'Buy chocolate bunnies this easter, not real ones,' plead experts
Think long and hard before adopting a rabbit this week.
That’s the message from northern Ontario animal groups who fear on weeks like this, when we’re just days away from Easter, people may try to adopt bunnies without doing their proper research.
<photo>
The real concern is what will happen to the animals afterward. Experts told CTV News people should be prepared before taking on this commitment.
“Bunnies are not rodents, they’re lagomorphs, so they’re actually exotic pets so they’re not like dogs or cats,” said Enara Iturregui, of the Sudbury Bunny Rescue Room.
“Although their personality is very similar to both dogs and cats but it means that they’re maybe not as easy to re-home because they require a little bit more care.”
In moving back to Sudbury, Iturregui helped found the rescue seeing a need in the city.
The foster-based group has between 13 and 18 currently in their care.
While many of us can relate to being a ‘cat person’ or a ‘dog person,’ she said a ‘bunny person’ is someone who has read up on the extra care involved.
“They’re really amazing pets but there is a lot more on the owner’s part that has to be done because they are prey animals,” said Iturregui.
“Unlike a dog or a cat that’s a predator that’s relatively trusting of people, bunny people have to work at gaining their bunny’s trust.”
Iturregui and her team know there’s a dumping situation in the city. They know of a few dumping grounds where people have had to dispose of rabbits.
In a perfect world, she’s said, she is hopeful they could find homes for all their rabbits but added if you’re going to adopt, make sure it’s not just an Easter thing.
“It would also include those people who do adopt, making the commitment, looking up our organization, asking us questions because we are here to promote bunnies, we think they’re great pets,” said Iturregui
“We just don’t want people to be buying them on a whim.”
It is a sentiment shared by other groups, including Pet Save, which said while rabbits make great pets, you have to do your research.
“We still have bunnies that we’ve had up for adoption for the last year or two so they’re very hard to find homes for so we encourage people to try the chocolate bunny for the children and maybe steer clear of the actual bunnies,” said Pet Save director Jill Pessot.
Pet Save has made donations to the Rescue Room to help them with their efforts.
Since its creation last year, Iturregui figures they’ve been able to find 35 bunnies good homes.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING 120 active fires burning across Canada, 30 are 'out of control'
The 2024 wildfire season has begun, and it's shaping up to follow last year's unprecedented destruction in kind, with thousands of square kilometres already consumed.
Veteran TSN sportscaster Darren Dutchyshen has died
Veteran TSN broadcaster Darren 'Dutch' Dutchyshen, one of Canada’s best-known sports journalists, has died. He was 57. His family says 'he passed as he was surrounded by his closest loved ones.'
BREAKING B.C. parents sentenced to 15 years for death of 6-year-old boy
A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has sentenced the mother and stepfather of a six-year-old boy who died from blunt-force trauma in 2018 to 15 years in prison.
Legislative speaker cuts ties with Sask. Party, alleges he faced threats, harassment from gov't MLAs
The Speaker of the Saskatchewan Legislature Randy Weekes has severed ties with the Sask. Party after accusing some members of harassment and intimidation tactics, including a situation he claimed saw the Government House Leader bring a hunting rifle to the legislative building.
Kevin Spacey receives star support as he fights to get his career back
Kevin Spacey is pushing back on the 'rush to judgment' against him and is being backed by some big names as he seeks to reclaim his acting career.
A Toronto man killed his mother and decapitated her. His lawyers argue it wasn't murder
A ‘lifetime of abuse’ led Dallas Ly to snap and repeatedly stab his mother inside their Leslieville apartment in 2022 but he never intended to kill her, his defence lawyers argued during his murder trial in Toronto on Thursday.
Father charged with second-degree murder in daughter's stabbing death southwest of Montreal
A father has been charged with second-degree murder in the stabbing death of his 34-year-old daughter in southern Quebec.
Trudeau calls New Brunswick's Conservative government a 'disgrace' on women's rights
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau assailed New Brunswick's premier and other conservative leaders on Thursday, calling out the provincial government's position on abortion, LGBTQ youth and climate change.
The latest advice for expecting parents? Sign up for childcare as soon as you're pregnant
Canada's new $10-a-day child care program is expanding, but there's growing evidence that demand for the program is rising even faster, leaving many parents on the outside looking in.