Are you thinking of buying your kids a pet RABBIT or a baby CHICK for Easter? Animal rights advocates would just like to say please don't. Or at least think long and hard before you do it . . .
Rabbits have to be spayed or neutered, just like dogs and cats. That can cost 300 bucks or more. And if you don't do it, they can become aggressive and BITE your child. They can also be easily frightened and die.
Also, kids tend to lose interest in rabbits once they get bigger, so YOU end up being the one who has to take care of it.
That's one reason why bunnies bought as Easter gifts tend to end up in animal shelters, or just abandoned. And they cannot be released into the wild because they are not capable of taking care of themselves.
People think they can survive on their own in the wild but domestic rabbits have different food requirements than wild ones. And they basically have no survival skills. Dogs and large birds are two of the biggest threats. Richmond Wildlife Center has some good information.
It might be a better idea to skip the real rabbit, and buy your kid a chocolate one instead. Or adopt one from a shelter.......plus you can always take them to a rabbit sanctuary to learn about and pet some rabbits or chicks. This is something close to Rebecca Wilde's heart after all the years she has worked and volunteered in animal shelters. She has seen some things you don't want to think about. Happy Easter!
