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Bunnies, chicks and chocolates can make Easter a disaster

Tuesday, March 01, 2005

Ottawa – Easter is just around the corner, and some families may be considering celebrating this holiday, so often associated with bunnies and chicks, by getting a live, furry addition to their home.

“Please resist the temptation of picking up a rabbit at the pet shop just to surprise your kids on Easter Sunday,” warns Bob Van Tongerloo, CEO of the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies. “Baby rabbits are adorable, but purchasing or adopting one is a serious decision, and, like any other animal, they shouldn't be bought on a whim, or as a surprise gift.”

Each year, humane societies are flooded with Easter rabbits, bought to celebrate the holiday, often to surprise young children, but unwanted weeks or months later.

Domestic rabbits can be great pets: they can be litter trained, are playful and can bond with members of a family. But, like all other companion animals, owning a rabbit entails certain financial and time commitments. Rabbits, for example, should have regular veterinary exams and should be spayed or neutered – this will not only prevent unwanted pregnancies, but can help prevent certain diseases. Rabbits also need their nails trimmed regularly, and should be given appropriate chewing toys or blocks to file down their teeth, since rabbit teeth never stop growing. Rabbits also need human contact, and should have playtime outside their cage. Also keep in mind, domestic rabbits can live to be 7 to 10 years old.

Giving your children a chick is almost never a good idea, unless you live in a rural area and already have the proper environment to house a growing chicken. In fact, may municipalities do not allow the keeping of chicks in urban areas.

If your family has seriously considered obtaining a rabbit as a pet, and you are ready to commit to the animal's needs, the CFHS encourages you to visit your local humane society. Many people are often surprised to hear that animal shelters have a wide variety of animals for adoption: in addition to cats and dogs, many shelters also accept rabbits, hamsters, mice, rats, guinea pigs, birds and others.

Dog owners should also beware of Easter

If you are planning an Easter egg hunt, don't forget that Fido might be tempted to sniff out the chocolate goodies before the kids ever find them – and that chocolate is poisonous to dogs, and could even be deadly.

If you do go ahead with a chocolate hunt, make sure Fido is safely kept away from any secret treats. Better yet, why not use plastic eggs that can later be traded in for the real chocolate ones? You can even get your dog to join into the fun by getting him to hunt for his own dog treats!

About the CFHS – The CFHS is a national organization representing over 100 member humane societies and speaking collectively for more than 400,000 individuals. The CFHS is a charitable organization committed to ending the suffering of animals by working with the public, government, industry, the scientific community, educators and the media on both national and local levels toward this goal.

For more information, please contact:

Tanya O'Callaghan, Communications Coordinator
T: (613) 224-8072
tanyao@cfhs.ca

or

Shelagh MacDonald, Program Director
T: (613) 224-8072
shelaghm@cfhs.ca

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