Don’t buy—hop to the rescue

The Easter season floods county shelters with unwanted bunnies. Maggie Mae, above, needs a good home.

The bunnies are coming—chocolate ones, marshmallow ones, stuffed ones and sometimes, real live ones. While the first three can be quickly devoured or tossed on a pile of toys, the real ones are more complicated. They may look adorable on Easter morning, but they require lots of love, care and attention over a 10-year lifespan.

Evelina Villa of Los Angeles County’s Department of Animal Care and Control has seen first-hand what happens when pet rabbits are poorly cared for.

“Usually they are sick,” she said. “Sometimes they are so ill that we have to euthanize them.”

Even worse, Villa said, some owners simply set the bunnies free when they no longer want to take care of them. Domesticated rabbits are ill-equipped to handle the wild. Most get eaten by predators within 72 hours, and they also suffer from parasites and other infections.  Beyond that, abandoning pets—rabbits included—is illegal, carrying fines of $500 and up to 5 months in jail.

“It is better to bring them to us so we can try to re-home them instead of trying to let them fend for themselves,” Villa said.

But it should never come to that. The county agency is currently offering two alternatives to making impulsive pet purchases this Easter.

First, unless you’re prepared for a serious, long term commitment, don’t buy a pet rabbit in the first place, especially as a gift for children. Stick with the chocolate or plush variety. While the animals can make great domestic companions, young kids aren’t usually their best friends. Rabbits are fragile, and well-meaning cuddles and snuggles tend to freak them out, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. And, because rabbits can’t bark or meow, they tend to bite and scratch in self-defense. A rabbit is a real pet, just like a dog or a cat. It requires a lot of care and costs about $675 annually for vet visits, food and other supplies.

But if you’ve done your research and have decided you are ready to make the, er, hop into rabbit ownership, county shelters are offering another option: adopt a shelter bunny for just $25. You’ll save a life, and in the process you’ll receive a pet that’s already been examined by a vet, microchipped and spayed or neutered.

There are currently 67 rabbits at county shelters, a number that will likely surge after Easter Sunday, Villa said. Thirty rabbits were surrendered in just one week after last Easter. Fortunately, with promotions like this and the assistance of local rabbit advocates, the department is usually able to find homes for the healthy ones.

Abandoned bunnies aren’t just an L.A. problem. From the House Rabbit Society to The Rabbit Haven, advocates across the country are sounding the alarm: buying a pet rabbit for a gift is almost always a bad idea.

To adopt a rabbit, go to one of six county Animal Care Centers. But, before you go, make sure you’re ready to give your new pet the care it deserves.  Otherwise, you’re better off with Peeps.

Bob Dylan, above, knows how it feels to be without a home, like a complete unknown. Make this cuddly rolling stone your own.

Posted 3/28/13