Blog Entry 9- Daddy can I have a Bunny?

Children should not be expected to take on the responsibility of pet ownership without the support and help from their parents or other family members.  Owning a pet means becoming the caretaker of a vulnerable being, and leaving the fate of an animal’s life and wellbeing in the hands of a child alone is foolish and irresponsible.  Children lose interest quickly.  No matter how strongly or how often they  pester their parent to get them that pet, once they discover the hard work and commitment it takes to care for an animal, they can move on to the next thing and neglect their duties as a pet owner.  This is especially true when a child gets a rabbit. There are only three outcomes I have ever seen in this sort of situation: The parents bring the rabbit to the shelter, the family sets the rabbit loose in the wild where the animal is defenseless against predators and exposure, or the rabbit dies from neglect.  Whichever way, you’re always going to have a heartbroken child in the end.
When a rabbit is adopted as a family pet, and the care is the shared responsibility of the entire household, the joys of owning a rabbit become much more rewarding for all involved.  In families with children, we recommend the kids be a little older than ten years, and have adult supervision with any child younger than that when interacting with the rabbit.