Second Annual Rabbit Adoptathon Begins Today

Today is the first day of the 2012 Rabbit Adoptathon Blog Hop. This event was founded last year by my friend Carrie Boyko at All Things Dog Blog. In addition to being a dog lover, Carrie also had a rabbit named Robby, and she wanted to help spread the word about adopting these wonderful creatures as pets.

This year, the event is co-sponsored by Affurmation and Bunny’s Blog. It runs from Sunday, May 13 through Saturday, May 19. You can join the blog hop at any time by writing a blog post about rabbits or rabbit care and adding it to the link list. Or you can post adoptable rabbits to your Facebook page. Petfinder makes it easy with the share buttons available on each animal’s profile.

Today, I would like to talk about something I call the “Easter Bunny Syndrome”. Rabbits are popular Easter gifts, but many people purchase them on impulse without taking the time to learn about their special needs. Once the novelty has worn off, many former Easter bunnies end up in animal shelters.

Rabbits make wonderful house pets, but they are different than owning a dog or cat. If you would like to add a rabbit to your family, take the time to learn about proper rabbit care before adopting one. I recommend you visit the House Rabbit Society website, which is a great resource for prospective rabbit owners.

Once you've learned about the proper care and feeding of rabbits, make sure you have a safe place to keep your bunny. You will need a cage large enough for your rabbit to stand up and move around, but bunnies can't constantly be kept in a cage. Rabbits need at least 3-4 hours of exercise daily. You will need to bunny-proof an area to make sure there are no electrical cords or other hazards that your rabbit can get into. 

Bunnies love to dig and chew, so make sure you have appropriate toys. You don't need to buy toys – bunnies love to play with cardboard boxes, paper towel rolls, brown paper bags, tissue paper, phone books, newspaper, etc. You can set up mazes or towers and hide treats inside them, which will give your bunny hours of enjoyment.

Rabbits are social animals, and your bunny will be very unhappy if constantly left alone. They need daily interaction with you. Take time to get down on the floor and play with your bunny. You should also spend time combing and brushing your rabbit, which helps remove excess hair. Unlike cats, rabbits cannot cough up hairballs. An intestinal blockage is extremely dangerous and can result in death.

Once you're ready to get your bunny, remember to adopt - don't shop. Many, many rabbits are available at animal shelters, especially a few months after Easter when people who purchased bunnies on impulse begin to regret their decision. Do yourself and your bunny a favor - wait to make sure that you are prepared to make a ten year commitment and then visit your local animal shelter.