K.A.W.S.
(Kids As Wildlife Superheroes)

EDUCATIONAL PROJECT

CAN YOU HEAR THE CHILDREN’S KAWS? THEIR KAWS IS TO STOP CRUELTY TO ALL ANIMALS, ESPECIALLY OUR WILD ONES!

Thinking of Getting an Easter Bunny?

A Real Easter Bunny Is A Lifelong Commitment, UF Expert Says: Parents may want to fill Easter baskets with chocolate bunnies this year, unless they're ready for a lifelong commitment to the real Peter Cottontail, says a University of Florida rabbit specialist.

The fact that rabbits are sold at Easter leads to a lot of impulse buying, said Bobby Collins, a small-animal science professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine, a part of UF's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

"That's OK if you're making a long-term commitment to integrate that animal into your household and your life," Collins said. "They are fuzzy and wonderful at Easter but if they grow up to be ignored, that's not healthy for the animal -- or for kids learning about caring for animals."

People who think rabbits require less maintenance than a dog or cat should think again, Collins said. While rabbits can be ideal for apartment living, in some ways they require more care than a dog or a cat.

Rabbits have many of the same health problems associated with cats or dogs -- hairballs and fleas, for instance -- plus a few all their own, Collins said.

Rabbits' spines are delicate and can be fractured by something as simple as jumping out of a child's arms. This makes it important when picking up a rabbit to support the rabbit in a manner in which it feels secure.

Collins said rabbits also are prone to a disease called snuffles, a bacterial infection caused by the organism Pasteurella multocida, which lives in the nasal passages of almost all rabbits. In mild forms, it can cause the rabbit discomfort and in severe forms it can result in the death of the rabbit.

Collins gives rabbit owners the same advice as dog or cat owners: Have a reserve of cash ready to spend on veterinary care in case of an emergency.

"I can guarantee your rabbit will have some illness that will require major hospitalization and care during its lifetime," said Collins.

Owners of house-rabbits also need to take a long look at their home and ask themselves "what can this rabbit get into," Collins said. Rabbits will chew on anything: electrical cords, furniture, even baseboards. They will crawl up into the springs of furniture and sometimes get trapped. Other pets may attack them.

Collins said he recently treated a rabbit that became sick after eating carpet and cardboard. It cost the owner $700.

"It's much better to keep an eye on your rabbit and not let it eat the carpet," Collins said. "I hear people say they have rabbit-proofed their home but that's like saying a home is child-proof. There's really no way to do that. You just have to keep an eye on your rabbit at all times when it is out of its cage."

As rabbit ownership becomes more popular, it is not uncommon to see students arriving at college with a rabbit they got as a child, Collins said. The oldest rabbit Collins has seen was 12 years old and he has seen some suffering from geriatric diseases like arthritis.

But Collins said it is also not uncommon for students to leave their rabbits at home when they go off to school, leaving Mom and Dad with something to think about before purchasing an "Easter" bunny.

"This pet is coming to your house forever," Collins said, "not just for Easter."

Collins offers these tips for those considering adopting a rabbit:

• Rabbits' claws need to be clipped every three to four weeks.
• Ears need to be examined periodically for ear mites.
• Rabbits groom themselves and can get heairballs that need to be treated like a cat's hairballs.
• Some rabbits get overgrown teeht that need to be filed by a veterinarian.
• Caged rabbits need to be protected from wind, sun and rain. The cage floor needs to include a smooth surface to keep the rabbit's hocks from getting sore.
• Indoor rabbits need to be kept from chewing cords on electrical appliances, telephones, curtains, etc. They also need to be barred from climbing into box springs or the batting of sofas and chairs.
• Rabbits shed and need to be brushed or combed at least once weekly. They will accept grooming more readily if you begin grooming when they are young.
• Rabbits can and should be neutered or spayed. This is especially important in females to prevent uterine cancer.
• Rabbits kept outdoors and out of a pen should be supervised them from becoming prey to hawks, owls, raccoons and other wildlife.