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.

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.

As a rescue we hear all to often of the pit falls people encounter on their bonding journey. Many people don’t realize that rabbits are extremely territorial and bringing a new rabbit home can lead to serious fights and injuries. Rabbits need to go through a weeks long, nuanced bonding process that can take 2 weeks or 2 months (or more) before they can live together safely. And not all rabbits can be bonded. Like people, some just don’t get along.

Check out our: [Intro to Bonding Rabbits]