Sad Truth: Easter-Gift Bunnies Don't Last

Bunnies—the symbol of Easter with their fuzzy fur and wiggly noses.

A new rabbit might sound like the perfect surprise for your children on Easter morning and pet stores around the country anticipate this as they more than double their supply prior to the holiday.

But what happens the next day when parents are back at work, kids are in school and the small pet requires more care than anticipated?

Approximately 80 percent of the rabbits sold at Easter die within a year, according to Caroline Charland, founder of Bunny Bunch—a non-profit, no kill rabbit rescue in Montclair, Calif.

Charland said there are many factors that lead to a shortened lifespan in rabbits, who under proper care can live to be 10 to 14 years old.

• Pet stores often sell bunnies when they are too young and should still be under the care of their mother. A bunny's eyes open within 10-14 days, but should still be under mother’s care for eight weeks. Rabbits who are taken from the mother too soon do not live as long, Charland said.
• Rabbits should live in large open spaces, but are commonly placed in cages or hutches. They should live in rabbit-proofed homes or large exercise pens.
• Busy lifestyles and carelessness of their owners can also shorten a rabbit’s life. Charland said rabbits often miss meals when their owners forget or are too busy to feed them.
• Playful children can also be a danger to rabbits. Charland said they often treat living rabbits as toys and can smother them or drop them, breaking their bones.

While the Easter holiday can cause a greater threat to rabbits and other small creatures like ducks and chicks, Charland said “the sad thing is, it is bad all year long for the bunnies.”

While the Aliso Viejo does not sell rabbits, it does sell a variety of small creatures like chinchillas, hamsters and mice. The company provides prospective pet owners with a list of guidelines when selecting the right addition to their family.

In a statement from Petsmart, Dr. Kemba Marshall, veterinarian and pet care expert, said, “choosing a pet should never be a spur-of-the-moment decision, and families need to consider how the pet is going to fit into their lives. Talking to an associate about each pet’s unique characteristics and doing some background research online will help families prepare for what to expect and to care for their new pet.”

Charland said Bunny Bunch always has at least 300 rabbits at their rescue. While their main purpose is to find homes for all the rabbits, Charland said she often finds herself talking families out of adopting them.

“We want to find them homes, but the right homes,” she said.

Charland said she has seen a big difference since Bunny Bunch began more than 25 years ago, but there is a long way to go.

She hopes people who have purchased or adopted rabbits that they can no longer take care of contact no-kill shelters like Bunny Bunch instead of releasing them outside or taking them to an animal shelter where they will most likely be euthanized.

Bunny Bunch presently has one location, but is hoping to open an Orange County office soon. Charland said they currently receive rabbits from Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties.

For more information about rabbit care or to report an injured rabbit, contact Bunny Bunch at 909-591-7200 or visit their website at bunnybunch.org.