Easter is bad for rabbits. Widespread misunderstanding about domestic rabbits has made them one of America’s most neglected pets, and Jenny Jinya disagrees. The same illustrator and comic book artist who made people cry with her Good Boy and Black Cat strips has just created a new one to make people stop and think before bringing a bunny into their homes.
The thing is, many people think they are short-lived, low-maintenance, caged animals, so they must make good “starter pets,” similar to hamsters or goldfish. But the reality is quite different. Rabbits need a lot of exercise and cannot be kept in a cage for long periods of time. They also need to learn how to use a litter box, which requires patience, and since they are prey animals, they generally don’t like being picked up by humans; they prefer to stay in control, with their feet on the ground.
Because so many of these cute little balls of fur end up in animal shelters in late spring or early summer, some pet sellers even stop offering them before Easter and give prospective buyers a coupon for after. of the holidays in an effort to curb impulse purchases.
Once again, Jenny has portrayed the tragedy behind our careless decisions, showing what it could mean for the poor animal.
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Seemingly fluffy and cute, as bunnies mature between 3-6 months of age they can become aggressive and even destructive. Many new owners assume these undesirable behaviors are signs of a deeper problem and get rid of the animal even though proper exercise, litter box training, and spaying or neutering reduce the problem for most owners. Others may do a little research and refuse the time and money it takes to change the rabbits’ behavior. Jennifer McGee, co-director of the Georgia chapter of the House Rabbit Society, a shelter in the southeastern part of the state, told National Geographic that she is often shocked and frustrated by parents: “What do you mean I have to spend $200 to fix a $30 rabbit?
Image credits: jenny_jinya
Exactly how many rabbits are abandoned in the US is unclear. There is no organization that collects such data. Most shelters track how many dogs and cats they find, euthanize or put up for adoption, but they generally list rabbits with birds, reptiles and small mammals in the “other” category.
According to Anne Martin, executive director of the House Rabbit Society, about two-thirds of rescued rabbits in Northern California are strays fending for themselves. In some cities, like Las Vegas and Spokane, public parks and vacant lots have become dumping grounds for unwanted and untended rabbits. People leave them, probably not knowing that it is a death sentence. Domestic rabbits lack the survival instincts of their wild cousins, Martin says, and can’t fight off infection, build safe havens or adapt to the weather.
