2008 News and Information
Think Twice Before Giving a Bunny for Easter
17 March 2008If you go for a walk through Minoru Park, it probably won’t take long before you see a rabbit or two or 10 hopping through the grass. Although they may be cute to look at, rabbits can cause destruction in parks and property damage.
“Life in the parks is not easy for rabbits,” explains Kris Bauder, Nature Park Coordinator. “As they search for food, they also cause damage – chewing electrical cords, destroying plants and displacing foundations. In agricultural land, rabbits can impact farmers financially due to crop losses.”
Unfortunately, some of these rabbits have been dropped off in parks when their owners decide, for a variety of reasons, they no longer want them, causing an overpopulation in some parks.
The challenge abandoned domestic animals, like rabbits, face is they have a very difficult time adapting to the outdoor environment and fending for themselves.
“Every Easter, residents visit local pet stores and purchase bunnies as gifts for children,” explains Carol Reichert, Executive Director of Richmond Animal Protection Society (RAPS). “While the bunnies may be cute and cuddly when they’re little, it only takes a few months for them to grow into full size rabbits. Most people don’t realize how messy rabbits can be and that unneutered rabbits will spray to mark their territory.”
“Instead of bringing rabbits to RAPS, where there is limited space for rabbits, we are encouraging the community to think twice about purchasing a bunny in the first place. When people are buying these bunnies they are not thinking about how quickly and how big they will grow. We are also encouraging responsible pet ownership. If you own a rabbit and do not want it, try to find it a good home instead of dumping it in a park.”
Considering that one female rabbit can have up to 200 bunnies in her lifetime, each abandoned rabbit plays a significant role in increasing Richmond’s rabbit population. So this Easter, consider buying a chocolate egg or a stuffed toy bunny instead of a live animal.
If you are going to commit to having a rabbit as a pet, keep in mind the average domestic lifespan is generally between seven and 12 years so please be prepared to make that commitment and also have them spayed or neutered.
