Am I the only one old enough to remember going to the pet store to see chicks and baby ducks that were dyed festive pastel colors for Easter? When I tell my staff, most of them look at me like I’m crazy. It was as much a part of my childhood as taking home my fish purchase in Chinese food containers or buying an Anole on a string and safety pin at the circus, all of which draws the same puzzled looks. Boy! Have times changed!
Yes, it is bunny time of year. And no, Dog Patch has not sold a bunny in over 12 years.
Bunnies, when we did sell them, were the number one returned pet. Cute as babies, they’re relatively easy if kept outside in a well built and appropriately placed hutch, but difficult to keep inside.
They can be successfully trained as house pets if you are willing to meet them half way.
The list of negative issues is long and noteworthy. Their bones are light in density and can break if little Sally hugs too hard. While they are sweet when young as they mature, the males tend to get pretty aggressive. It helps if you neuter them. Females will tend towards ovarian cancer unless they are fixed.
While they can be litterbox trained, my own experience has been that I had to move the litterbox to keep up with the rabbit. Bunny urine is concentrated and no joke. Bunnies chew everything, carpets, baseboards, tiles… you name it, they will eat it.
So we have some suggestions. Try a guinea pig— all the fun of a bunny without all the headaches. Now this idea may upset Mom, but you can’t beat a rat for a small pet. Rats are as smart and clean and as interactive as they come. They’re inexpensive to keep as well. Maybe this is the year of the Easter Rat!
