Buying A Bunny For Easter? Rabbit Rescue Founder Urges Thought First

NORWALK, CT — For many people, Easter conjures up images of colored eggs, chocolate, the start of spring and, of course, bunnies.

For Linda Thibault, it's when her job is the hardest.

"Rabbits will forever be connected with Easter because of the Easter Bunny," Thibault said to Patch.

As the founder of Hopalong Hollow, a rabbit rescue located in Norwalk, Thibault has noticed an alarming amount of people tend to buy pet rabbits around Easter, only to find out months later that owning a rabbit is not as easy as they thought.

"About four months [after Easter] is when the dumping season starts," Thibault said. "When the rabbits begin to hit maturity, they begin to pick up some difficult practices, and this is when we go crazy because our phone rings off the hook."

According to Thibault, people getting rid of their rabbits after realizing how much care they need is a year-long problem, but it is especially exacerbated around Easter.

"[Rabbits] are absolutely adorable when they're little," Thibault said. "They're cute and they're sweet, they don't take up a lot of room and everybody falls in love with them very quickly. Then they take them home and, as they begin to mature, they become difficult, just like a dog or a cat that is not spayed."

Hopalong Hollow typically houses approximately 75 rescued rabbits at one time, most of which are available for adoption. Now in its twentieth year, Thibault estimated the rabbit rescue takes in around 300 rabbits each year.

"I've always loved all animals," Thibault said. "I have no preference to rabbits over dogs or cats or anything else, but there is not much help available for rabbits."

According to Thibault, rabbits are typically one of the most popular household pets aside from a dog or cat.

"They're sold all over Connecticut...so there's tons of them out there," Thibault said, "but there is very little help for those that are encountering a problem. There are lots of dog and cat rescues, and unfortunately there will never be enough, but there are not [a lot of] places for rabbits in need."

What You Should Know

Thibault said a rabbit that is not spayed or neutered may exhibit behavior like not using their litter box and getting aggressive or "nippy" with their owners. They may also start to fight with each other if you own more than one.

According to the House Rabbit Society, an organization that provides information on many aspects of rabbit care and ownership, people are often shocked the first time they see a rabbit act aggressive.

"Bunnies, after all, are supposed to be timid and sweet, not outspoken and nasty, and the sudden appearance of sharp teeth and raking claws can be disarming," the organization's website reads. "But whether your rabbit is nipping the hand that feeds him, chasing you across the room, or latching his teeth into your calf, it's not unusual and it's not hopeless.

This is not to say a rabbit is a bad pet. Many of the society's members have found working with an aggressive rabbit to be very rewarding, as they are are often intelligent animals who are just trying to express themselves.

"Once they’re given some respect and some ground rules, that expression can turn to boundless energy, enthusiasm, and affection," the website reads.

Households with more than one rabbit also run the risk of an unexpected pregnancy, which can result in a litter of up to 12 babies.

"So if you have an accidental litter," Thibault said, "all of the sudden you could have 14 rabbits on your hand instead of two."

While spaying or neutering a rabbit is an easy solution to this, Thibault said new owners are often surprised to find out these procedures can cost over $500 and opt not to follow through with it.

As costs and typical pet issues begin to pop up more frequently, many owners decide to abandon their rabbit by letting them loose in their backyard.

"There's a tendency for people to see the wild rabbits outside, and if you're not educated you assume it's the same thing," Thibault said. "A domestic rabbit has survival skills bred out of it. It is not going to survive if you put it outside."

Thibault emphasized there are pros and cons to having a rabbit, as there is with any pet, however most people who impulsively purchase a rabbit around Easter do not think about the cons.

"The first thing they need to realize is that tiny little rabbit is going to grow up in about six months and it's no longer going to be a tiny rabbit," Thibault said. "An adult rabbit can range from two pounds, which is very unusual, up to 25 pounds, so you're looking at a creature that could grow to the size of a small dog, or even a medium dog."

Contrary to popular belief, a rabbit also needs a lot of exercise and room to move around.

"So many people think it's like a hamster that basically stays in a cage," Thibault said. "It's no different than having a cat or a dog; the responsibilities are the same. They need exercise, attention, food, clean water and medical care, which by the way is not inexpensive."

According to Thibault, a rabbit often needs care from a specific type of veterinarian rather than a typical dog or cat vet.

"They tend to be on the delicate side," Thibault said. "They do get sick easily, they do suffer at times from stress illness if they're not handled and maintained properly."

What You Should Think About

With Easter just over a month away, Thibault wants anyone considering getting a rabbit to keep both the easy and hard parts of owning a rabbit in mind.

"I'm giving you lots of cons of having a rabbit, and they certainly exist," Thibault said. "The pros are they're a great a pet. You get out of a rabbit what you put into it. The more time and attention you give it, that's what you're going to get back."

She also urges anyone considering buying a rabbit to ask themselves a few questions:

How long-term of a commitment are you looking at?

"Often times people think a rabbit [lives for] two years, but a rabbit can easily live 12-14 years with good medical care now...do you have a child that will be going to college in four years? Are you willing to take on that constant care after that child is gone? That is one of the biggest things that we face. The kids love their pet, but they grow up and, unfortunately, mom and dad are not always willing to do what needs to be done and they want to surrender the animal."

Do you have disposable cash to spend on your rabbit?

Rabbit owners can end up spending thousands of dollars on necessary care for their pet, Thibault said. According to the House Rabbit Society, there are a number of medical concerns owners need to keep an attentive eye out for, as well as other procedures that are strongly encouraged. A rabbit's owner must be willing to spend what is necessary to ensure their pet enjoys a long, healthy and comfortable life.

Are you willing to accept responsibility for your child's pet?

"Parents sometimes have an overinflated idea of their child's responsibility level," Thibault said. "You need to be willing to accept responsibility for this animal if your child falls down on the job. You need to keep an eye on the way the animal is cared for. Kids lose interest quickly...and mom and dad have to be willing to pick up the slack."

Should your answer to any of the above questions be "no," it may be best to consider getting a chocolate bunny this Easter instead of a new pet.

More information about living with live rabbits and giving them as gifts at Easter can be found at rabbit.org/easter and at makeminechocolate.org.