Unlike stuffed rabbits, live rabbits are a considerable amount of work, thus officials at local Bunny Run Rabbit Rescue recommend those considering adoption research thoroughly beforehand to ensure they can provide the time, finances and environment necessary to keep a live rabbit happy and healthy.--SUBMITTED PHOTO
kking@medicinehatnews.com
As Easter approaches, a local bunny rescue organization is encouraging Hatters to do their research and consider the long-term commitment pet ownership requires, before adopting a bunny.
“One of our biggest concerns is that people are impulse buying,” Amanda Hennessey, Bunny Run Rabbit Rescue president, told the News. “You see a cute little bunny … it’s Easter and it’s adorable so people get it, but (bunnies) are not as easy a pet as they might seem.”
Hennessey explained rabbits, like humans, are susceptible to mood swings, they are often not as cuddly as most people believe them to be and they require a lot of space.
“Rabbits are amazing pets, but you have to know what you’re getting into,” said Hennessey. “They’re not a starter pet.”
Hennessey and other officials with Medicine Hat’s Bunny Run Rabbit Rescue hope through education and awareness they can reduce the number of rabbits purchased for Easter then abandoned or neglected later in the year, something of a concern in Medicine Hat.
“We are estimating there’s between 300 to 400 domestic feral (bunnies) in the city,” Hennessey said. “People just think, ‘Oh well, I saw another one in the park, so I’ll just let it go and it’ll be fine.”
Many of the abandoned rabbits don’t survive, as they do not possess the same survival instincts as wild rabbits.
“Humans have altered their genetics to make them into pets and domesticate them … So, they’re are not equipped to live outside,” said Hennessey. “They don’t deal with the temperature changes very well. They’re not good at finding food and it’s very stressful for them … Some of them do survive … but it definitely isn’t a good situation for them.
“Not only is it bad for the bunnies; it’s bad for people. Domestic rabbits will do a lot more damage to a yard than a wild rabbit because they don’t really know how to forage for food, so they come in and just, sort of, destroy gardens. They also interrupt traffic (and) tend to interfere with the natural habitat of the cottontail. They also bring coyotes and other predators into the city more.”
Domestic rabbit abandonment also breeds issues like overpopulation of the species, if the abandoned rabbits are not spayed or neutered.
“A rabbit can have a litter every 30 days and they can have up to 14 kits at a time,” Hennessey said.
To avoid such issues, Hennessey recommends anyone considering adopting a rabbit around Easter complete extensive research beforehand, which includes conversing with individuals familiar with bunnies.
“If they want to adopt … talk to us,” said Hennessey.
She encourages anyone looking for more information on rabbits or rabbit adoptions to connect with Bunny Run Rabbit Rescue via email at bunrunrr@gmail.com or through the organization’s social media pages.
