We’re less than a month away from Easter, which means breeders & pet stores will soon be selling “Easter bunnies.” You’ll see an increase in online sales & your local pet store will have “new stock” of baby rabbits to sell to whoever has the cash. The majority of these #bunnies come from facilities akin to puppy mills where hundreds of rabbits are kept in deplorable conditions. When the babies are shipped out, the adult rabbits are left to languish & make more babies. They live a life of suffering, just so someone can make money. Rabbits should not be given as gifts at #Easter or any other time. The majority of pet store “impulse buy” rabbits are dumped in the wild or surrendered to a shelter & their chances of surviving either scenario are slim. Oftentimes, abandoned rabbits end up in terrible shape. Our permanent resident #rabbit @easter_the_rabbit is a perfect example of this. Statistics say that 4 out of 5 rabbits purchased during the Easter holiday are abandoned or die of neglect within twelve months. Rabbits are social and intelligent creatures, and they can live 10-12 years. They require specialized care and are not low-maintenance "starter pets" for children. Every time someone purchases an animal from a breeder or pet store, they are contributing to the overpopulation issue. This is why shelters & rescues are continuously full of rabbits. Rescue organizations provide vet care to their animals prior to adoption in order to ensure their health. A rescue will have an application & screening process to be sure adopters are a good match for the #bunny . Unscrupulous breeders and pet stores will sell to anyone & often don’t provide buyers with the correct information on adequate housing or proper care. If you want to adopt a rabbit, please do lots of research. The website rabbit.org is a great place to start. Be sure you have the space to keep a bunny. Puppy pens are one option & because they can be litter trained, #rabbits can live “free range” in your home if it is properly bunny proofed. Find a rabbit-savvy vet in your area. Be sure you are prepared to make a long-term commitment, and always adopt - never shop! #notjustforeaster #adoptdontshop https://www.instagram.com/p/CMFeU-ZlF3g/?igshid=1era3hvtikopi
