Getting a Rabbit is a Huge Commitment & Responsibility
To consider:
Why you are thinking of getting a rabbit?
What breed, gender, and characteristics you are looking for in a rabbit?
Do you have the time to commit to your rabbit & know the care you must provide for them?
Where you are getting your rabbit from?
Breeds
There are many rabbit breeds to choose from. Some of the most popular are shown below and this is the time to do your research. See what breeds you are interested in and research the characteristics that those certain breeds have. Depending on the breed of rabbit you really like, they are a long-term commitment (most living from 7-12 years), so make sure that you are able to make this time commitment, before getting a pet rabbit.
Dutch
Netherland Dwarf
Lionhead
Holland Lop
Rex
Gender
Males:
tend to be more out-going & relaxed
tend to be more interactive with their owners
need to be neutered
Females:
tend to be more territorial & dominant
tend to be “the boss” of the house
need to be spayed
DISCLAIMER: These characteristics are a guide for you to help choose what gender you want, however, rabbits have individual personalities so it is impossible to choose one gender that is better than the other. Rabbits need to be spayed/neutered, because rabbits have a high risk of developing cancer as they age. In addition, this procedure helps to decrease hormonal behavior and increase good litter habits in your rabbit.
Adopt don’t shop.
Be part of the solution.
“Adopt don’t Shop” Method
There are so many rabbits out there looking for a forever home and you have to choose where you want to get your rabbit. There are 6.2 million rabbits in animal shelters in the United States, 3/4 of the intakes coming from owner surrenders. Adopting is the best option, because there are already so many rabbits out there and buying a rabbit from a breeder is adding to the problem.
Breeders are just looking for a profit in the breeding industry. We need to stop buying from breeders and try to decrease the practice, because these rabbits are kept in poor conditions. They are kept in small, wire bottom cages, which does not allow them to get exercise and injures their feet, because they do not have padding on their feet like dogs and cats do.
In addition, adopting is the most affordable option! If you get your rabbit from a shelter or rescue, they will be already spayed/neutered and will be up to date with their vaccines, which is all incorporated into the adoption fee. Breeders do not do any of this and charge a very expensive amount for a rabbit. When you adopt instead of shop for a rabbit, you save lives. Both the life of the rabbit you adopted, plus the life of the rabbit that you just made space for at the shelter. You could end up saving a rabbit’s life that might have been lost due to overcrowding in shelters too. You would be giving an abandoned rabbit the life they deserve.
Adopting is saving a life and gaining a life companion, so please be part of the solution and not the problem.
ATTENTION PARENTS!
ATTENTION PARENTS!
Rabbits are viewed as big component of the Easter holiday and rabbits are incorporated into chocolates for Easter, decor for Easter, are on Easter eggs, etc. However, parents please listen to these crucial pieces of information:
Many parents make the mistake of getting their small children pet rabbits for Easter, because they think that the rabbit will be cute and cuddly, and make their kids happy. Firstly, some rabbits hate being held because they are more susceptible and do not feel as safe higher up. In addition, young children can actually pose a huge threat for rabbits, because they do not know how to properly interact with a rabbit, hold a rabbit, or handle one. The rabbit and your child could get injured very easily. Rabbits are absolutely NOT for young children.
Furthermore, rabbits require a ton of care and work in providing them with everything they need. Rabbits are viewed as “small pets” and are viewed to be similar to hamsters and guinea pigs. However, this association and grouping is so far from the truth and just straight up wrong. Rabbits are not a “starter pet” for your child nor “a pet to work up to a dog with”, because rabbits are just as much work as a dog! I know… this fact is not what most people expect, which is the problem, because parents do not realize how much work a rabbit will be and want to get rid of the rabbit soon after. So please spare the rabbit’s stress and your children’s sadness, and do not buy a rabbit for them for Easter. Instead, wait until they are older, ideally a teenager or older, and have a conversation with them, discussing the work rabbits are. This will put your family on the right path for being prepared for the long-commitment that rabbits bring, and they can be a great addition to your family if you do your research.
