Animal advocates warn: Skip gifting live bunnies and chicks for Easter

A rabbit is up for adoption at a San Diego County animal shelter File photo by Chris Stone Times of San Diego As they do each year when Easter approaches shelter bureaucrats and animal rescue groups are urging people not to buy rabbits or baby chicks as holiday gifts for children Buying or adopting a live animal on a whim often leads to abandonment when the novelty wears off and families realize they re not equipped to properly care for the pets Instead of a live animal rescue groups recommend buying a stuffed toy bunny or a chocolate candy rabbit for kids Easter baskets John Van Zante of the Rancho Coastal Humane Society a nonprofit animal shelter in Encinitas informed City News Operation that he s seen the damage caused by the Easter gift phenomenon firsthand I thought this issue had gone away until certain of my neighbors had small children and they started buying them new bunnies every Easter Three to four weeks later they would end up in my yard or as dinner for the coyotes in the area Van Zante declared I tried to convince them to get stuffed toy rabbits for the kids but they insisted that they loved live rabbits and the promised to take care of them And if they decided they didn t want them anymore they would be safe if they let them loose because Rabbits are wildlife They ll be okay In fact domestic rabbits are not the same as wild rabbits and are not equipped to survive outside I also thought the days of people giving baby chicks were over Again nope Van Zante notified CNS One of my daughters and her husband have chickens They ve perpetually gotten them as babies and kept them their entire lives But I remember her saying they went in to buy baby chicks and there were families in there buying Easter chicks Chickens can be noisy and fragrant If you get a chick who ends up being a rooster it won t take long for your neighbors to really not like you They re cute when they re little peepers But when the fuzz falls out and the feathers begin to grow in they re very unattractive By then the kids are tired of feeding and cleaning Van Zant noted the RCHS does have rabbits available for adoption and counselors interview promising adopters to make sure they re really interested in caring for the animals and not just as a prop for Easter Colleen O Brien senior vice president for People for the Ethical Therapy of Animals disclosed buying animals as gifts teaches kids the dangerous lesson that these thinking feeling individuals are toys that can be tossed aside when the children tire of them Animal companions are a years-long commitment not a holiday prop and PETA urges everyone never to give any animal as a gift When people are ready to add an animal to their family PETA reminds them to invariably adopt never buy from a breeder or pet store and that goes for rabbits and chickens too California pet stores are prohibited from selling dogs cats and rabbits unless they are obtained from a community animal control agency shelter or rescue organization under Assembly Bill which took effect in January San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria then a member of the state Assembly later authored AB sponsored by the San Diego Humane Society which closed a loophole in AB involving animals bred out-of-state It took effect in January Despite those laws direct sales of rabbits are still permitted including online and illegal street sales also occur in which baby bunnies are sometimes deceptively marketed as adult dwarfs These rabbits are rarely spayed or neutered and purchasers can often find themselves dealing with one or more litters of unwanted rabbits increasing the burden on city shelters and rescue groups Because each pet adoption is based on a detailed consultation with an adoptions counselor to ensure it is a good fit for both the animal and the person we would not caution adopting a rabbit due to the time of year San Diego Humane Society spokeswoman Nina Thompson reported CNS Thompson added that the SDHS will assist folks interested in adopting a rabbit to learn all they need to know to have a happy harmonious relationship with their new furry friend Part of that discussion is how long an animal is expected to live proper nutrition and housing and the commitment it takes to ensure they live a healthy and happy life The organization has a reserve page for small animals such as rabbits at sdhumane org about-us news-center stories rabbit-care html Rabbits are not low-maintenance pets They require a specific diet humane indoor housing in a bunny-proofed room and veterinary care can be expensive They re also not ideal pets for small children as they respond best to quiet ability and can be easily spooked by the hyperactivity of a child However for those who are willing to make a - to -year commitment and learn about their specific necessities domestic rabbits can be wonderful companions Animal advocates offer a series of basic tips Domestic rabbits should be kept indoors at all times Rabbits need to be spayed or neutered as soon as they re old enough between four and six months to avoid unnecessary breeding and to aid their wellbeing Once they ve been spayed or neutered bunnies should be paired with a mate who s also been spayed or neutered for lifelong companionship Single bunnies can be lonely and depressed They should be fed a diet of unlimited timothy hay or alfalfa hay for rabbits under months plus a daily portion of leafy greens and limited pellets They should never be kept in cages as they need room to hop around and exercise their legs They need to be thoroughly groomed every two to three months to remove excess fur and have their nails trimmed They re aggressive chewers and need to be kept away from electrical cords and anything that can be dangerous if ingested such as taped or glued boxes Bunnies who stop eating or appear to be in pain can die within hours and need immediate care from a veterinarian trained in rabbit care More information is available at sdhumane org about-us news- center stories rabbit-care html bunnyworldfoundation org bunny-care-overview or https rabbit org Leaders also warn the masses that Easter baskets can pose a danger to household pets Colorful eggs plastic grass candy and chocolate can all be toxic if ingested by animals City News System