Rabbits and Children: Some Words of Caution

Our culture is filled with images of children and rabbits together. Many parents see rabbits as low-maintenance starter pets for the kids. Nothing could be further from actuality. Rabbits are physically delicate and fragile pets, and require specialized veterinary care. Children are naturally energetic and loving. Loving to a small child may mean holding, cuddling, or carrying an animal around. These things may frighten pet rabbits. Rabbits can’t cry when they are distressed. Instead, they may scratch or bite to protect themselves from well-meaning children. Thousands of rabbits are abandoned at animal shelters every year for these reasons. Many rabbits are also dropped accidentally by children, resulting in broken legs and/or backs. A rabbit may be a great pet for your family if an adult is the primary caretaker. Some people tell us they are disappointed that the rabbit is "not turning out to be the type of pet we wanted for our children." Such parents may have had unreasonable expectations for a pet rabbit, expecting her to behave more like a dog or a cat than a rabbit. Some pointers if you intend to add a pet rabbit to your family: Take the opportunity to teach your kids respect for a different kind of animal whose behavior and ways of communication are not the same as their own. If a child wants something to carry around and cuddle, provide a stuffed toy, not a live rabbit. Even if your rabbit is the "family pet," an adult should always be his primary caretaker, as mentioned above. Young children don't have the sense of responsiblity necessary to properly care for a rabbit and the safety of your companion rabbit is at stake if you allow your children to be the primary caretakers. A well cared for house rabbit, spayed or neutered, can live eight to ten years, or even longer.
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