Easter Bunny illustrates that Easter is not fun for a real bun. Three out of 10 rabbits purchased on impulse die because people are not prepared about how to care for them.
Another Easter is around the corner and many live Easter chicks and Easter rabbits will meet a sad demise.
Started in 2003, the Make Mine Chocolate is a great campaign but I just found out that it is in need of volunteers to help–volunteer if you can. In the meantime the campaign is on autopilot for 2009.
Even so, it is my belief that people should make the only Easter bunny they get or give a chocolate one (or plush is good)–and get those fake cute little chicks instead of real ones.
What can you do to make 2009 an animal friendly Easter?
Share the House Rabbit Society’s information on the housing and care needs of rabbits and learn why Easter Bunnies are a bad idea.
This Easter Bunny poem by Mary Brandolino is something you can give to your friends and share with those who mistakenly think a bunny is a good Easter gift. (It is courtesy of the House Rabbit Society.)
I remember Easter Sunday
It was colorful and fun
The new life that I’d begun
In my new cage.
I was just a little thing
When they brought me from the store
And they put me on the floor
In my cage.
They would take me out to play
Love and pet me all the time
Then at day’s end I would climb
In my cage.
But as days and weeks went by
I saw less of them it seemed
Of their loving touch I dreamed
In my cage.
In the night outside their house
I felt sad and so neglected
Often scared and unprotected
In my cage.
In the dry or rainy weather
Sometimes hotter sometimes colder
I just sat there growing older
In my cage.
The cat and dog raced by me
Playing with each other only
While I sat there feeling lonely
In my cage.
Upon the fresh green grass
Children skipped and laughed all day
I could only watch them play
From my cage.
They used to take me out
And let me scamper in the sun
I no longer get to run
In my cage.
Once a cute and cuddly bunny
Like a little ball of cotton
Now I’m grown up and forgotten
In my cage.
I don’t know what went wrong
At the home I did inhabit
I just grew to be a rabbit
In my cage.
But they’ve brought me to the pound
I was once loved and enjoyed
Now I wait to be destroyed
In my cage.
Finally, don’t forget to read my Easter Holiday Pet Safety Tips or see my rant with useful links from last years Easter Chicks & Other Easter Traditions.
How Many Dogs Are Too Many?
Personally I think it is a bad idea.
But this brings up a good point–just how many dogs (or pets) are too many?
There are a lot of opinions on this topic but from a behavioral perspective there are a few considerations to ponder.
First, there are laws on the books concerning how many dogs you can legally have per parcel or residence.
In this area it is three–and my neighbor already has reached this limit so adding an additional pet would be a violation of the local ordinance.
Next, you have to consider how much attention you can give to each pet. The more animals you have the less attention they individually receive from you.
There are also dynamics between the animals that come into play. The average pet owner incorrectly interferes with this.
Many times the hierarchical structure between the animals isn’t recognized correctly by the pet owner and so can escalate issues between dogs.
For instance, a new puppy gets lots of attention but when owners incorrectly interfere with the older dogs who are reprimanding, or warning, the puppy when she gets out of hand or too rough it creates stress in all the dogs.
There are a variety of other answers to this question but I need to mention that I see more serious behavior issues when there are more than three dogs.
You can see it building.
For instance, one of my past clients began rescuing dogs and when she got up to five she hit the boiling point. I warned her that she was dancing on the edge of disaster.
She ignored me (free will and all) and then began experiencing serious dog fights. This could have been prevented by limiting the animals within the household.
Many professionals can maintain large groups of animals–but they are not the average pet owners and many also have trouble at one time or another.
Most also have staff or volunteers to help manage the critters!
When you have more than one or two animals the work load increases.
Personally, I think it is more humane to maintain less animals in your home and fill the need to nurture by getting involved in volunteering for animal rescue groups or shelters.
So my answer?
Less is more enjoyable and healthier when it comes to the mental and physical health of animals within one household.
Ultimately you must decide how many critters you can manage. It will often depend on your personal household situation, amount of free time, financial constraints, and a lot more.
When all else fails, take a look at the local laws of how many critters you can have and stay below the limit.