As marshmallow Peeps and Cadbury Eggs make their way into children's Easter baskets Sunday, one organization wants would-be bunny givers to consider the responsibilities in caring for rabbits.
Waltham resident and House Rabbit Network volunteer Bill Southworth said he has seen first-hand the plight of cast-off rabbits.
He says they are either turned loose by former owners or over-bred in confined areas by those who refused to spay or neuter them.
The organization wants potential owners to know rabbits can make good pets for the right families.
Formed in February 2000, the House Rabbit Network is a volunteer group that provides foster care for discarded or mistreated rabbits while educating the public.
In 2007, the network of foster families and facilities have found long-term homes for 901 rabbits, Southworth said. Just a few months into 2008, they have already placed 53 rabbits in permanent homes this year.
Although the organization does not have the ability or resources to take unwanted rabbits from families looking to surrender their pets, they do provide a vast array of information and options on their Web site.
The network does offer temporary homes and adoption routes for abandoned or mistreated rabbits. Usually, the network gets a phone call reporting a domesticated rabbit has been released into the wild, such as when callers repeatedly reported someone was dumping the animals in Plymouth recently, said Southworth.
Although every rabbit's journey into the network is different, Southworth said their painful pasts could have been avoided if their owners had been better informed.
The biggest mistake many owners make is assuming the animals are starter-pets that can be caged throughout the day, he said.
"If you just leave them alone in their cage they're going to get depressed," said Southworth. "Sort of institutionalized."
As pets, rabbits should be taken out of their cages, which Southworth said should be indoors, for a long period each day. Along with the helpful resources included on the House Rabbit Network are tips for bunny-proofing rooms.
"They can have the run of the room," he said. "They're very curious."
Rabbits, he said, are intended to be social animals. Most domesticated rabbits hail from European breeds, which live in large colonies.
Southworth also recommends potential owners consider adopting two rabbits at once.
"They form very tight bonds," he said. "They want to be around other people and/or rabbits."
Unlike many dogs and cats, rabbits are not typically well-suited for small children. A tug on the ear or a pull of their tail is all it takes to send a rabbit into panic mode where they can literally give themselves a heart attack, he said.
"Being a prey animal ... it's just instinct," Southworth said. "It doesn't take a whole lot to harm them."
Because of their trepidation, most rabbits do not like to be held or sit on laps, he said.
Also, a rabbit's particular breed only guarantees the color and size of the animal, not the personality, he said.
"You're not sure what you are getting," he said.
As opposed to other primarily caged animals, such as hamsters or gerbils, a properly cared for rabbit can live up to 10 years, making the decision to adopt a long-term commitment, he said.
Despite the responsibility, owning a rabbit is worth the reward, Southworth said. After first rescuing an abandoned Easter present, Southworth turned to the House Rabbit Network for assistance and answers.
Now, three rabbits later, he volunteers with education sessions and helps find permanent homes for the abandoned pets.
Polly, who Southworth estimates is 2 years old, came to him from Fitchburg in January 2007. Although the details aren't clear, Polly was one of 34 rabbits for which the organization found temporary homes after they were contacted by Fitchburg Police.
Polly, along with others, were housed indoors, constantly bred and poorly socialized. Eventually, Polly was placed permanently with Southworth.
"Just in five months, the transition she made is just incredible," he said. "She had a lot of things going against her. She's come around quite a bit."
