Video: Albuquerque Animal Welfare Department collects donations for puppies and kittens.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) — Easter is this Sunday. If you’re thinking of getting your child a baby bunny or chick, local experts advise you do thorough research before making that commitment.
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We spoke with City of Albuquerque Animal Welfare Department Deputy Director Jack Hagerman, who says both bunnies and chicks can make wonderful pets, but adopting them isn’t a decision to make lightly. Rabbits and chicks can live upwards of 10 to 12 years, and they need the whole nine yards when it comes to care — vaccines, spaying/neutering, a veterinarian, and either an animal companion or plenty of human company.
“I think a common misconception is that they don’t need a lot of time and attention, when in reality, bunnies in particular need a lot of attention from their people, or they need a companion,” said Hagerman. “They’re very easily bored, they can get depressed, so they need a lot of enrichment and play time and cuddle time, so people often misunderstand the amount of time they have to devote to them.”
Outside of care, it’s especially important for kids to understand how to interact with these animals in a safe and humane way before they become a pet. Bunnies and chicks alike are very delicate animals who can’t handle the type of child-like roughhousing a dog may be ambivalent to.
“They don’t do well with being handled in harsh ways, picked up – rabbits don’t often like to be picked up a lot, they’re prey animals,” Hagerman said. “They tend to have more of a fear instinct. It’s not like cuddling a puppy or a dog that wants to be there, bunnies and chickens don’t necessarily want to be cuddled that much. So parents need to be very clear with their children about what is safe when it comes to interaction with them.”
Hagerman tells us that every year across the US, shelters see a higher intake of bunnies and chicks after Easter passes. With chicks in particular, Hagerman explains it’s hard to tell what sex they are until they get a bit older. Some people are expecting a hen, but they end up with a rooster that’s just a bit louder than expected, leading them to disown the animal. As for bunnies, some owners are ill-prepared for how destructive they can be when they’re not given proper outlets. Bunnies will chew on anything from wires to baseboards or even books.
Although people are still surrendering bunnies and chicks that were once Easter gifts, there has been improvement over the years. Hagerman says that since the issue has been so significant, many shelters have taken to proactive PR campaigns on the subject. Hagerman believes those campaigns have helped educate the public, and with that, shelters have seen a decline in the number of bunnies or chicks being surrendered after Easter.
All in all, Hagerman wants to encourage people to think long-term before gifting an animal.
“Oftentimes when people are making the decision to give gifts for a special occasion, their mind is really focused on the moment of the gift-giving,” said Hagerman. “That works when you’re giving product, and it doesn’t matter if that product is forgotten – if it’s a toy that child plays with for a few days or a few weeks, then promptly forgets about it, that’s not as big of a deal. But when you’re talking about live beings, that is a big deal. Beings don’t deserve to be forgotten.”
If you’re looking for information on pet ownership, the Albuquerque Animal Welfare Department has some online resources. The American Veterinary Medical Association also has information on its website. For bunnies specifically, check out New Mexico House Rabbit Society, and as for chickens, this nonprofit has some information.