Haley
Well-Known Member
NorthernAutumn found this info and thought it would be helpful if we all took a moment to contact our local papers (through letters to the editor) and/or posted on some online classified sites where people buy/sell rabbits such as craigslist and kijili.
RO's official policy is that we are not against adoption of rabbits at Easter, only that people who are adopting should be educated on what they are getting into. Hopefully this can help educate some people who are considering a rabbit for Easter.
-Haley
_____________________________________________
Letter to the Editor #1 (from makeminechocolate.org):
Dear Editor:
Over the next few weeks, thousands of local adults will be tempted to buy an Easter rabbit for a beloved child, godchild, grandchild, niece, or nephew. And a few months from now, our local animal shelters will be, as they are every year, inundated by a flood of cast-off bunnies. I ask that everyone who is considering buying a rabbit this year stop and think about two important facts:
First, although rabbits can make wonderful pets, they are naturally fragile and timid. An active child who expects a cuddly pet can easily terrify or even injure a rabbit.
Second, a well cared for rabbit should live as long as large dog (ten years or more) and will require just as much love, attention, and veterinary care as a dog or cat would. So donât give an Easter rabbit to a child unless you know that the childâs parents will be happy to take on a decade-long commitment.
If you want to make a childâs Easter happy, donât give a live rabbit unless you know it will be loved and cared for throughout its natural life. If thereâs any doubt, give a stuffed or chocolate bunny instead.
Still interested in a Rabbit? Do some research first.
The sites http://www.makeminechocolate.org and http://www.rabbit.org are great places to start!
_____________________________________________
Another Letter to the Editor (from HRS):
Dear Editor,
Soon Easter will be upon us and many parents are tempted to buy one of those cute baby Easter bunnies that appear in all the pet stores. Unless the child is older than 12 years and is very responsible, a toy stuffed bunny will make a much better gift.
Rabbits are fragile creatures. They have a lighter bone structure than do dogs or cats and easily break the spine if dropped. Baby bunnies are cute and cuddly and tolerate handling. But babyhood doesnât last long. In two short months, puberty turns that baby rabbit into Bugs Bunny. Often, the bunny no longer tolerates being held. Powerful hind legs can scratch and sharp teeth can bite. Un-neutered males spray and mark their territory, just like dogs. Unspayed females are territorial and may attack little hands that enter the cage. Thumper must be spayed or neutered to eliminate these undesirable behaviors. Every summer humane shelters receive a large influx of former Easter rabbits as they reach adolescence.
Rabbits live 10 to 12 years. Will your child still care for the rabbit after the novelty wears off? Or will Thumper spend this summer abandoned in a backyard hutch? Like dogs, rabbits are social animals and need daily interactions with their human owners.
Last year, hundreds of rabbits were surrendered at animal shelters across this state. And unlike wild rabbits, pet rabbits released into the wild cannot fend for themselves. Thumper wonât survive for more than a day or two on his own.
Older rabbits in shelters have little chance of being adopted because most people mistakenly want a baby rabbit. This is unfortunate because older rabbits make the best pets. They are more tolerant of children and have reached their affectionate adult personality.
Rabbits make great pets, provided you accept them on their own terms. They need a safe and loving environment in your home â not in an outdoor hutch. Save a life and donât buy an Easter bunny. If you must have a rabbit, rescue an altered rabbit from your local animal shelter or from the House Rabbit Society. A listing of available rabbits near you is found at http://www.petfinder.orgor via the House Rabbit Society chapter websites as http://www.rabbit.org.
Sincerely,
{Your name, city/town}
_____________________________________________
All they would have to do is cut and paste a bit....
I also put up this revamp of the MCC flyer on my local kijiji (Craigslist replica)
AD TITLE: Are you considering buying/selling a Bunny this Easter?
Make Mine Chocolate!
Before you bring a pet rabbit into your home at Easter, please consider these facts:
- Rabbits are NOT low-maintenance pets! They require as much work as a dog or cat.
- Rabbits can live 8-10 years, sometimes longer.
- The necessary spay/neuter can cost $100 or more
- Rabbits require routine veterinary care.
- Rabbits are not cuddly - they can become frightened when held!
(They would rather sit beside you and be stroked.)
- Pet rabbits cannot be set "free" - it's a death sentence.
This Easter, why not make it a CHOCOLATE bunny, or a cuddly stuffed toy instead?
Let's make it a Happy Easter for bunnies too
Help spread the word that rabbits are NOT disposable pets.
Visit http://www.makeminechocolate.org
to see if a rabbit is really the right pet for you and your family.
or,contact mefor more info!
I'd be happy to talk with you
___________________________________________
You may also consider putting in some info about your local shelter or rabbit rescue. I included a blurb at the bottom of my craigslist posts that said if you have decided a rabbit is right for you, please contact (insert name of local rabbit rescue)...
RO's official policy is that we are not against adoption of rabbits at Easter, only that people who are adopting should be educated on what they are getting into. Hopefully this can help educate some people who are considering a rabbit for Easter.
-Haley
_____________________________________________
Letter to the Editor #1 (from makeminechocolate.org):
Dear Editor:
Over the next few weeks, thousands of local adults will be tempted to buy an Easter rabbit for a beloved child, godchild, grandchild, niece, or nephew. And a few months from now, our local animal shelters will be, as they are every year, inundated by a flood of cast-off bunnies. I ask that everyone who is considering buying a rabbit this year stop and think about two important facts:
First, although rabbits can make wonderful pets, they are naturally fragile and timid. An active child who expects a cuddly pet can easily terrify or even injure a rabbit.
Second, a well cared for rabbit should live as long as large dog (ten years or more) and will require just as much love, attention, and veterinary care as a dog or cat would. So donât give an Easter rabbit to a child unless you know that the childâs parents will be happy to take on a decade-long commitment.
If you want to make a childâs Easter happy, donât give a live rabbit unless you know it will be loved and cared for throughout its natural life. If thereâs any doubt, give a stuffed or chocolate bunny instead.
Still interested in a Rabbit? Do some research first.
The sites http://www.makeminechocolate.org and http://www.rabbit.org are great places to start!
_____________________________________________
Another Letter to the Editor (from HRS):
Dear Editor,
Soon Easter will be upon us and many parents are tempted to buy one of those cute baby Easter bunnies that appear in all the pet stores. Unless the child is older than 12 years and is very responsible, a toy stuffed bunny will make a much better gift.
Rabbits are fragile creatures. They have a lighter bone structure than do dogs or cats and easily break the spine if dropped. Baby bunnies are cute and cuddly and tolerate handling. But babyhood doesnât last long. In two short months, puberty turns that baby rabbit into Bugs Bunny. Often, the bunny no longer tolerates being held. Powerful hind legs can scratch and sharp teeth can bite. Un-neutered males spray and mark their territory, just like dogs. Unspayed females are territorial and may attack little hands that enter the cage. Thumper must be spayed or neutered to eliminate these undesirable behaviors. Every summer humane shelters receive a large influx of former Easter rabbits as they reach adolescence.
Rabbits live 10 to 12 years. Will your child still care for the rabbit after the novelty wears off? Or will Thumper spend this summer abandoned in a backyard hutch? Like dogs, rabbits are social animals and need daily interactions with their human owners.
Last year, hundreds of rabbits were surrendered at animal shelters across this state. And unlike wild rabbits, pet rabbits released into the wild cannot fend for themselves. Thumper wonât survive for more than a day or two on his own.
Older rabbits in shelters have little chance of being adopted because most people mistakenly want a baby rabbit. This is unfortunate because older rabbits make the best pets. They are more tolerant of children and have reached their affectionate adult personality.
Rabbits make great pets, provided you accept them on their own terms. They need a safe and loving environment in your home â not in an outdoor hutch. Save a life and donât buy an Easter bunny. If you must have a rabbit, rescue an altered rabbit from your local animal shelter or from the House Rabbit Society. A listing of available rabbits near you is found at http://www.petfinder.orgor via the House Rabbit Society chapter websites as http://www.rabbit.org.
Sincerely,
{Your name, city/town}
_____________________________________________
All they would have to do is cut and paste a bit....
I also put up this revamp of the MCC flyer on my local kijiji (Craigslist replica)
AD TITLE: Are you considering buying/selling a Bunny this Easter?
Make Mine Chocolate!
Before you bring a pet rabbit into your home at Easter, please consider these facts:
- Rabbits are NOT low-maintenance pets! They require as much work as a dog or cat.
- Rabbits can live 8-10 years, sometimes longer.
- The necessary spay/neuter can cost $100 or more
- Rabbits require routine veterinary care.
- Rabbits are not cuddly - they can become frightened when held!
(They would rather sit beside you and be stroked.)
- Pet rabbits cannot be set "free" - it's a death sentence.
This Easter, why not make it a CHOCOLATE bunny, or a cuddly stuffed toy instead?
Let's make it a Happy Easter for bunnies too
Help spread the word that rabbits are NOT disposable pets.
Visit http://www.makeminechocolate.org
to see if a rabbit is really the right pet for you and your family.
or,contact mefor more info!
I'd be happy to talk with you
___________________________________________
You may also consider putting in some info about your local shelter or rabbit rescue. I included a blurb at the bottom of my craigslist posts that said if you have decided a rabbit is right for you, please contact (insert name of local rabbit rescue)...
