It’s Spring and it’s time to have the talk. The talk about bring bunny home, and I think you know why.
Bringing home a chocolate bunny for Easter is a must, but bringing home a live hare is a choice that should take some research and evaluation. So, before you go down that hole, here are some things you should know.
She’s high Maintenance
Rabbits require much more nurturing and care than cats and dogs. A very fragile immune and respiratory system requires daily cleaning. However, if properly maintained and potty trained, rabbits leave no odors. Rabbits even though they tend to be small house-pets require quite a bit of space to exercise their powerful legs. House rabbits should be kept indoors with a good amount of space secured for them to roam without encountering any hazards. Regular visits to a veterinary that specializes in rabbits is necessary. You may end up spending more money for a misdiagnoses if you see a veterinarian that is not familiar with rabbits. Rabbits can live 10-12 years.
Handle with care
Rabbits are fragile, they are very skittish and not prone to cuddling. In order to bond with a bunny you need to have a patient noninvasive personality. When bringing bunny home, let bunny chill before trying to make a connection. Spend some time sitting near but not interacting. When he is feeling safe, approach from the side pause and if the bunny doesn’t pull away then pet him. Trying to approach a bunny that pulls away will only train him to withdraw when he is approached. Bunnies should not be picked up by the ears or the nape of the neck. They should be scooped up and nuzzled like a football.
Eats like a Rabbit
Rabbits should get lots of clean grassy fiber. Supply fresh clean grass; eating grass from outside could cause parasites and disease. Always have fresh hay available for them to chew. Hay is the staple of a rabbit’s diet. Use 1/4 cup for every 5 lbs when feeding pellets, and allow small treats of carrots, raisins or papaya, but keep sugary food to a minimum.
Rascally rabbit proofing
When you’re a rabbit you chew everything. In order to rabbit proof an area, get down to their level to see what they see. Be sure to secure electrical wires. Rabbits will chew right through to expose live wires and may end up burning their mouths. Place cotton non skid rugs down so they can get traction, this will also protect the carpet from being chewed. Cages should be 4x the rabbit’s body size, and remember a bunny will grow. Keep houseplants way from them, they could be toxic to your rabbit. Make sure that you have your landlords approval and that you have no allergies before you acquire your rabbit.
Whoa Nelly a rabbit’s life is not for me.
However, there are other ways you can celebrate the iconic bunny of Easter goodness. Make a donation to the Georgia House Rabbit Society, volunteer, or take a bunny 101 class and be a foster bunny home. Do these things and you’re sure you will get a wonderful treat from the Easter Bunny.
You have spent some time thinking this through carefully and have deiced that this is the relationship for you. You are in luck. There are many rabbits looking for someone like you who is willing and able to take care of them. Adoption should be your foremost choice. The biggest advantages of picking your rabbit from the Georgia House Rabbit Society shelter is that you can spend time learning about the personalities of the bunnies before you make your match. Plus the Georgia House Rabbit Society offers a great deal of support and education to help give your rabbit and you the best chance at a happily ever after ending.
Bunny 101
Classes
Classes are held on Wednesday evenings and Saturday & Sunday afternoons at the Georgia House Rabbit Society’s Rabbit Center in Marietta.
March
Sunday, 6
Saturday, 12
Saturday, 19
Saturday, 26
April
Sunday, 3
May
Sunday, 1
Please call
770-826-2732 to reserve your spot.
