With Easter approaching, some might think a cute and cuddly bunny would make a perfect gift.
But before picking up a rabbit for that Easter basket, you may want to consider all that’s involved in adopting a small animal.
“Many folks don’t realize that rabbits are not always the best companion animal for a child,” said Liz Rench, rabbit coordinator for the Animal Care League in Oak Park. “They are a 10-plus-year commitment. They should not live in cages, and most do not like to be held.”
Alayna Hanna, the league’s director of operations, said interest in adopting animals typically increases around the holidays.
“We start with ‘yes’ and look for reasons to adopt instead of turning good people and families away,” Hanna said. Each prospective pet parent starts by filling out an adoption application, which gives the shelter team a starting point, to determine how much education the applicant may need.
“We will talk through that with the prospective family,” Hanna said. “You don’t have to be an expert pet owner to provide a great home for a shelter pet. You just have to be willing to provide them a safe and loving home while you teach them how to be a member of your family.”
And the Animal Care League is ready to help, Rench said.
“We supply people with educational materials and conversations so that they understand what domestic rabbits need to have a happy and healthy life,” she said. “From there, they may decide whether or not rabbits are a good fit for their family and home.”
For those who are looking for a companion animal for their current pet, the league takes care to arrange a compatible match.
On a recent Saturday morning at the league’s Garfield Street shelter, Rench was working with Elizabeth Doornbos and Matt Davis, a Chicago couple looking to adopt a new companion for their rabbit, Henry, whose previous bunny buddy died two years ago.
“We both had to spend time getting ready to invite another rabbit,” Doornbos said. “Henry’s been ready longer than I have. He’s never been happier than with a companion.”
First up was Cash, a large male rabbit. Rench helped the two pets get acquainted, sitting with the animals within a wire enclosure, observing their behavior and intervening as needed while they got to know each other and worked out their “relationship dynamics.”
The pair seemed to get along, sitting quietly, munching grass and grooming each other, with Henry occasionally attempting to exert authority over his potential new roommate. “He’s just trying to be the boss,” Rench said. “We’ve had rabbits that are fighting and, all of a sudden, they’re fine. Sometimes it just takes time.”
Next, Rench and her team paired Henry with Iris, a small, white female bunny that was surrendered by a family last summer.
“First and foremost, we want a rabbit Henry gets along with,” Doornbos said, adding that she’d consider taking on a rabbit that might otherwise get overlooked by families looking to adopt, such as a white rabbit with red eyes, which many feel look scary.
Iris seemed to be a bit more wary of Henry’s advances. “Sometimes with two rabbits together, one can’t leave the other one alone,” Rench said.
Following Iris, Henry was introduced to a large female rabbit named Strawberry.
“He really does love having a bunny friend. He hasn’t been around another rabbit for two years,” Doornbos said, noting Henry lives in her office at home.
“They’re super good pets. They don’t make a mess,” Davis acknowledged.
Ultimately, Doornbos and Davis opted to foster Iris, with an eye toward adoption if she proved to be a good match for Henry at home.
According to Rench, rabbits are the third most common companion animal in the United States, behind dogs and cats. “Exotic veterinary care is constantly growing, making their lives healthier and longer than ever,” she said.
Hanna said small animals like rabbits are becoming more common at shelters. “There are quite a few organizations in the Chicagoland area that offer small mammal adoptions,” she said. “Within the field, more is being done than ever before to create a standard of care for small mammals.”
Last year, Hanna said, the Association of Shelter Veterinarians released the first-ever guidelines for humane rabbit housing in animal shelters. Additionally, the league’s medical director completed courses on rabbit medical care and learned how to perform surgery on rabbits.
These moves have enabled the league to more effectively care for small animals, a category that also includes Guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, rats, ferrets and small birds. “We see an influx of abandoned rabbits a few months after Easter, once the baby rabbits have grown,” Rench said. “Breeders and pet stores generally sell rabbits at 2 months of age and they reach adolescence between 3-6 months.”
If a rabbit is not spayed or neutered in adolescence, Rench explained, they can become territorial and show difficult behaviors, compelling people to get rid of their animals. “This is another reason why education is so important when bringing a rabbit or any animal into the home,” she said.
Rench noted a rescue group called Dumped Bunny keeps a tally of abandoned domestic rabbits found outdoors following Easter; last year, the group rescued 430 rabbits in Chicago and the suburbs.
“Many of our rabbits are direct strays from our area jurisdictions or are transferred to us,” Rench said. “We also work closely with other area shelters that may need our help. If we have the capacity, we occasionally will take in an owner surrender, should it be an urgent situation.”
The league serves as the stray holding facility for Oak Park and seven surrounding villages, Hanna explained.
“Most of our animals come as strays through our village contracts. Each stray animal serves the stray hold period set by the village while we work to find their owners. If no owner is found, the animal will move through our medical system to receive everything they need prior to adoption,” including spaying/neutering, vaccination, microchipping and deworming, Hanna said.
Once medically ready, animals will be placed up for adoption. “When resources allow, we will assist with local owner surrenders, pull animals from local shelters such as Chicago Animal Care and Control, and accept transports from southern states that need assistance,” Hanna said.
Finding the right animal for the home and family should never be a rushed decision, Rench cautioned. “Being open to learning and preparing the home is key when making a lasting choice such as adoption,” she said. “Adoption counselors want the best for the animals as well as their adopters, and they will take the time needed to be a guide.”
A key part of the league’s mission is to go beyond the basic functions of an animal shelter, explained Eli Knapp, the league’s communications manager.
“We are continually updating our programs and initiatives to not only ensure that homeless animals in our area have somewhere to go, but that we are moving toward a better community for all pets and people,” Knapp said. “We offer a pet food pantry for those in need, low-cost vaccines and spay/neuter surgeries, humane education programs for children, and dog training courses. The Animal Care League has been operating since 1973, and as a part of this community, we are committed to being a resource for our neighbors.”
What advice does the league offer people thinking about adopting an animal?
“I’d consider your lifestyle and what type of animal would be the best fit for you and your family,” Hanna said. “Adding a new member to the family will always be an adjustment, but the transition can be a lot easier if you adopt an animal that is a great fit for you. If you love to go on adventures, hike and stay fit, an energetic dog would likely be a great fit for you. If you love to sit on the couch and read or watch movies, adopt an animal that loves lounging around and relaxing.”
More information is at https://www.animalcareleague.org/.
Jim Dudlicek is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
