between child and parent. In the end, the rabbit ends up being resented by everyone and everyone looses while the parents try to find a new home for the rabbit.
In cases where rabbits and children DO work, the parents did their homework before bringing home a rabbit and often involved the child in the process. They discussed what is realistic to expect from a rabbit (rabbits do not warm up to people the same way dogs do and are most active at dawn and dusk), and if the child/ family is actually looking for a rabbit or a "dog in a rabbit's coat." We have a great website called The Interactive Bun just for this purpose. The feedback we've gotten on this website has been wonderful!
* Rabbits belong indoors as they are a member of a family. If you are looking for a backyard pet, please don't select a rabbit. Rabbits need lots of attention, care and companionship and, according to our email, quickly become a chore when kept in the backyard. Rabbits are also subject to predators and environmental factors in the back yard--even those with "secure" hutches at risk from insects, heat and cold.
Please Note: Alabama EARS does NOT adopt out rabbits during the Easter or Christmas holidays. However, we do continue to accept applications, conduct placement interviews, do home visits and educate adoption candidates about bunnies during these holiday times.
All rabbits need time to adjust to new sounds, smells and the new people in the household under normal circumstances and the chaos surrounding a holiday make it harder for a rabbit to adapt to their new household (and for the humans to adapt to the new rabbit!)
OUR FEATURED SINGLE RABBIT: William the Adorable
William is a prince among rabbits.
He is a small bunny but he has a big spirit! He's playful, friendly and just too cute! William has that "it" factor that is so hard to define but so easy to recognize. Once you meet him, you'll know what we mean.
William is a bunny who LOVES to be petted and LOVES attention. However, he does not like his litter box to be messed with by humans. So, when when give William handfuls of hay in his box, we deliver the hay with one hand and pet him with the other. This distracts him and makes him quite happy for the attention--most of the time he even tooth purrs while being petted. Then, when you are done petting him he is excited because there is new hay!
William is a great hay eater, loves his veggies, and absolutely adores his morning treat. You will never feel as important in this world as when you feed William his morning treat. He'll "dance" and quiver with excitement and lick his lips in anticipation. It's impossible to resist!
We think William would be a good companion for another bunny (who has already been spayed), but he could probably be happy as a single bun as long as he had a devoted human or two.
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OUR FEATURED BUNNY COUPLE
Logan and Fiona are a wonderful, social pair. (They want attention! They want you to pet them!) To please these two, all it takes is a little hay, parsley, banana or attention and these two are in heaven! Fiona does have wild fur and will need regular grooming session but you can do that easily at home. She actually enjoys the grooming. Logan is devoted to Fiona (and seems to be as interested in humans as well) so these two will give you as much love as you give them!
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DONATE TO EARS BY BUYING HAY FOR YOUR BUNNY
Dr. Atlas and the folks at Riverview Animal Clinic donate 100% of the profits of hay sales to Alabama EARS. So when you buy a box of premium Oxbow hay for your bunny you can feel warm and fuzzy twice: first when you feed your bun a quality hay and second when you know your purchase helps out the foster buns.
If you're in the market for some toys at the same time, you'll find bags of bunny-safe toys also sold at Riverview Animal Clinic. Profits from toy sales also go directly to the EARS foster bun account at Riverview.
The Hay and Toy fund is how we pay for the majority of our spay, neuter and medical expenses. So next time you need hay (or toys), think of Riverview and you'll be thinking of the EARS buns!
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NEED A NEW HOME FOR YOUR RABBIT?
Because we have more rabbits in need of foster homes than we have space, we cannot foster rabbits from individuals. Although it is heartbreaking, we cannot take in every rabbit we are asked to so we focus our rescue efforts on rabbits in shelters whose time has run out. We always have a waiting list and a vacant space is usually filled within hours of an adoption.
If it is truly impossible for you to keep your rabbit, please read "Finding a Home for Your Rabbit." This article has tips on how to place a rabbit. If you cannot keep your rabbit until a new home has been found, PLEASE take him to a shelter. Setting your rabbit loose outside is a death sentence and it doesn't make him free-IT MAKES HIM FOOD!
However, if your rabbit has a behavioral issue that is making him difficult to live with we can help. Is your rabbit a digger? A chewer? A biter? Does he refuse to use his litter box? Does he chew on cords or have a strong "bunny smell?" Chances are, we have encountered it before and we can help you find a solution. Email us for a free information packet or for advice.
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