Easter Bunnies (and Guinea Pigs)
Easter will be here very soon now (the end of March) and this is the time when lots of baby rabbits and guinea pigs are purchased from pet shops.
"Awwwww mum. I want a rabbit!!"
It is difficult to ignore the emotional pleas of your child, which leads to a lot of emotive buying at this time of year.
These animals can, and do, live for a number of years. Rabbits can live for between 9 and 11 years and guinea pigs for around 7 years. They need warm, dry winter housing large enough for plenty of movement and stretching and a run as well as a hutch is preferable. They need cleaning, feeding, watering, regular visits to the vet for health checks, inoculations, neutering and, most importantly of all, they need to spend plenty of time with the family and receive lots of love.
Please think before buying one of these silent majority because they cannot tell anyone when they are neglected, when the need cleaning, when they are hungry or thirsty. They are in a hutch at the bottom of the garden, forgotten about for most of the time until mum or dad says that they have to go since nobody cares for them any more. Visit a rescue centre and have a look at the rabbits and guinea pigs which are waiting for homes: most of which are there because they were bought one Easter and are now no longer wanted. These are lovely animals which need a caring, knowledgable family to give them a permanent and loving home.
There is a scheme being run during March whereby if your rabbit, dog or cat has not been vaccinated during the last year, you can book it in at certain veterinary surgeries and, if you pay for one vaccination, you will get the next vaccination free and health checks for free. For more information check with Vaccination Month then check if your vet is involved with the scheme.
