Posted in: News, Press-Release
Tempting as Easter may be, chocolate bunnies make better gifts than living and breathing rabbits. The Winnipeg Humane Society is advising potential rabbit owners to weigh their decisions of committing to a new pet just as heavily on Easter as the rest of the year.
Rabbits make great pets, however (like with other animals) it is never appropriate to give them as a surprise. Rabbits require as much work as a dog or a cat; they need supervised exercise 2 – 3 hours a day. Many rabbits are easily frightened when held, and therefore not suitable for families with young children. As rabbits teeth are ever growing, they will find a variety of objects to chew on and therefore rabbit-proofing your home is essential. Litter box training is a great option for some rabbit owners, but requires effort and dedication to be successful. The life-span of a rabbit is 8-10 years, when receiving the regular veterinary care they require.
Some prospective owners believe a rabbit can be purchased and live its life in a cage with little to no interaction. Domesticated rabbits cannot survive in the outdoors. It is too common that a rabbit is brought to The WHS that has been found roaming outside, having likely been set “free” by owners who were uninformed on the level of commitment required. The WHS receives approximately 150 – 200 domestic rabbits each year.
About The Winnipeg Humane Society
The Winnipeg Humane Society (WHS) is an open-admission shelter that takes in nearly 9,000 animals a year. This includes cats, dogs and rabbits. The WHS adopts thousands of animals each year. Each pet adoption includes an adopters handbook, spay/neuter, first vaccinations,health-check, 6 weeks of PetPlan Insurance. Humane Education programs for children run throughout the year, teaching them how to be kind to animals and responsible pet ownership. For an extensive list of programs and services that contribute to its mission of protecting animals from suffering and promoting their welfare and dignity visit the winnipeghumanesociety.ca