Just in time for Easter - and a little late for St. Pat's Day...a bunny success story:
Music Appreciation - Miss Bella.pdf.
Did you know that, along with dogs and cats, HAWS also adopts out small animals? Over the last decade, rabbits in particular have become very popular as pets – but they are more labor-intensive than most people realize.
Just some basics: Rabbits need larger habitats than the typical 2x3 foot wire cage, and they aren’t always “cuddly” but can be fearful of being held! They have specific health and care requirements, including spaying or neutering. They can live 8 to 10 years – sometimes longer - and, importantly, they need to be kept indoors. A special group of volunteers at HAWS works diligently, along with the Wisconsin House Rabbit Society, to ensure rabbit fans in our area have the information and education they need to be proper caregivers. We’re holding a house rabbit seminar at HAWS on Sunday, April 27, for anyone interested in learning more – we’d love for you to join us!
This year, HAWS is partnering with the “Make Mine Chocolate”™ campaign, which was initiated on a national basis several years ago to educate the public about the responsibilities involved in keeping a companion rabbit.
For $4.00, you can buy a ceramic pin at HAWS that looks like a chocolate bunny - to help spread the message that rabbits should not be casually acquired, and to educate the public about their special needs. A card that is distributed with each pin lists important facts that should be considered before bringing a rabbit home as a pet.
Not surprisingly, lots of children beg their parents for a pet bunny at this time of year. But, they’re often not prepared to care for them and can quickly tire of them because they don’t act like the owner was expecting. In the months following Easter, HAWS, other humane societies and rabbit rescues are flooded with rabbits – if the rabbit is lucky. Some are simply dumped outside where they will not survive.
Our goal is to educate the public of the challenges of properly caring for rabbits and to encourage them to purchase chocolate Easter bunnies (or stuffed toy animals) rather than live rabbits! So go ahead, indulge the RIGHT craving, and “Make Mine Chocolate!”™
By the way – when you’ve done your research and you’re truly prepared for a rabbit in your household, come to HAWS. We have PLENTY of them available for adoption, all 12 months of the year. Some of HAWS' rabbits currently up for adoption are pictured throughout this blog posting. Move your mouse across their pictures to learn more about them.
