I was greatly disturbed by the Picture of the Day published on March
21st, showing an attractive toddler clutching a baby rabbit. As
someone who works in rabbit rescue and battles hard to dispel the
many misconceptions about rabbits this was a real blow to our
message. Please, all readers out there, this picture might be cute
but it gives the dangerous impression that rabbits are cuddly pets
for small children. Easter is coming up and Vancouver Rabbit Rescue
and Advocacy works hard during that season to educate that rabbits
should not be purchased as babies from pet stores and given to
children. Rabbits make super family pets in the same way that dogs
and cats do. They require too much daily care and attention for a
life span of 10 years (or more) to be given into a child's
ministration. The little rabbit in the photo is NOT newborn nor is he
comfortable. Children under 8 years old should never handle a rabbit.
If they are sitting down a bunny can be put on their lap for them to
pet. Rabbits are fragile and easily injured by rough handling or
dropping. A toddler is incapable of understanding the consequences of
squeezing, dropping or even throwing a rabbit, all of which can
happen in seconds. If families are interested in rabbits as pets I
recommend researching the care they need and then adopting a rescued
rabbit that needs a home. And if you want to give a child a rabbit,
please make it a chocolate or stuffed one.

Olga Betts
President Vancouver Rabbit Rescue and Advocacy
www.vrra.org