28/10/2026
💔 HOW MANY MORE BUNNIES HAVE TO SUFFER BEFORE WE LEARN?
First, I want to say that WE ARE FULL. But, I want to share a few sentences from an email I received today and you will understand why we took in 2 more bunnies. Please know that I am not sharing this to shame or attack this family. I’m sharing it because I believe it highlights a very real problem that we see far too often in rabbit rescue.
The email read:
“We have 2 kind rabbits that need the proper care and love for them. We recently got them for my 11 yr old but sadly my 2&3 yr old have put them in the toilet etc sad stories…. I just don't want them to continue to have a sad scared life here. Can you take them in?”
I do want to thank this parent for reaching out before these bunnies were seriously hurt or worse. Recognizing when a situation isn't safe and asking for help matters.
Guys, rabbits are not great pets for young children. They are not starter pets. And they should never be purchased or adopted with the expectation that a child will be responsible for their care.
Rabbits are delicate, sensitive prey animals. They can easily be injured by rough handling, chasing, grabbing, or being picked up incorrectly. They need a calm, safe environment, gentle and respectful interactions, and an adult who fully understands and is prepared to meet their needs.
Little children and rabbits are simply not a safe combination without constant, close adult supervision. Little children don't yet have the understanding or impulse control to consistently recognize when an animal is frightened, uncomfortable, or needs space. Even with the sweetest intentions, a child can unintentionally hurt a rabbit.
And then there's the other side of it. A bunny may be purchased as a pet for a child, but when the child loses interest, or the reality of rabbit care becomes overwhelming, the responsibility falls on the parents. Too often, that rabbit ends up neglected, rehomed, surrendered, or in a rescue like ours.
We have seen countless bunnies come through our rescue for these very reasons. Rabbits who deserved a safe, loving home but instead found themselves frightened, mishandled, or no longer wanted.
So, parents, please think carefully before bringing a rabbit into your home for your child.
Please don't get a bunny because your child wants one without first asking yourself:
❤️Am I prepared to be this rabbit's primary caregiver for the next 8–12 years or longer?
❤️ Can I provide the proper housing, diet, veterinary care, enrichment, and daily attention this rabbit needs?
❤️ Will I protect this rabbit from rough handling and make sure interactions with my children are always safe?
❤️ If my child loses interest, will I still love, care for, and take responsibility for this rabbit for the rest of its life?
If the answer to those questions is yes, and your family is ready to welcome a rabbit for the right reasons, great! But they are not low-maintenance pets, toys, or disposable childhood experiences.
I'm asking that we please stop normalizing rabbits as good pets for young children and start educating families before a bunny comes home, rather than after something goes wrong. Because by then, it's often the rabbit who pays the price. 💔
Please share this post. The more people understand about bunnies before bringing them home, the more bunnies we can protect from ending up scared, neglected, or needing rescue.
Let's do better for the bunnies. They deserve nothing less.
