Irresponsible Pet Owners Seem To Breed Like Rabbits
Princess Leah came back to us on February 18. We thank God she did come back - we’ve still got her under observation. But 02/18 is only 49 days into the new year, yet she was the 54th bunny we’ve received since the first of the year.
You do the math.
And that Inbound figure doesn’t include the TWO LITTERS that didn’t live from the Wannabee breeder that you’ve probably already read about. Inbreeding worked its wonders, again. But had they survived, we’d have had 13-14 more bunnies to care for. That’s an average nearing two bunnies dumped on us per day! But that’s only ones that were lucky enough to find their way to us!
“Here Comes Peter Cottontail …”
But it’s not just bunnies that “breed like rabbits”. That headline in the Rescue Herald above is true. The governmental animal control folks consider April/May to be puppy and kitten season, as well. Only public opinion changes public attitudes. Talk about the problem every chance you get. The more you talk about it, the easier it becomes.
Uninformed Is Irresponsible
There are still many, many folks out there that think that they aren’t hurting anything with new litters because they find homes for all that are born (either sold or free). They have not ever been shown the fact that every home they find for their new litter is a home that will not have a need to seek a “shelter pet”.
There are still many, many folks out there that think “my one litter won’t cause pet overpopulation”. No, it won’t cause it - pet overpopulation already exists. However, every new litter increases pet overpopulation.
How Can I Help?
The key is education. YOU AND I are the beginning. We don’t have to preach. We only have to inform. Most of these people, listed in the preceding paragraphs, reply with, “I never saw it from that side before”.
People that don’t realize they are hurting the situation will continue to do so until they realize the problem exists.
Education is the final answer to pet overpopulation and abandonment. Word of mouth from a family member, friend or co-worker is the most trusted.
This is where to begin and Now is time to begin.
