| If more people had asked themselves this question BEFORE they acquired a bunny, East Valley Bunny Rescue and others like us would be working far less than we are. Fact is, we see four-times more "surrenders" from people that simply weren't cut out to be "bunny people" than any other reason. We, and other "bunny people", feel like bunnies offer as great (or even greater) a reward of pleasure as any other pet. But at this point in these bunnies' lives, they should get "nothing but the best". We, obviously, don't want to talk anyone out of adopting a bunny, but we do want everyone to consider a few things ... Topics on this page: How long do bunnies live? Do you like rabbits? Will it fit our style of living? Will it be for one person or a family pet? Who will actually care for "Fluffy"? Speaking of children ... But we already have a dog/cat. Will they fight? We're out of town a lot. All right so far? .. Page 2 is Yes, we want a bunny. * How long do bunnies live? Perhaps the largest single misconception about bunnies is that they are short-lived. This comes from the pet stores lumping bunnies into the "small animal" category with the hamsters and gerbils. Fact is, bunnies can live as long as 15 years! The average lifespan is 8 to 12 years and, obviously, care and nutrition play a large part in a bunny's quality of life. A bunny is as much a life-long pet as a dog and is far more willing to interact with you than a cat. * Do you like rabbits? Some people think this is a silly question, but it's at the heart of owning any pet. There's a difference between saying "oh, how cute" when you see one on a web page or TV and actually owning and caring for a bunny. People are as diverse as bunny breeds. We all like different things - animals, in this discussion. There's nothing wrong with that ... it simply proves we're unique individuals. Of course, one could argue that you won't know the answer to this part of the question until you actually own a bunny. Well, that's partly true. However, just as in life and love, we learn to compromise with other members of the family. Make no mistake, a pet - in this case, a bunny - expects (rightfully so) to be a member of the family. That brings us to the next part of the question ... * Will it fit our style of living? Do you really have the time to devote to a bunny? Devote is defined thus ... "To give or apply (one's time, attention, or self) entirely to a particular activity, pursuit, cause, or person". Nine out of ten "surrenders" of bunnies come with the statement, "We just don't have time for it anymore." When, in truth, most are saying they never had time for it to begin with. A bunny will not require your "every waking moment", but, as with any pet, there is a certain amount of maintenance. Further, a pet is not a "mantlepiece". You should expect and allow for a certain amount of daily interaction with your bunny - plain ol' "play-time" for lack of a better word. I saw this Q&A posed once - "Do you like camping, jogging or such? Do you want a pet to accompany you on your outings? ... If so, get a Laborador Retriever, not a bunny. * Will it be for one person or a family pet? If you answered "for one person", save yourself some headache and forget the whole thing, right now. Refer to the following question. * Who will actually care for "Fluffy"? This part of the question is rarely answered correctly unless serious thought has been put to it. NEVER expect a child to be the primary care-taker of a bunny. If you do, you will most likely be mistaken. Bunnies make wonderful companions for children, but care-taking of any pet is an adult task. Children can learn responsibility by helping to care for a bunny, but it is unfair to both the bunny and the child to place total responsibility on the child's shoulders. Bunnies are a pleasure for the whole family, so the welfare of the bunny can (and should) be shared but not necessarily delegated - and, ultimately, it will probably be Mom or Dad that will clean the litterbox most of the time. We've gotten "surrendered" bunnies for just such a reason. A "Mom" recently said, "It was her pet, but I ended up taking care of it most of the time." Well, Mom/Dad, that's the way it's going to be, so think about it .. okay? * Speaking of Children ... ... Get a Barbie, not a bunny. We're not trying to sound crass, but a bunny simply is not a good pet for children under six to seven years of age. "But my child is different.", you say ... I've said it, too. But are you being a proud parent or totally honest? There are exceptions, of course, and we do have some tips on the Yes, we want a bunny page. Younger children tend to think of bunnies more as toys than as pets. Mis-handling is a major cause of injury for rabbits and younger children simply lack the actual motor skills needed to handle a bunny correctly. Rabbits are "prey animals" and act accordingly. Younger children do not (can not) allow for these contingencies (e.g., running away, kicking or nipping from fear). We've seen a number of occasions where a lady adopts a bunny and then calls back after a couple of days wanting to know if she can trade it for another. -- Reason? ... "It won't sit still for my five year old daughter." (or six yr old, or 4 yr old). * But we already have a dog/cat. Will they fight? Bunnies are "prey" animals and they know it. They are naturally skittish concerning any species of "predator" (e.g., dogs and cats). However, bunnies are naturally curious and will be friends with any animal that doesn't express true aggression. Just as the Hatfields and McCoys have learned to get along, so can your dog or cat with a new bunny, and vice-versa. Just as you would not appreciate being tossed into a lions' den, your bunny certainly cannot be "thrown in" with its natural predators. The assimilation must be slow, but can be accomplished with remarkably successful results. Point is, if you really want a bunny and are willing to expend the effort and take the time, you can shape relationships between species that are wonderful to a pet owner. It should be noted that "free" pets should always be supervised, but then, the resposible pet owner knows that ... Right? * We're out of town a lot. Simple answer - Forget about bunnies, or any other pet, for that matter. It's unfair to any animal to have to contend with extended periods of being without "family". * All right so far? If you can agree that bunnies - just like any other new animal - should feel like an honored guest for a while ... Read on ... The next page is Yes, we want a bunny.. |
