PSA About Easter

Animal rescue groups and shelters will tell you they have nothing against the Easter Bunny, as long as it's not the real deal. Chocolate, marshmallow - something that didn't start with fur, feathers, or breath. Otherwise, the message heard is a chorus of "Don't buy those fuzzy bunnies, ducklings or chicks that start out inside Easter baskets or decorating Easter tables."

Why? Because these organizations know that once Easter is over, the animals invariably end up in shelters or worse are set free in the neighborhood. As an example, Linda Baley of Too Many Bunnies of Redondo Beach, Calif. http://www.toomanybunnies.com/ estimates that 50 percent of rabbits purchased at Easter will not see their next birthday and will not remain in their first home. A majority of the rabbits that end up in shelters are Easter Dumps. Once the novelty wears off - and rabbits are higher maintenance than most people realize –- out goes the Easter Bunny.

When that happens the problems really mount. Not only are domestic rabbits not capable of surviving in the wild, the potential population of bunnies can be explosive. Baley says if one fertile female rabbit is left in a a city park, within a year's time there could be a colony of 3,500 rabbits.

Time to intervene. Bunnies and chicks are not play toys. I expect many of share this view, so let's reach out to those who might not know the facts or feel "just this once" it's ok to do. Let's make "Friends Don't Let Friends Buy Pets for Easter" our motto. If you know someone who is thinking about such a purchase, immediately do an intervention.

Our hope is to make this a happy holiday for everyone - pets included. If you want to enjoy the Easter Rabbit - Make Mine Chocolate