Eggs delivered by the Easter Bunny are as much a part of the holiday as a tree is at Christmas. And many people will buy a rabbit to accompany an Easter basket and an egg hunt.

But rabbits are not seasonal promotional items; they represent a 10-year commitment.

“As pets, rabbits are not low maintenance,” said Ed Van Herik, president of the North Georgia House Rabbit Society in Marietta. “They require at least the same amount of work as a cat or dog, and often more.”

Van Herik said that many of the rabbits purchased as Easter pets will never live to see their first birthday. Some will die from neglect, while others will be abandoned in local parks or left at animal shelters.

“If a parent wants to buy an Easter gift for their child, they should consider a chocolate rabbit,” he said. “The kids can enjoy them for 10 minutes, and they won’t have to take care of them for the next 10 years.”

Bucky, a rabbit cared for by the House Rabbit Society, knows first-hand the suffering that neglect can cause. Bucky was found huddled under a front porch last August, wet and shivering. Many rabbits are abandoned in August, a common month when animal shelters see thousands of the now teenaged and not-as-cuddly “Easter Bunnies” show up at their doors. Bucky suffered from extensive flea and tick infestations and had to have surgery for several abscesses before he was adopted by a caring, considerate owner.

Most people who purchase rabbits or other seasonal pets at Easter receive no education and often see the new pets as a holiday frill, able to be put into the wild after a few months.

“A house rabbit is as able to survive in the wild as you or I would be if we were set down naked in the woods,” said Van Herik. “If we buy pets, we owe them more than that. We owe them care and consideration, both before we buy them and after we take them home.”

For more information about rabbit care and ownership, go to www.houserabbitga.org or www.rabbit.org.

Rabbits are one of the most popular pets, apart from dogs and cats. They look attractive, lovely, gentle, friendly and cute. They are easy to take care and undemanding in terms of care and housing. They will settle well either indoor or outdoor, at home.

There are 40 species of rabbits and hares worldwide. All domesticated rabbits are originated from European rabbits. The scientific name for domestic rabbit is Oryctolagus cuniculus.

Typically, domesticated rabbits weigh between 2.2-221lb (1-10kg). The domesticated rabbits can be fed on commercially produced rabbit food, pellets, hay, green food, root vegetables, tree bark, herbs and apple.

The gestation period of a rabbit is 31 days and the typical litter size ranges from 6-8 young. The lifespan varies with breed.

Keeping a rabbit as pet requires a good training system to prevent unnecessary destructions or hassle. For example, furniture and carpet chewing problems, pseudo pregnancy symptoms, litter problems, fights, behavioral problems, rabbit-house worries, sickness, fleas, predators and etc. Nevertheless, these challenges can be overcome when the owners have the knowledge and experience to deal with them. Thus, one of the recommended ways to acquire the important knowledge is to read widely and exchange practical information with experienced rabbit owners.

It is important to watch out for any abnormalities in your rabbits as rabbits are susceptible to various digestive ailments and other life-threatening diseases. For example, rabbits are vulnerable to myxomatosis and VHD viruses. These are the killer viruses!

There is no universal system of classification for rabbit breeds. Some popular breeds of rabbits include:

• Alaska
• American Fuzzy Lop
• American Sable
• Angora
• Belgian Hare
• Beveren
• Californian
• Champagne D’Argent
• Checkered Giant
• Chinchilla
• Dutch
• Dwarf Hotot
• English Lop
• Flemish Giant
• Florida White
• Harlequin
• Havana
• Himalayan
• Hotot
• Jersey Wooly
• Lilac
• Holland Lop
• Mini Lop
• Mini Rex
• Netherland Dwarf
• New Zealand
• Palomino
• Polish
• Rex
• Rhinelander
• Satin
• Silver
• Silver Fox
• Silver Marten
• Tan

Yours Sincerely,
Amanda Gates
http://www.rabbitinfo.careforpet-rabbit.com