ADVERTISMENT
Easter pets: make sure you're prepared before buying a baby chick, bunny
9 Comments
POSTED: Wednesday, March 21, 2012 - 5:49pm
UPDATED: Sunday, March 25, 2012 - 3:36pm
TYLER — Easter is only a few weeks away, and every year bunnies and chicks are a popular holiday gift.
But experts say make sure you know what you're getting into before you buy.
NET Animal Control says they often end up in their hands after that "cute and cuddly factor" wears off and reality sets in.
"The chicks, unless you're out in the county and you have a chicken coop, I would advise against it," said Mary Fowler of NET Health Animal Control. "They are cute as babies, but there is a lot of maintenance to them."
Fowler says if you realize you don't want the responsibility of a chick, call Animal Control ... just don't turn them loose.
Coyotes and Chicken Hawks will pick them up in no time.
What about your own Easter bunny?
Employees at Petland in Tyler say bunny rabbit sales go up around Easter time.
They make sure customers know the care involved before they commit.
"They're not something you can just take home for Easter and put in a cage and then ignore," said Kim Matthews of Petland.
Matthews says unlike what some people think, bunnies aren't rodents and require a lot more work.
"They need about four hours of attention a day minimum," Matthews said. "They actually can get sad whenever they don't get enough attention from people."
Bunnies need a bath every month or two, and long-haired rabbits should be brushed two to three times a day, Matthews said.
But Matthews and Fowler say if you're ready, bunnies can make nice pets.
"Kids and rabbits go good together as long as you have a hutch and a place to keep them," Fowler said.
"They'll be more of a long-term friend for your child or even an adult," Matthews said.
Comments News Comments
This article is riddled with false information. Bunnies and children DO NOT MIX. If somebody is really interested in adopting a rabbit, look into adopting a rescue rabbit. Also, visit www.rabbit.org for ACCURATE information on what owning a rabbit really entails.
How about another story on this subject. I am sure you had good intentions but the information is way off. Perhaps you can try contacting one of the numerous rabbit rescues in Texas and doing it again. A bath can be very dangerous to a rabbit.
What is this? Bunnies can DIE FROM HYPOTHERMIA if they're bathed, they can BREAK THEIR NECK, LEGS, OR BACKS if children handle them, they can DEVELOP HEATSTROKE OR FLYSTRIKE in hutches all alone without attention, they live not only "long-term" but TEN YEARS!! They don't need "attention", they need TOYS AND EXCERSIZE. Why didnt you say anything about FEEDING myths, how rabbits need timothy hay and unlimited veggies, instead of alfalfa and unlimited pellets? Yearly vet trips? Common health probs?
While your intentions are good, your "sources" are inaccurate and poor at best. Stores like Petland are in the business of selling rabbits; they may provide some basic information, but it is not nearly as accurate nor as detailed as what is necessary for proper rabbit care. They also do not take the time to make sure that the rabbits they sell are a good fit for the homes they go to, and often those rabbits end up in shelters or rescues. Get the real facts at http://www.rabbit.org
"Make sure you are prepared..." ?? Good advice. Do a little research, something that wasn't done for this report. sigh..."Bunnies need a bath every month or two,..." ?what? What do your instincts say about this? yep, mine too. This is VERY poor advice. And to say "kids and rabbits go good together"...? Not the facts people. Again, VERY poor advice. Rabbits are fragile - kids can't resist picking them up. Check with a reputable source for your research such as www.rabbit.org.
It is a curious thing that Ms. Fowler didn't take the opportunity to encourage the adoption of homeless animals. Nationwide millions of animals are killed annually because they do not have a family, "buying" an animal only exacerbates this problem. In addition she seems rather unaware that small children and rabbits are not a good combination.
We have a house rabbit and had worked closely with a rabbit rescue center for two years. You do NOT want to keep a rabbit in a hutch outside. These are not wild animals--they are domesticated and are meant to be kept inside. A playpen type of cage inside is OK, but their muscles need supervised outside running time. They are prey animals, afraid of being picked up, and are not a good pet for a small child. Do your research, please.
Just an FYI. Rabbits do not need baths, they groom themselves like cats. They should also live indoors, be spayed or neutered and can be trained to use a litter box. They make terrible pets for little kids as their bones are so fragile and are easily injured. Rabbits do not like to be picked up. They are prey animals and panic when picked up off the ground. A store that sells lots of hutches and other rabbit supplies may not be the best place to get information. Try a rabbit rescue next time.
Worst article and information I have ever seen done on rabbits. Learn the facts!
Post new Comment
ADVERTISMENT
Special Features
Special Reports
