Easter bunny blues
Best Friends says stop impulse buys of baby rabbits during holiday
April 6, 2009 - Best Friends Animal Society is urging people to think about the ramifications of bringing a cute baby bunny to their children for Easter.
"This annual rush for baby bunnies is a prime example of what contributes to the overburdening of shelters and animal rescue groups across the country," said Ellen Gilmore, Best Friends coordinator for First Home Forever Home, a campaign aimed at keeping pets in homes.
"From an animal welfare standpoint, the Easter Bunny represents living, breathing, feeling four-legged animals. Every year around this time, thousands of bunnies fall victim to well-meaning parents and grandparents who impulsively include a live bunny as part of the Easter gift-giving hoopla," Gilmore said.
"Young children and rabbits are not necessarily a good match, and thousands of rabbits purchased as Easter gifts die annually in animal shelters or are turned loose in the wild where they do not have the ability to survive on their own. Choosing a rabbit as a pet comes with a significant commitment to caring for that animal for life."
Gilmore pointed to a recent example of a bunny who lost his home when he was no longer little and cute. Hopper was at one point an Easter gift to someone's grandchildren, but as they got older, they didn't play with Hopper anymore and grandma and grandpa were stuck caring for him. They too tired of him and contacted Best Friends for help. Luckily for Hopper, Best Friends was able to work with the House Rabbit Society chapter in Grand Junction, Colo., and they were able to help out. The House Rabbit Society is a national, non-profit animal welfare organization that rescues rabbits and educates people.
"Hopper was adopted into a great home. He was one of the lucky ones. For every Hopper, there are thousands of others who don't make it," Gilmore said.
There are several alternatives to buying a bunny as part of the Easter celebration, Gilmore said.
- Join the First Home Forever Home campaign on the Best Friends Network. A sample letter, courtesy of the House Rabbit Society, can be found on the Resources tab of this community in the folder called "Rabbits - How to Help."
- Buy chocolate bunnies. The "Make Mine Chocolate!?" campaign is dedicated to breaking the cycle of acquisition and relinquishment by educating the public about the responsibilities involved in keeping a companion rabbit before a rabbit is brought home.
- People who truly want a rabbit for a lifetime are encouraged to visit their local shelter and save the life of a homeless bunny. Alternatively, Best Friends Adorable Adoptables features 91 adoptable rabbits and adoptable bunnies are available through local chapters of the House Rabbit Society.
CONTACTS:
Barbara Williamson (435) 689-0200 (cell) or barbara@bestfriends.org
John Polis (435) 644-2001, ext. 4858 or johnp@bestfriends.org
About Best Friends Animal Society:
Best Friends Animal Society is a nonprofit, membership organization building no-kill programs and partnerships that will bring about a day when there are No More Homeless Pets. The society's leading initiatives in animal care and community programs are coordinated from its Kanab, Utah, headquarters, the country's largest no-kill sanctuary. This work is made possible by the personal and financial support of a grassroots network of members and community partners across the nation. In 2009, Best Friends celebrates its 25th anniversary. For more information on Best Friends Animal Society, visit www.bestfriends.org.
