{"id":860,"date":"2018-03-28T13:00:31","date_gmt":"2018-03-28T20:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/?p=63947"},"modified":"2018-03-28T13:00:31","modified_gmt":"2018-03-28T20:00:31","slug":"madder-than-a-march-hare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/hi-lo\/pets\/madder-than-a-march-hare","title":{"rendered":"Madder than a March Hare"},"content":{"rendered":"

There haven\u2019t been any rabbits featured in the adoption column for the past couple of weeks, and there won\u2019t be any this week, either. This is because of what I wanted to refer to as the Easter Bunny Syndrome, but that term has already been seized upon as being the aversion to eating rabbits by people who do eat meat<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m going to appropriate it anyway\u2014my idea of an Easter Bunny Syndrome is this: a child clamors for an Easter bunny, and the adult says, \u201cLet\u2019s go buy\/adopt a bunny for Junior\/Sissy for Easter!\u201d If they haven\u2019t done rabbit research and thus sworn to a lifetime commitment, the little guy will be dropped off in a shelter where there will be more of a chance of a rescue pull or an adoption. More than likely, though, it\u2019ll be dumped in a park or at a college campus in the erroneous belief that a domestic rabbit will do just dandy in its \u201cnatural environment.\u201d Which it won\u2019t\u2014it\u2019ll be subject to predators, attacks by wild rabbits, cold and heat, and poison.<\/p>\n

This makes people like rabbit roommate Kieara Carroll madder than a March hare.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a bit irresponsible,\u201d Carroll said. \u201cBunnies that everyone purchases are domestic rabbits. They never had to get food for themselves. If people dump them, they\u2019ll be prey or die. They can\u2019t defend themselves. That\u2019s the saddest part about people getting a bunny as a hasty decision.\u201d<\/p>\n

Carroll and her boyfriend, Ryan Sanchez, live with Darius Bunnington, named for Carroll\u2019s boss, Darius Barrington. Carroll said that dumping particularly despicable because the rabbit has already formed a bond with the humans, and throwing one out to fend for itself after bonding is cruel and stressful, as it is with any discarded pet.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Darius Bunnington ready for his closeup after a good brushing. Grooming your bunny gets rid of stray hares. Sorry. Photo by Kieara Carroll.<\/em><\/p>\n

Bunny parent Michelle Crow has firsthand experience with an abandoned rabbit. She rescued her first rabbit from a friend who was overrun with pets. She found the one she has now, a mini lop she called Chibi, abandoned in the parking lot of her workplace.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll of my coworkers and I thought, well, he has to be an Easter bunny because it was springtime, and it was around Easter time,\u201d she said. \u201cHis age was too perfect\u2014his balls dropped the next month, so I knew he was four or five months old.\u201d<\/p>\n

Chibi was malnourished\u2014apparently the \u201cnatural environment\u201d wasn\u2019t kind to him\u2014but Crow took care of that pretty quickly. He\u2019s thrived in her care and is now 4 years old.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Chibi has no complaints now. He’s cute as a bunny, but he’s not a toy. Photo courtesy of Michelle Crow<\/em><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re thinking of getting a rabbit (and please adopt; don\u2019t buy them on social media from breeders\u2014where do the unadopted bunnies wind up? In the parks? In parking lots? Relinquished to the previously alluded-to stewpot?), here are some guidelines that Crow strongly advises anyone who wants to bring home a bunny to take seriously.<\/p>\n

Get your rabbit fixed<\/strong>, and make sure that you choose a vet that has experience in altering and otherwise treating rabbits.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are quite a few around,\u201d Crow said. \u201cIf the vet knows a lot about rabbits, I\u2019d go with them, but simply dog or cat veterinarians, no. Rabbits are sensitive, particular animals.\u201d<\/p>\n

Without the spay\/neuter procedure, Crow said, the combination of hormones, territory markings and Energizer Bunny activity will be overwhelming for both you and the bun. It\u2019s good for the health of the rabbit as well. Several resources indicate a large percentage\u201480 percent or more\u2014of an unfixed rabbit developing uterine, mammarian or ovarian cancer<\/a>, and males can develop testicular cancer. A male rabbit without his huevos <\/em>will be even less of an Easter bunny. (More information on altering a rabbit is available here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Dr. Walter Rosskopf, owner of the Avian and Exotic Animal Hospital<\/a><\/em>\u00a0in Hawthorne, readies Chibi for his neuter. Photo courtesy of Michelle Crow.<\/em><\/p>\n

Bunny-proof your house.<\/strong> This is imperative for protecting yourself and your rabbit. Rabbits are chewers and gnawers, and an encounter between a rabbit and an electrical cord will be disastrous. Anything you\u2019re OK with losing and that\u2019s not harmful to the rabbit, Crow said, will be fine. She takes great pains to keep any electrical cords out of Chibi\u2019s reach and to encase the others in strong plastic tubing. Keep houseplants out of the bunny\u2019s way as well\u2014his (or her) inner Peter Rabbit will come out in force, and those plants may be bad for the bunny. Read more about rabbit proofing here<\/a> .<\/p>\n

Bugs Bunny and other celebrity and visible rabbits may constantly chew on carrots, but a rabbit\u2019s diet <\/strong>should primarily be alfalfa or timothy hay. The House Rabbit Society, a national organization dedicated strictly to rabbit welfare, offers comprehensive details for feeding<\/a>. Besides the hay, rabbits should have at least one cup of vegetables for each four pounds of body weight and one to two tablespoons of non-sugary, high-fiber fruits, such as apples, plums and strawberries. And make sure that the little nibbler stays far away from human food like cookies, crackers and especially chocolate, which is toxic to bunnies.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Greens are good for bunnies, and Chibi would agree. Photo courtesy of Michelle Crow.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Darius Bunnington<\/a><\/p>\n

THE SCRATCHING POST: There haven\u2019t been any rabbits featured in our adoption column for the past couple of weeks, and there won\u2019t be any this week, either. #EasterBunnySyndrome<\/p>\n

🐰Read more: https:\/\/lbpost.com\/life\/pets\/madder-than-a-march-hare\/<\/p>\n

Posted by Long Beach Post<\/a> on Wednesday, March 28, 2018<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

So would Darius Bunnington. Video courtesy of Kieara Carroll.<\/em><\/p>\n

Toys are important. <\/strong>Rabbit teeth have the unusual characteristic of continuously growing, and they gnaw on things to wear them down. Crow said that there are plenty of commercially made rabbit toys, and they love to chew up cardboard toilet-paper and paper-towel rolls.<\/p>\n

Bunnies shouldn\u2019t be confined to a cage 24\/7, if at all. <\/strong>\u201cThey need lots of space, and they need run time,\u201d Crow said. And the good news is that they can be box-trained as easily as cats; older rabbits train more quickly than babies. Crow said that Chibi readily deposits his liquid and most of his solid waste, aka pills, in his box.<\/p>\n

\u201cRabbit poop is dry, so I can just vacuum it up,\u201d Crow said.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Chibi has a sizeable play area with food, water, and plenty of diversions and space. Photo courtesy of Michelle Crow.<\/em><\/p>\n

Bonding with humans<\/strong>, said both Crow and Carroll, is essential and may take some time.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t just take a bunny in\u2014you need to give them time and space,\u201d Carroll said. \u201cThey\u2019re prey animals, so you have to work for their love and trust. We\u2019re bigger than them, and we\u2019re louder than them. We\u2019ve had Darius just for a year, and we had to work on a bond.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bonding with other animals is essential as well if there are others in the house or if you want to get a bunny friend for your rabbit. Crow said that rabbits ideally should be paired by opposite gender\u2014spayed and neutered, of course,\u2014but her vet said that pairing isn\u2019t necessary.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt takes a long time to bond\u2014there can be aggressive territory fights,\u201d Crow said. \u201cBut that\u2019s not to say that they shouldn\u2019t get another rabbit. You have to introduce them slowly and keep them separated for a while as well. This goes for other animals in the house.\u201d<\/p>\n

Carroll and Sanchez were out a little over a week away from Easter, looking to adopt a female rabbit they\u2019d seen at a pet-supply store as a companion for Darius Bunnington.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t even think of Easter being that close,\u201d Carroll said. \u201cWe wanted opposite-sex companionship for our bunny, especially when we\u2019re not at home.\u201d<\/p>\n

The two planned a meet-and-greet for Darius and the rabbit, but someone hopped in ahead of them and adopted the little girl. Carroll was disappointed; Sanchez, however, was bleakly philosophical.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe told me not to worry\u2014that there\u2019ll be plenty of rabbits to adopt a couple of weeks after Easter,\u201d Carroll said.<\/p>\n

Yup.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Graphic by Make Mine Chocolate<\/a>, UK rabbit welfare organization.<\/em><\/p>\n

If you plan to adopt a rabbit and are ready for a lifetime commitment, Crow cited the House Rabbit Society<\/a>\u00a0and Binky Bunny<\/a>\u00a0as excellent resources.<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cReal isn\u2019t how you are made,\u201d said the Skin Horse. \u201cIt\u2019s a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cDoes it hurt?\u201d asked the Rabbit \u201cSometimes,\u201d said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

~ Margery Williams<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re not toys. They take a lot of work and patience.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

~ Kieara Carrol<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There haven\u2019t been any rabbits featured in the adoption column for the past couple of weeks, and there won\u2019t be any this week, either.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":66360,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","inline_featured_image":false,"newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_popups_has_disabled_popups":"","_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_":"","_author_alias":"","cap-aim":"","cap-description":"","cap-display_name":"","cap-first_name":"","cap-jabber":"","cap-last_name":"","cap-linked_account":"","cap-newspack_employer":"","cap-newspack_job_title":"","cap-newspack_phone_number":"","cap-newspack_role":"","cap-user_email":"","cap-user_login":"","cap-website":"","cap-yahooim":"","newspack_article_summary":"","newspack_email_html":"","newspack_email_type":"","newspack_featured_image_position":"","newspack_hide_page_title":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":false,"newspack_post_subtitle":"","newspack_show_share_buttons":"","newspack_sponsor_byline_prefix":"","newspack_sponsor_disclaimer_override":"","newspack_sponsor_flag_override":"","newspack_sponsor_only_direct":"","newspack_sponsor_url":"","newspack_article_summary_title":"Overview:","newspack_show_updated_date":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[68],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-860","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pets","tag-the-scratching-post","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/860","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=860"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/860\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/66360"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=860"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=860"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=860"},{"taxonomy":"newspack_spnsrs_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newspack_spnsrs_tax?post=860"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=860"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}