It's so tempting to bring home a baby bunny for Easter. That soft fur, those adorable ears and twitching nose. A gentle little creature that nestles in your hands. Think of the cute photos with the kids when the charming fuzzy one pops up out of a basket of sweet treats.
But here's the deal: The bunny will still be around when the woven baskets and floral print dresses get put away.
Rabbits can make wonderful pets--they are smart, sweet, quiet, personable, and house-trainable, and can live from eight to 12 years.
That's quite a commitment. So it's important to realize that a bunny, especially a youngster, is a fragile animal, not well suited to the well-meaning but sometimes clumsy handling that small children are known for. A scared bunny, especially one that is being hugged too enthusiastically, can scratch, kick or bite.
Like any pet, a rabbit needs to be fed, and housed, and spayed (the expression "breed like rabbits" isn't fake news) and well cared for.
According to the Best Friends Animal Society blog bestfriends.org, bunnies need regular medical care, possibly administered by a specially trained veterinarian who caters to a more exotic clientele than dogs and cats.
Rabbits are social creatures, and will be more content if there's another rabbit around for companionship. Housing them in an outdoor hutch or enclosure isn't a good idea as that makes them susceptible to parasites, predators, and weird weather; besides, they enjoy interaction with their humans, so it's best to keep them indoors.
And they shouldn't be kept in a cage or tiny hutch all the time, as they're happy when hopping. That hutch, by the way, needs to be cleaned regularly, a task that's best assigned to older children who are willing to take on some responsibility.
Undeterred? When bunny shopping, consider visiting a local humane society or Arkansas Pet Rabbit Network. Or maybe a stuffed bunny is a better choice.
Editorial on 04/12/2017