Saturday, March 20, 2010

Think Hard Before Adopting Thumper

By Jennifer Huard
For the Journal
          Easter is just two weeks away, and I have already had my share of yellow marshmallow Peeps.
        And speaking of bunnies, if you think a bunny for Easter would make a perfect gift for your children or grandchildren, you better read on.
        I had a friend once who was going to get a dwarf lop-eared rabbit for a pet. She lived in a condo and thought a rabbit would be lower maintenance than a dog or cat, especially since they can be litter box trained. Cute, too. The floppy ears and fluffy tail just like Thumper from "Bambi" make them almost irresistible. Who wouldn't want to come home to this quiet, soft and cuddly thing? She didn't. She realized before she bought it that owning a rabbit is not like owning a goldfish, and she couldn't give it the attention and commitment it needed.
        The House Rabbit Society wants everyone to realize bunnies aren't easy pets. They want you to be fully aware of what it takes to care for a bunny so Thumper doesn't end up at the pound, at a shelter or simply abandoned because he was more work than originally thought to be.
        "Bunnies are the third most abandoned pet, behind dogs and cats," says Bill Velasquez, chapter manager for the House Rabbit Society in Albuquerque.
        The House Rabbit Web site offers volumes of information on rabbits so that you can make an educated choice on whether a bunny is the right pet for your household.
        Sure they are soft and cuddly, but they are not as sturdy as one might think. Kids are used to juggling chunky puppies and slippery kittens, but bunnies are delicate and their bones can be easily broken. Children can be bitten and scratched trying to hold on to a scared rabbit. In fact, bunnies don't even like to be held, and isn't that the No. 1 thing a child likes to do?
        Bunnies are social creatures and do not do well outside, stuck in a wire cage by themselves, especially in the summer heat. What they need to live in is a space inside of your house cordoned off with a toddler gate and an embroidered pillow that says "Princess." Then, as they become accustomed to their surroundings, they can have free range of your house — but only after you bunny-proof your home.
        Bunny-proofing? It's more than child-proofing. The House Rabbit Society reminds us bunnies love to chew. Phone and electrical cords should be covered in plastic tubing. Rugs and carpeting should be kept away from them, because they love to chew and will go after the fringe on the oriental in the dining room when you are sleeping at night.
        And toys? There is more than just the chew stick. You don't even want to know how long the recommended list is.
        If you are not going to be home all day, your bunny is going to need a honey to keep him company. But never put un-neutered bunnies together. Adult males will fight; adult females will fight; one of each will well — you know what will happen then. I don't even have to say it.
        So before you run out and buy the hutch and bag of pellets for your new Thumper, may I suggest instead you get the 3-pound, solid chocolate kind wrapped in purple foil?
        Quote of the Week: "Should've taken a left turn at Albuquerque ." – Bugs Bunny
        Jennifer Huard's column appears each Saturday. She welcomes your e-mails at jhuard@abqjournal.com. Visit her blog at www.jenniferhuard.blogspot.com.
       

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