When people think of animal shelters, the first animals that often come to mind are dogs and cats. Since February is National Adopt-a-Rescue-Rabbit Month, why not celebrate the occasion by bringing a new type of furry friend into your home? Rabbits are the third most surrendered animal in shelters, right behind dogs and cats.
“We unfortunately have many rabbits surrendered here, and most often the reason is ‘not enough time,’” says Sherry Thorpe, staff member at the Everett Animal Shelter. “At one point this summer we had over 20 homeless rabbits! It was a few months after Easter, so perhaps the cute factor had worn off and reality set in.”
In most cases, when families decide to bring a bunny into their home, they do not realize the decade-long commitment they are making. Before you partake in this rescued-rabbit month, here are a few tips to know before you bring a floppy-eared friend home, and some helpful tips to prepare your home.
- Rabbit-proofing your house: Just because rabbits can live in a cage, doesn’t mean that’s the only place they should stay. Rabbits are meant to hop around freely and need their time outside of the cage, but it is best that rabbits stay indoors. It is more beneficial to their lifespan and overall health. When you let your rabbit out of its cage to hop around the house, be sure that the roaming area is rabbit-proofed. Rabbits, by nature, like to chew, so cover any electrical cords, move any plants and cover any items that could potentially pose a danger to your pet.
- Housebreaking: Rabbits are smart creatures. They will often pick one corner of their cage to utilize for bathroom purposes. This signals to you that this is their designated litterbox corner, because yes, rabbits can be litterbox trained. When this happens, place a newspaper-lined litterbox in that corner. You can also fill the litterbox with wood pellets or timothy hay. Avoid using any clumping or non-clumping clay cat litter, and do not use pine or cedar shavings. These litterbox fillers could potentially be harmful to your rabbit.
- Children: Although rabbits are cute and cuddly looking, they may not be the best companion for a young child. Children often want to show their love to rabbits by carrying them around; however, this is not a rabbit’s preferred method of travel. Because rabbits cannot cry out, they end up biting or scratching as a sign they do not want to be held. This often results in owner surrender back to the shelter. In some cases, young children may drop the bunny, which could result in a broken leg or back. Children and bunnies can coexist, but an adult should be the primary caretaker.
- Food: Make sure that your new friend always has access to plenty of grass hay, such as timothy or brome, which is crucial to their diet, and given fresh daily. Rabbit pellets are also a very important part of your rabbit’s protein intake, so be sure he is getting proper amounts while he is still growing. When your rabbit is full-grown, take down the amount you feed him to the suggested serving size to avoid overfeeding. Keeping a constant supply of fresh water, in either a bottle or a bowl, is also a necessity.
- Vet Visits: Not all vets specialize in bunny care, so find a vet near you that has knowledge in small animals. Moreover, because rabbits do not require annual vaccinations like other house pets, owners forget their rabbit’s check-ups. Schedule your rabbit for an annual check-up to be proactive with their health and to help avoid bigger problems down the road. To find a vet near you that specializes in rabbit care, please visit rabbit.org.
- Spaying/Neutering: Rabbits should be spayed and neutered when you get them. Rabbits have a short gestation period. They have the ability to give birth to a new litter every 30 days, and can get pregnant the same day they give birth. Unspayed female rabbits have a higher risk of experiencing uterine cancer, and hormone-driven males who are not neutered spray more often to mark their territory. To keep everyone happy, it is best to spay and neuter your bunny friend.
Rabbits are intelligent, trainable animals, but do require more work than families might expect.
“We encourage adopters to do their research and find a good small animal vet before adopting,” Thorpe says. “They can be wonderful companions for prepared adopters.”
Make sure you are ready to take on the responsibility of being a bunny parent. With help from the steps above, you should be well on your way to a happy companionship with your new rabbit.
Learn more about the Everett Animal Shelter: Plan a visit today, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and check out all of our adoptable pets: www.everettanimalservices.org. And be sure to watch our featured Pet of the Week on the Everett Channel: www.youtube.com/thecityofEverett.
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