Many children wish for a rabbit for Easter. The desire for a live cuddly toy is often so strong that it is fulfilled by parents, grandparents, or other relatives. Unfortunately, however, the live Easter gift often ends up lonely in a cage that is far too small, or after only a short time in an animal shelter or zoo as snake food.
Giving a rabbit as a gift places a heavy burden of work and financial strain on the recipient: For species-appropriate care, building a suitable outdoor enclosure with an insulated sleeping area is essential. "Furthermore, rabbits must be kept in pairs at a minimum," explains animal rights activist Susy Utzinger.
Live rabbits are not cuddly toys! It is neither in the rabbit's nature nor in its best interest to land on a person's arm and be petted calmly. Therefore, it can certainly happen that the "cuddly toy" leaves painful marks on the body of the child petting it.
The end of what were once Easter gifts is often sad: many rabbits languish lonely in their cages after the initial excitement. Susy Utzinger: "Some of them are given away indiscriminately, end up in animal shelters, in zoos as snake food, or are otherwise 'disposed of.'"
There's certainly nothing wrong with adding a cute, long-eared teddy bear to your family's plush toy collection. A plush toy can also serve as a promise to get a real rabbit. If parents and children agree, have thoroughly researched the needs of rabbits, and their lifestyle and living situation allow for keeping rabbits properly for an extended period, then a trip to the animal shelter is perfectly acceptable. Often, animals acquired impulsively are waiting there for a second chance with true rabbit lovers – including young rabbits.
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