Some Bunny to Love

Bunny Buddies educates the public about rabbits while finding them homes.

By Jennifer Hayes, Best Friends Staff

February is “Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month.” While everyone knows there are many homeless cats and dogs throughout the United States, according to the House Rabbit Society, bunnies have the dubious distinction of being the third most relinquished animal in shelters.

While they can make great pets, it is important that you educate yourself on rabbit behavior and care prior to adding one to the family. “If you are willing to accept a rabbit on a rabbit’s terms, you will fall in love and find yourself a new wonderful companion animal,” notes Les Wood, President of Bunny Buddies.

Rabbits 101
Rabbits can make fabulous pets; however, there are many misconceptions surrounding them.

(Mar is an adoptable female English lop.)

One myth is that rabbits are good pets for young children. Rabbits can be delicate and generally do not like to be picked up. Many kids do not understand this, which can result in kicks, bites, or scratches.

Rabbits are just so cute; it is difficult for people to resist the long ears and twitching nose. At Easter, this often results in baby bunnies being given to children as gifts. In just a few months rabbits mature and begin to display natural behaviors. As these habits appear and the rabbit outgrows their baby cuteness, many end up being relinquished to animal shelters, or worse, being dumped outside.

To try and combat the cycle of inappropriate purchases, the Make Mine Chocolate campaign was launched in 2002 by the House Rabbit Society. The MMC mission is to educate the public about rabbits and discourage people from purchasing live rabbits as gifts. Instead, please buy chocolate or plush stuffed bunnies to give to children at Easter.

Despite what Bugs Bunny says, rabbits do not dine exclusively on carrots. While they are herbivores, carrots contain a high sugar content and should only be given as occasional treats. Timothy hay, quality hay pellets, and fresh leafy greens are far more suitable meals. Do not forget to also provide something appropriate to chew on. Various bark and branches may be purchased at retail establishments; however, pine cones (if baked in the oven to remove parasites) are favorite items to chew to wear down their continuously growing teeth.

(Petunia is an adoptable female lop-eared mix.)

Living outside in a cage is not a suitable environment. Such enclosures do not allow for exercise or mental stimulation and can cause foot issues from constantly standing on wire. Also, because of an instinctual fright mechanism, a rabbit can die instantly if exposed to a predator. Even if the cage provides a safe environment, he does not know this, and any threatening hawk, coyote, or even domestic cat or dog can literally scare a rabbit to death. Life within a home is much more safe and comfortable. Most cages sold at retail establishments are generally too small and high-priced. Bunny condos can be inexpensively built and provide the needed space for a rabbit to exercise. Plus daily excursions out of the pen can be fun for both rabbit and guardian.

Of course rabbits must be spayed and neutered. The gestation period for a female rabbit (a doe) is approximately 31 days and a litter consists of 4-12 kits. In fact, she can be impregnated the day she delivers. There is truth to the saying, “multiply like rabbits.” Much like cats and dogs, sterilizing a rabbit can reduce aggression, unwanted behaviors, spraying issues, and the chance of certain types of cancers. It is important to find a veterinarian experienced with fixing rabbits, since surgery has the potential to trigger cardiac arrest.

Come down to their level and rabbits can make fantastic companion animals. A seldom known fact is they can be trained to use a litter pan. They are quiet, although they do have a few vocalizations such as grunts, barks, squeals, and tooth purrs (grinding their teeth to show pleasure). “Rabbits are affectionate in their own way,” says Wood. One of his past fosters used to follow him around at his feet. Occasionally they will pull shoe laces or pant legs to get some attention. However, when a rabbit wants to express complete joy, he performs a “binky,” which consists of a jump up on the air and twist. Wood describes it as a “combination of gymnastics and ballet.”

Adoptables
Every third Sunday of the month, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM, Bunny Buddies holds an adoption event at Citizens for Animal Protection in Katy, Texas. Foster parents bring their rabbits to the adoption room to be seen with the shelter’s own bunnies. Here are some of the Bunny Buddies rabbits who are currently in need of homes.

Flopay and Flopbee: Both these boys are believed to be littermates and look virtually identical. They are long-haired lops and weigh around 5-6 pounds each. Because of their long fur, they need grooming a few times a week; however, just melt into their gorgeous eyes and it will be worth every moment. Because they are a bit skittish, they will need to go to quiet home, and while they do not like to be picked up, once safely on a shoulder, they are quite content to stay. Since they are a bonded pair, they will need to go to a home together

Shiloh and Shadow (see lead photo): This brother and sister pair were born to a pregnant mother taken in by Bunny Buddies. They are now each about one year old and are playful youngsters. They are only about 3 ½ pounds each, and because they have been socialized their entire lives, they do not mind being handled and truly enjoy interacting with people. These siblings have been together their entire lives, so will need to be adopted jointly.

Happily ever after
Uno is an example of a Bunny Buddies success story. This sweet boy was relinquished to a shelter because the family’s child had grown tired of him. In addition to being matted and covered in feces, he was missing most of one ear and 1/3 of the other.

Not surprisingly, after a life of exile and neglect in the garage, he lacked social skills. Were it not for Bunny Buddies volunteer Holly Marback agreeing to foster him, he would have been euthanized. Uno would lash out and attempt to bite Marback, who said even the veterinarian who neutered him described him as “combative.” In desperation, Marback employed the services of an animal communicator.

“I don't know what happened during that silent communication, but he ate Craisins from my hand the next day,” notes Marback. “This was the first glimmer of hope for a little guy who must have felt hopeless for a long time. From then on, we started seeing positive behavioral changes in Uno. He seemed to truly enjoy being held and snuggled. He got to where he didn't mind petting either. Uno didn't even mind a friend, who is a chiropractor, examining him! In two months, he went from a scared, defensive bunny to a lap rabbit.”

After another two months, he was put up for adoption as a “special needs” rabbit, to go to someone with rabbit experience and without young children. Within only a few weeks, he was adopted into the perfect home and is now happy in his new role of “lap bunny.”

About Bunny Buddies
Bunny Buddies was founded around 11 years ago and is completely foster based. The organization currently has approximately 30 rabbits in their program which they obtain both from local animal shelters and owner relinquishments. However, the organization was truly stretched to its limits last year when they became a Houston SPCA partner, after a seizure of hundreds of animals from a terminally ill breeder. Bunny Buddies took in approximately 80 of the 157 rabbits awarded to the SPCA. It was both a learning and growing experience for the group and one they fear may happen again. Wood notes, “One backyard breeder can put 300 rabbits into the system overnight.”

(Maxwell is an adoptable male mini rex.)

Education is one of their organization’s primary goals this year. One focus will be to teach the local shelters about proper rabbit care. While generally able to provide adequate short-term care for rabbits, most animal shelters primarily deal with dogs and cats and are lacking information about the special needs of rabbits. Bunny Buddies is developing Bunny U, which will consist of a series of classes. Lessons will start with very basic rabbit knowledge and progress to high level information for more experienced guardians.

So next time you are at a shelter, take some time to visit with the bunnies. With knowledge and the right attitude, many people find them to be the perfect pet. “I would encourage that everyone that is considering bringing a companion animal into their lives to consider a rabbit, but to do the research first,” notes Wood. “As you would with a child, think it through before bringing home an animal.”

How to help:
• Support Bunny Buddies by fostering, volunteering or donating.
• If you wish to add a rabbit to your family, please educate yourself about their behavior and care.
• After your research, should you still want a rabbit, adopt from a rescue or shelter instead of purchasing from a store or breeder.

For more information:
• Bunny Buddies
PO Box 131894
Houston, Texas 77219

Other rabbit rescues in Texas include:
• Blue Bunnies – Dallas/Ft. Worth
• North Texas Rabbit Sanctuary – Garland

• Not close to one of these rescues? See Petfinder for a listing of over 6,000 adoptable rabbits or see the House Rabbit Society for listings of rabbit rescue organizations by geographic area.
• Alfalfa and Timothy Lovers community

Photo credit: photos provided courtesy of Joe Marcom, JR Valdez, Les Wood, and Holly Marback of Bunny Buddies.