When people ask me if I have a pet, I say yes.
When they inevitably ask whether it's a cat or a dog, I proudly answer, "Neither — it's a rabbit!"
Like most bunny owners, I'm a huge evangelist on their behalf. I'm entirely convinced the little guys are the most underrated pet ever, easily holding their own against the more familiar canines and felines. Rabbits are small, quiet and clean. And their "adorableness factor" is through the roof — just look at those ears!
Yet I was also overjoyed when, back in December, the City Council voted to stop the sale of rabbits in local pet stores as part of the "puppy mill bill," which became law in January.
Of course you'll still be able to get a Lionhead, a Netherland Dwarf or a Rex rabbit come June 1, when the ban becomes effective. You'll just have to adopt rather than buy.
That's a great thing for several reasons.
The first is that animal shelters are already full of abandoned bunnies looking for homes — many of them were purchased from stores and then dumped when the reality of owning a bunny dawned on the unprepared buyer.
Photo: Splash News
I, myself, fell down the rabbit hole when my partner and I discovered a bunny left out in a cage on the street. Chopper has been with us for over three years now, and we can't imagine our lives without her.
But the truth is that no matter how great they are, rabbits are not starter pets — and that's something a store eager to make a buck isn't likely to disclose to someone ready and willing to buy a furry friend. Rabbits like to chew, so prepare to pet-proof your electrical cords and furniture.
And despite their fluffy appearance, bunnies aren't all that great with young children. They can be very cuddly and affectionate, but on their own terms. You must be patient with them, a trait not usually associated with kids.
Finally, feeding a rabbit is more time-consuming than just opening a can. They need a steady supply of hay — yes, our apartment smells like a country farm — and fresh vegetables.
Rabbits are not starter pets — and that's something a store eager to make a buck isn't likely to disclose to someone ready and willing to buy a furry friend.
In other words, bunnies require more time and organization than expected.
The four-legged hoppers can also be temperamental when not spayed/neutered — and since many pet stores illegally sell juvenile bunnies that are too young to be fixed, you can see the problem. Or multiplying problems, if you happen to buy two unfixed rabbits of opposite sexes.
Under the new law, pet stores can still work with shelters or adoption groups to help place abandoned rabbits. Petco has already been holding meet-and-greets with Rabbit Rescue and Rehab, a local nonprofit that rescues abandoned bunnies.
Those events are terrific for prospective owners, because informed volunteers are on-site to explain the pros and cons of co-habitating with a bunny. And believe me, I wished we'd talked to one of those experts when we first got our rabbit — the learning curve was steep.
Still, there's no going back: We've got the rabbit habit for life. And now you can, too — without buying into pet store propaganda.
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