EASTER BUNNIES ARE NOT THE BEST EASTER GIFT
Think twice before you buy a holiday pet
March 28, 2018–BOSTON, MA - The birds are chirping, the flowers are blooming, the sun feels a little warmer. Easter is a beautiful and happy time of year: and FOUR PAWS aims to helpkeep it that way.
But, there’s a caution sign as well: this time of year, hundreds of thousands of baby rabbits and baby chickens are sold to unknowing parents eager to buy a cute, real-life present for their child.
There is a pervasive myth circulating today that a bunny or chick can make for the perfect
Easter gift and/or “first pet” for children. In reality, bunnies and chicks are a lot of hard work.
That presumed lighthearted, cute gift can easily turn into a disastrous house mate and long-term responsibility.
FOUR PAWS urges the public to avoid the temptation of bringing home that cuddly looking rabbit or sweet chirping chick for these important reasons:
•Baby rabbits and baby chickens are extremely fragile and susceptible to shock, broken bones and dislocations due to improper handling. They are sensitive to light and
temperature changes and get sick easily, often dying within days of being "home."
•A rabbit is a long-term relationship and should be carefully researched and prepared for. A rabbit raised in the house or in a coup has a lifespan of roughly 8–14 years, the equivalent lifespan of most dogs!
•By falling victim to their cute little noses, fluffy tails, and long floppy ears and deciding to purchase a rabbit or chicken online, at a roadside stand, or through a pet store, you maybe unwittingly supporting exploitative industries. Numerous pet shops stock bunnies in stores as soon as Easter grows near, the same shops that go along with puppy mills and irresponsible breeders.
•Rabbits are the second most expensive pet behind dogs. A true care regimen requires the right food, habitat, space to run and hop, and toys to play with.
While a pet bunny can potentially bring many years of joy to the RIGHT owner, thousands of new bunnies are brought home each April, only to be quickly forgotten, neglected and mishandled, or set free to fend for themselves in a world made up of predators, traffic, curious pets, and high summer temperatures.
In fact, in 2009, after public pressure mounted, PETCO and other shops stopped selling rabbits at their stores because of the amount of returns and abandonments.
If after adequate thought and preparation, it is truly desired to have a bunny as a pet, please consider adopting a rescue bunny. Animal shelters and bunny rescue organizations are actively caring for bunnies that need permanent homes - especially AFTER the Easter season fades away.
FOUR PAWS is the global animal welfare organization for animals under direct human influence, which reveals suffering, rescues animals in need, and protects them. Founded in 1988 in Vienna by Heli Dungler and friends, the organization advocates for a world where humans treat animals with respect, empathy, and understanding. FOUR PAWS’ sustainable campaigns and projects focus on companion animals including stray dogs and cats, farm animals and wild animals – such as bears, big cats, and orangutans – kept in inappropriate conditions as well as in disaster and conflict zones. With offices in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Kosovo, the Netherlands, Switzerland, South Africa, Thailand, Ukraine, the UK, the USA and Vietnam, as well as sanctuaries for rescued animals in eleven countries, FOUR PAWS provides rapid help and long-term solutions. www.fourpawsusa.org