Caring for Rabbits as Pets: Sweet Love - a Bunny Story

Joey, Timmy, Chloe, Sydney, and Gary are not, in this case, children's names. Although, for two years, they were children to me. These names represent the five rabbits my family and I owned for two special years of their lives; and ours.

Joey and Chloe were brother and sister, purchased at Eastertime, when so many people are thinking about how adorable it would be to give the gift of an "Easter Bunny". In reality, Joey and Chloe were saved from a farm where rabbits were raised for the "meat market". For $10.00 we were able to give them each a new lease on life. The other three, Timmy, Sydney, and Gary, were rescued from different sources.

We made a decision that our bunnies would be house pets. We did not want them to spend their lives in a hutch outside, only to be visited by us at feeding time, or when we had a few minutes to spare. They were free to roam about the house, running and climbing as they explored with their eyes and with their noses. They became our family pets, and we were their "people".

"Houserabbits" are a little-known society of house pets. For the most part, what we as people know about rabbits revolves only around their existence outside the immediate circle of family. We have found this to be a very limited knowledge of the truth.

Each of our "bunnies" had very unique personalities. Joey was cuddly, and loved to be petted. He was sweet and would allow me to get down on the floor with him and kiss his nose. Chloe was large and very laid back. She was content in almost all situations and was easily approachable. Timmy was a lop-eared bunny and, when he ran, his ears would flop over his eyes. Sydney was a dwarf rabbit, with a quick personality and a love of mischief. And Gary was just an adorable little handful. Each one of them had a personality different from the other, and, in spending time with them, we learned how capable rabbits are of expressing love to their "people" when they are in a loving environment.

Normally, rabbits do not need much medical care. As a result, they are inexpensive to keep. Caring for them became an interesting and precious part of our lives. All they required from us was hay to make their bed on, and rabbit feed to eat. We also found that they loved lettuce and bananas. Blueberries were a special treat as well. A litter box, the same you would keep for a cat, was all they needed for their "special" hygiene.

We found that "bunnies" are an exceptional indoor pet. We would never again consider raising them anywhere but inside the house, as members of the family. Keeping rabbits in a hutch, or cage, outdoors, not only deprives them of the warmth and love that they can have only by being part of a family, but also deprives the family of a special love that most people are not even aware rabbits are capable of giving.

There are many rabbits in need of being rescued. Most of us are not aware of how much rabbits have to give, until they receive the chance. The love, the joy, and the companionship that they give cannot be matched. They are unique in countless ways. They are receptive to an open heart, and the love they give is so very sweet!