In the Press
[ Back to In the Press ]February is "Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month"
By Abi Cushman, co-editor of MyHouseRabbit.com, Lyme Times, 2/17/09
If you are uninitiated to the world of bunnies, you may not realize that February is “Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month.” So in the spirit of spreading awareness, here are a few benefits of adopting a pet rabbit from a rescue or shelter.
But before you get too excited about getting a rabbit, it should be noted that although rabbits make wonderful indoor companions (who can be easily litter trained), they are not low maintenance pets. Rabbits require the same amount of care and attention as cats or dogs, and they can live around 10 years or more. But if you and your family are willing to make the commitment, read on!
Shelters and rescues are continually overrun with abandoned rabbits, and they are likely to have rabbits of varying sizes, breeds, and ages. So, if you were looking specifically for a young mini lop, you will probably find a good candidate at the local shelter. But you might also surprise yourself and fall in love with an older mixed-breed rabbit once you start looking.
Adopting from a rescue is also very convenient. Volunteers at rescues take the time to acclimate rabbits to living in apartments and houses. In this way, the time it would take to train the rabbit yourself is cut down considerably. For example, rescue volunteers litter box train the rabbits as they come in. So although a rabbit may take a little while to adjust to living in a new home, you will not have to litter train your new bunny from scratch.
Furthermore, because a lot of rescued rabbits live in foster homes, many are accustomed to living in households with children and other pets. If your household situation is similar, adopting a rabbit who is already comfortable in that environment makes the transition easier for both you and the rabbit.
If you were interested in having multiple pet rabbits, you may be able to adopt a bonded pair or trio. This saves you the time and effort of bonding the rabbits yourself. Adopting a bonded pair or trio is ideal if you work full time because the rabbits can entertain each other while you're gone.
In addition to saving a lot of time and effort, adopting a rabbit from a rescue also saves you money on vet bills. Rabbit rescues usually have partnerships with local vets, and rabbits will be spayed or neutered upon reaching sexual maturity. You can adopt a rabbit after he or she has recovered from the surgery, and you won't have to worry about paying for the procedure yourself.
Moreover, some rabbits suffer from health conditions of varying severity. One common affliction is malocclusion, a condition where the rabbit's teeth are not aligned properly, and the rabbit is unable to wear down his/her teeth. When you adopt from a rescue, all the rabbits will be checked and treated for malocclusion as well as other afflictions. If the rabbit has an chronic health issue, the rescue will alert potential owners of the condition, so only those willing and able to provide special care will adopt the bunny.
Finally, rescue volunteers are very knowledgeable. Before leaving you on your own with your new companion, they will make sure you know how to properly care for your house rabbit. Understanding the behavior and needs of your bunny is essential to creating a rewarding, long-term relationship.
For more information on rabbit care and behavior, check out the following resources:
Ready to adopt? Adopt a bunny from one of these local rabbit rescues:
- Sweet Binks Rabbit Rescue, Foster, RI
- 3 Bunnies Rabbit Rescue, East Hartford, CT
- The House Rabbit Connection, Springfield, MA