Easter bunnies may seem cute, but 海角换妻 rescue groups say it鈥檚 a bad idea.
Rescue groups often get calls after Easter from families looking to surrender their rabbits.
鈥淓very year we received dozens of calls from families looking to surrender their animals after Easter,鈥� said Moira Colley, the adoption director at . 鈥淭hey're not props or toys. They are a lifetime commitment.鈥�
While rabbits can become cherished indoor companions, it鈥檚 important to understand it takes a lot of responsibility to care for them, she said.
鈥淭hey are very complex animals; they're extremely sensitive to sounds, so they don't make a good pet for children,鈥� Colley said. 鈥淯nfortunately, there's just a strong need until they're able to find their forever homes.鈥�
While cats and dogs retain the title of most beloved pets in the U.S., the domestic rabbit is a popular furry friend. There are more than 2 million pet rabbits across the U.S., .
Colley says that Hopalong Hollow operates entirely on volunteer efforts and donations. With about 30 to 40 volunteers, the organization is led by Linda Thibault, who has placed nearly 2,000 rabbits into homes. Currently, Hopalong Hollow houses around 70 rabbits available for adoption, many of which have been rescued from horrifying conditions.
鈥淭he whole nine yards,鈥� Colley said. 鈥淩anging from animals we found running loose, outside animals who've been seized in cruelty cases, rescued from backyard breeders, people who want to butcher them and slaughter them for meat.鈥�
Colley urges prospective adopters to learn about rabbits' needs and personalities before adoption.
鈥淎 lot of people think, 鈥極h, I don't want to care for my rabbit anymore; I'll just let him loose outside,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat's never a good thing to do to domestic rabbits. They've been conditioned to not be able to hunt for their own food. They lack those skills to be able to survive in the wild.
