Rabbits are generally sweet, loving companions and are a wonderful addition to your household. As social creatures they are not to be kept outside in solitary confinement in a hutch. Indoor hutches are easily and cheaply constructed from NEC panels, and an inexpensive folding exercise pen will protect your belongings while allowing your pet to be an active part of your family. Information on rabbit care and behavior can be found on the Dayton Small Pet Examiner website and House Rabbit Society websites, among others.

When adopting any new pet, it is important to do your research first – find out about the pet’s needs, habits, lifespan and other pertinent information before assuming they will fit in with your lifestyle. You might not be as knowledgeable as you think. Did you know, for example, that a rabbit can be (easily) trained to use a litter box? Did you know they like to play with toys?

A rabbit might be a great pet for someone who:

· Lives in an apartment or other small dwelling.

· Needs a pet that does not bark or go after the meter reader.

· Would just as soon not have to get up at 3 a.m. to let a dog out.

· Would just as soon not have to get up to let a dog out at all.

· Likes the idea of a little companion that (might) sit with them and watch TV.

· Likes the idea of a pet that (might) be easier to find a pet-sitter for.

Rabbits are clean (grooming themselves even more frequently than cats), they can be litter trained, and need no annual vaccinations. They do need to be spayed or neutered to improve their health, temperament, and litter box habits. You will also need to rabbit-proof your home; rabbits have teeth that grow continuously, so they must chew to keep their teeth in good shape…and chew they will, on anything and everything including your furniture, baseboards, carpets, and family heirlooms.

When I brought my first rabbit home from the shelter, I had done my research and even built my own hutch in the living room (yes) but I did not realize how clever these fuzz balls are. Oreo (my first bunny) could play soccer by pushing a small ball (cat toy) around with her nose. I have rabbits that know their name and come when called. I have rabbits that know their name and refuse to come when called. If you pat the seat next to you, rabbits will usually hop up next to you on the sofa, and many will sit in your lap to be petted while you read or watch TV (I write many articles one-handed at the keyboard). If my rabbits are running about in the living room, a simple “Go home!” will send them back to their hutches.

Rabbits generally get along well with other pets, but as with any creature, it depends on their personality: some rabbits are extra territorial, some are extra shy. When introducing your rabbit to another pet, it is important to introduce them in a particular fashion (research this first) and of course never leave your bunny alone with even a friendly dog, cat or other animal. My herd of rabbits gets along well with the dog and 3 out of four get along with the cat (Cookie chases my cat and attempts to bite her on the behind).

Rabbits are creatures of habit, and they do have tempers. I found this out the day we came home a few hours past (their) dinnertime and found they had trashed their hutch in our absence. You can see the culprit in the left corner of the photo.

Rabbits have wonderful senses of humor; I think if they could talk, mine would tell me things like:

· I think the holes I chewed in your jeans look trendy.

· Grabbing the end of the (full) litter scoop in your hand and then suddenly letting go of it makes me laugh.

· Do you have any idea what is on cable TV at 2:30 in the morning?! Neither do we; we chewed the rest of the buttons off your remote last night.

· I gave you a cordless mouse.

· You said fingerless winter gloves were hard to find? Not anymore – go check the floor in the coat closet.

· Those roses you got today for your birthday wouldn’t have lasted much longer anyway.

· Chasing a housecat is good exercise. Did you know she could make those cool hissing noises?

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Phyllis O’Beollain is a small pet enthusiast with a healthcare background; she has worked as a veterinary technician, veterinary nurse and registered nurse. She is a member of and volunteer with the Humane Society of Greater Dayton and the Dayton Area Rabbit Network. She lives with her dog, cat, four rabbits, an Australian tree frog and one small teenager. She can be reached at bunnybinks@gmail.com.

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Links:

www.examiner.com Dayton Small Pet Examiner website

www.rabbit.org House Rabbit Society website

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