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Home › Articles › Holiday: Spring/Summer › Make My Bunny Chocolate

Make My Bunny Chocolate

A Rabbit Reality Check to Make You Think Twice About Giving a "Bunny Basket" This Easter

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Rabbits instinctively avoid relieving themselves in areas where they eat or sleep, which means your pet's condo should include enough space to accommodate a litter box away from those areas. That's right. Rabbits can be trained to use a litter box, though you must first get her spayed or him neutered by a rabbit-knowledgeable vet. It's easiest to litter-train a bunny after the age of 6 months.

With Proper Supervision, Rabbits Can Bond with Other Animals
Rabbits are exceptionally social creatures, expressing friendship and love in joyous and heartwarming ways. A rabbit's need and desire to be part of a couple or a group may result in the bunny's bonding with a human, dog, cat and/or guinea pig. "While these friendships can be very beneficial for the rabbit, human guardians should confirm the animals' temperamental compatibility before making careful introductions in a neutral space," Mead says. "It's important for parents to monitor the animals and ensure their safety."

To sum it all up, what are the two most important things you can do to stop the trend of rabbit neglect and abuse during this time of year? Quite simply, don't buy a baby bunny as an Easter gift unless you are a) thoroughly educated on rabbit behavior and care, and b) 100 percent committed to making the bunny a beloved member of your family for his or her lifetime.

"If you are a fellow animal lover, I hope you'll see it as your responsibility to educate others about the true nature and needs of rabbits," Mead says. "I want to inspire people everywhere to use the upcoming Easter holiday as a time to advocate for the rights and proper treatment of one of Mother Nature's sweetest, most extraordinary gifts. By working to ensure that these little companions enjoy happy lives, I hope to promote the peace, joy and respect for life for which this special season is known."

11 Ways to Celebrate Rabbits This Easter, Without Harming Our Furry Friends

An Easter basket containing a live rabbit is often an inappropriate holiday gift – especially for those families who know little about the demands of raising a healthy pet rabbit. But don't think your bunny fever must go unfulfilled!

Marie Mead offers some life-affirming ways to enjoy and honor the beautiful spirit of rabbits without actually bringing one home this Easter:

  • Take a nature walk and watch wild rabbits in their natural habitat.
  • Send children on a treasure hunt for stuffed toy rabbits. (If you like, you might teach them how to use a compass for this game.)
  • Read a book about rabbits; if children are old enough, take turns reading with them.
  • Ask an elementary school teacher to have someone do a show-and-tell about rabbits.
  • Use rabbit-shaped cookie cutters to make cookies and sandwiches. Or treat your family to a bunny-shaped cake or ice cream dessert.
  • Purchase coloring books, magnets, T-shirts, jewelry and art objects that depict and celebrate rabbits.
  • Become a member of a rabbit rescue group. Better still, if you're able, volunteer your time at an animal shelter (whether it houses rabbits or not). "If you can get children involved in such volunteer efforts at an early age, you can help them learn valuable lessons about love, compassion and caring for creatures of any species," Mead says.
  • Promote and support spay/neuter clinics (by rabbit-knowledgeable veterinarians) to help reduce the number of unwanted rabbits.
  • Lift the spirits of bunnies at your local shelter by bringing them appropriate toys, homemade or purchased. If the shelter does not already have a quiet space for its rabbits, advocate for one.
  • Join chocolate lovers everywhere and indulge in bunny-shaped confections.
  • Support the Make Mine Chocolate™ public education campaign started by the Columbus (Ohio) House Rabbit Society. For more information, visit makeminechocolate.org.


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