Bunnies, the often unwanted Easter gift

Published 7:00 am Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Easter has come and gone and by now most families will be left with nothing more to cleanup than old candy wrappers and that plastic grass lining Easter baskets.
But for those who opted to purchase the novelty pet of a rabbit for Easter, do a little research on their care before dropping them off at the local shelter.
As a former owner of at least three rabbits, I can say from experience they are cute, but require a different kind of care than cats and dogs.
The hardest part is when they reach puberty, which for a rabbit is not very far into its lifespan.
Males become hostile during this time of their life, especially if they are not provided a mate.
They are in the rodent family, and therefore have sharp teeth that grow continuously.
And when ill tempered, they do bite and will draw blood.
This problem can be easily remedied by having your rabbit spayed or neutered.
That brings me to my next tip, keep electrical cords away from rabbits. Since most people will recommend keeping them indoors, this should be a priority.
When the weather is nice, a rabbit hutch could suffice, but domesticated rabbits are said to not have the necessary instincts of wild rabbits so they should not be kept primarily outdoors.
Also, make sure to keep any dogs or cats away from your new pet.
This tip is dependant on the breed of your dog or cat, but better safe than sorry.
Bunnies are ground animals, and as such don’t like to be held very much.
Caring for the rabbit the Easter Bunny dropped off can be a challenge at times, but if you put in a little time and research, they can be rewarding pets.

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