Easter rabbits: Chocolate, or furry?

If you're tempted by the furry ones, especially for children, better do your research first.

"People buy them thinking they're great low-maintenance starter pets," said Mary Cotter, vice president and education/outreach director of the House Rabbit Society. But that's a misconception, she said: "They're closer to dogs and cats than they are to the so-called pocket pets."

Cotter, of Bronxville, N.Y., has a dog as well as rabbits, and says she thinks that rabbits are actually the more time-consuming of the two. They have cages that need to be cleaned, like other small animals, but they need social interaction like a dog does, at least a couple of hours out of their cage each day.

And your home needs to be carefully rabbit-proofed against chewing. The many electrical cords required by modern living are a particular hazard.

Because people often don't understand what they're getting into when they buy a rabbit, her rescue organization gets at least 30 phone calls a month from people wanting to give them up, many of which were bought as gifts for children at Easter.

That problem is why the Columbus House Rabbit Society started its "Make Mine Chocolate!" campaign, chapter manager Karalee Curry said. The campaign encourages a better understanding of rabbits by distributing educational literature and raises awareness of the Easter issue by selling rabbit pins that resemble chocolate bunnies.

Chocolate rabbits are less trouble in many ways, starting with the fact that they don't last as long. Curry says people gasp when she tells them that a rabbit can live 10 to 12 years. And there are other surprises as well.

"People say, The pet store told me they did great with small kids and didn't need vet care,' " she said.

Although rabbits can be affectionate, they don't like to be picked up, which is frustrating for children, and can result in injury to the rabbit when it tries to get away. (This is such an issue that Cotter recommends the largest rabbit possible for families with kids, so they're not even tempted to try to pick it up.)

Contrary to the claim that rabbits don't need vet care, spaying and neutering is critical. Otherwise, behavioral problems start at puberty, including territorial aggression and smelly spraying.

In addition, health problems need prompt attention from a specialist veterinarian who's experienced with rabbits. "If a dog doesn't eat for a day, you can watch for a day or two; often no treatment is needed. When a rabbit is not eating, that's a medical emergency," Cotter said, as it can rapidly lead to a cascade of serious problems.

So you might want to stick with the chocolate bunny that you can buy to benefit the campaign at the "Make Mine Chocolate!" Web site.

For those who understand rabbits' needs, Cotter is enthusiastic about them as excellent pets for working adults. Although they require a fair amount of attention, they can adjust to your schedule. "If you're gone 12 hours a day, you can have a rabbit," Cotter said. "As long as you can let it out a couple of hours a day, it doesn't matter when it is; it can be at midnight."

And she says they're fascinating, social animals, more complex than other small caged pets.

"A lot of people say they're like a cross between a dog and a cat," she said. "Like a cat, a rabbit has no special desire to please a human — that's part of their charm."

Domesticated rabbits are the same species that lives wild in Europe, Cotter says.

"There's still a part of them that's similar to wild animals," and that makes it all the more special when you know that you've earned their trust and affection. "They're wonderful to live with for the right people," she said.

On the Web:

http://www.makeminechocolate.org/

http://rabbit.org/