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Before
buying a rabbit from a pet shop, consider the advantages of adopting from a
rescue centre:
 For every rabbit bought from a pet shop, a rescue rabbit is denied a
loving home
For every rabbit adopted from a
rescue centre, another can be saved
Rescue centres usually spay and neuter
their rabbits before rehoming, saving you the expense, worry, and pre-surgical behaviour
(all problems of an unaltered rabbit)
Rescue centres get to know their buns and
can usually give you a clear idea of their habits and personalities, helping
you choose the right rabbit for you
They're usually already litter trained
Adopting a rescue rabbit
gives you the inner satisfaction of saving a rabbit’s life
Also, consider the following:
 Rabbits can be a source of
absolute joy and loving companionship. They are also a serious long-term
responsibility. Are you willing to make your
bun a priority in your life?
Rabbits are not good pets for small
children, but perfect for adults
If you get a bun "for your
children", they will eventually lose interest and bunny's care will fall to
you. Consider adoption of a rabbit
as a family choice and make taking care of bun a pleasant family experience. It will bring you all closer
together
A healthy rabbit can live up to 10 years or more.
Are you willing to commit to seeing your bun through his
golden years?
Rabbits are social animals and form close bonds with their people. Please
don't condemn bunny to a life of solitary confinement
Rabbits need daily care and can't be left
alone for days at a time. Holidays require boarding or an experienced person
to look after it
Vet bills can be expensive. Can you
provide for bunny when he's ill?
There's no reason to leave bunny behind
when you move. They pack light and would rather relocate
than be separated from their family
Are you aware of current rabbit care
guidelines? An educated guardian is a prepared guardian
Rabbits aren't the right companion animal
for everyone. Never give a rabbit as a surprise gift
Rabbits are loving, intelligent, loyal,
and too cute for words. Are you ready to lose your heart forever?
Perhaps you
have ‘pleasant childhood memories’ of keeping a pet rabbit in a wee hutch in
the garden. Fortunately things have changed now.
With the dramatic
advances made in rabbit awareness, education and knowledge, we now know that
rabbits don’t thrive in small cages. The ones available in pet shops are
only a stop gap and should be replaced as soon as possible by the biggest
and best you can afford. A healthy neutered rabbit can live up to 10 years
or more, and the thought of a rabbit spending time in a tiny hutch for all
those years is shocking to say the least. Use your imagination and make
their home a fun and interesting place to be. Some people use childrens
wooden playhouses, adapted sheds, etc. have a look at some of the ideas on
the web.
Rabbits can also adapt easily to
living indoors in the same way a cat or dog does. Although you must be
careful and
bunny-proof
the areas it has access to. There are many websites that can give
useful guidelines on this subject, don’t wait until it’s too late, a rabbit
electrocuted (by chewing cables or wires) or poisoned (by eating
houseplants) causes a lot of heartache and guilt.
Please do some research on
current care guidelines and be sure you're willing to do what's needed to
care for your rabbit properly.
If you're not
going to do it right, please don't do it at all.
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