A bunny is for life - not just for Easter (From Swindon Advertiser)

A bunny is for life - not just for Easter

7:50pm Wednesday 31st March 2010 in News

RSPCA rabbit fosterer Alison Toop with Jasper and Jack Buy this photo »

THE North Wiltshire branch of the RSPCA has urged people not to buy pet rabbits as Easter presents for children.

Volunteers at the Swindon-based branch of the RSPCA fear that people may buy rabbits as an alternative to Easter eggs or chocolate bunnies.

This comes after the Make Mine Chocolate survey by a rabbit welfare campaign revealed that 33,000 rabbits are abandoned each year in the UK.

Forty per cent of them are returned within six months of leaving the pet shop.

The Swindon-based branch takes in abandoned rabbits which are cared for by volunteer fosterers.

But it does not have a rescue centre and relies on six volunteers, who care for 29 rabbits between them.

Alison Toop, who is a rabbit fosterer for the North Wiltshire RSPCA branch, said: “With Easter coming up we prepare ourselves to be overwhelmed with people giving up their rabbits a short time later.

“Basically, many people buy rabbits as an alternative to Easter chocolate bunnies, only for many children to get bored of them after a very short time.

“They find that they are not as interesting as a cat or dog might be because rabbits often sit in a hutch at the bottom of the garden.

“The RSPCA has an influx of rabbits and we dread the aftermath of Easter.

“People take rabbits on thinking they are ideal for young children but they are not.

“If they don’t like being handled they can scratch, bite and kick and if they do that can be the first step to them being stuck at the bottom of the garden.”

Tricia Philpott, the chairwoman of the North Wiltshire branch of the RSPCA, said: “Sometimes people buy rabbits without fully understanding the time and commitment needed to look after them properly.

“And too often rabbits are housed in inadequate hutches without space to exercise.”

“The North Wilts branch of the RSPCA has 29 lovely bunnies that would love another chance to be part of a family and further advice can be provided by the branch, however there is a freeze on adoptions over the Easter period.”

The freeze on adoptions is to prevent rabbits becoming unwanted gifts.

Philip Wells, who owns Petshed, in Wroughton, said he regularly turns away customers who want to buy rabbits at Easter.

He said: “It’s a policy we have always had.

“It’s far too easy to fall into the trap of buying something that looks cute and fluffy. But it’s not a toy substitute – it’s a live animal.”