MYTH: Rabbits are easy, low-maintenance or good “starter” pets for small children.

TRUTH: Rabbits are quiet, sensitive, and intelligent animals that can be reliably litter-box trained. They make wonderful companions for adults and responsible older teens. However, it’s important for parents to recognize that a rabbit is not, and never will be, a child’s pet. Rabbits are high-maintenance, exotic animals that require consistent, attentive, and detail oriented care. While children may enjoy helping occasionally, the primary responsibility will always fall on the parents. Parents hoping to use a rabbit to teach responsibility should proceed with caution, as it’s often the case that children loose interest or struggle to follow-through with daily chores, and its the rabbit who ends up suffering and neglected.

To thrive, rabbits must live indoors as part of the family. Ideally, they should be free-roaming like a cat or dog, or housed in a large x-pen placed in a central, high-traffic area such as the living room where they can be part of daily family life.

Unlike popular belief, rabbits are not naturally cuddly pets. Most do not enjoy being picked up or held. Their fragile spines and strong back legs make improper handling dangerous — both for the rabbit and for the child. A frightened rabbit may kick, scratch, or bite, and being dropped can lead to serious injury or even death.

Bringing a rabbit into your home requires consideration of your lifestyle (such as amount of time spent at home and frequency of travel), available space, and your children’s personalities. Rabbits are easily startled by loud noises and sudden movements and are best suited to calm, structured households with a set schedule. While some children over the age of 12 may be capable of learning gentle behavior and assisting with some care, rabbits are generally not a good fit for families with very young or high-energy children who struggle with boundaries and following set rules.

For families with children, medium to large breed adult rabbits are a better choice than young or dwarf breeds, as they tend to be calmer, sturdier, and less tempting for children to try to pick up. Spayed / neutered adult rabbits are more reliably litter-trained and have established personalities, which helps ensure a good match. Adopting from a rescue not only supports ethical animal care but also increases the likelihood of finding a rabbit that fits well with your family’s needs.

80 % of bunnies purchased for Easter are abandoned a few months later. Most will not survive to be 1 year old.

Every year after Easter and Christmas thousands of rabbits are abandoned in shelters or “released in the wild”, where they will not survive. Domestic rabbits lack the instincts to find food, water and shelter; many are hit by cars, attacked by predators or succumb to illness within days. Misconceptions that rabbits are cheap, short-lived, low-maintenance or good “starter” pets for children drive this tragedy.

#NotJust4Easter

You can follow YouTubers Lennon the Bunny and Sincerely, Cinnabun to learn more about life with a free-roaming rabbit.

Are you getting a bunny for your child? Children quickly lose interest in pets they cannot pick up or cuddle. Are you prepared to take over daily care if they do?

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Rabbits can live 10+ years. Will you still love and provide for them when they are elderly and need special care?

Do you travel often? Rabbits cannot be left alone for days. Boarding costs $25-40 / day and rabbit-savvy sitters are rare.

Are you willing to spend $300-$1,200 on veterinary care? Annual exotic-vet exams run $75-90; emergencies or surgery can exceed $1,200 in one day.

Want a friend for your rabbit? We offer Speed-dating (one-hour introductions to 4-5 potential matches) and Pre-bonding (we do the early bonding work for you, $50 / day, rabbits ready to live together in 3-7 days).

Requirements: All rabbits must be spay / neutered and vet-checked within the last 3-6 months.

Bonding criteria:

• AGE: within 1-2 years of each other.
• SIZE: within 1-2 lb.
• GENDER: M/F easiest; other pairs depend on personality.
• NATURE: submissive + dominant pairs bond fastest.

There’s no such thing as a hypoallergenic rabbit. All rabbits shed and produce dander though Rex breeds may shed slightly less because they lack an undercoat. Rabbits also molt heavily twice a year, in spring and fall.

Out-of-state adoptions are considered on a case-by-case basis for experienced owners. A health certificate (required for crossing state lines by car or plane) costs $105 and must be covered by the new owner. Ground transport may be arranged to neighboring states only. For all other locations, adopters will need to arrange air travel with an airline that allows rabbits in the cabin, also at their own expense.