Try this as a birthday present for the ones you love

For the ones you love!

THE BIRTHDAY PRESENT

Should and can be rabbits be given as birthday gifts to friends?

JF Rabbits position: only give rabbits as gifts to people who have expressed a sustained interest in owning one, and the ability to care for it responsibly. We also recommend that pets be obtained from friends, family or responsible breeders—not from places where the source of the animal is unknown or untrusted.

If the recipient is under 12 years old, the child’s parents should be ready and eager to assume care for the animal. If the gift is a surprise, the gift-giver should be aware of the recipient’s lifestyle and schedule—enough to know that the recipient has the time and means to be a responsible owner.

The recipient’s schedule should also be free enough to spend necessary time to help assure an easy transition into the home.  This is especially important during the holidays and other busy times.

Rabbits have always been a popular choice as an Easter surprise, but they have been increasingly popular lately as gifts for other occasions such as birthdays.

Potential Benefits of a Gift Bunny

With rabbit ownership up to about Fifty Thousand bunnies in Abuja alone, it is pretty clear that many people consider them to be a great companion. Bunnies come in a much wider variety of shapes and sizes than most people realize. There are over four dozen different breeds ranging from the tiny Netherland dwarf to the Flemish Giant, which can be over twenty pounds. They come in a range of coat lengths and colors, so there is probably one out there to suit anyone’s idea of what is cute.

The physical appeal is not all bunnies have to offer, though. When properly socialized, they can be quite companionable and have a lot more personality than many people realize. They are both affectionate and full of lively intelligence, displaying individual personalities and interesting behavior that often combines the social traits of a dog and the independence of a cat. Their intelligence allows bunnies to respond well to positive reinforcement. They can be taught to use a litter box, so they can be even be permitted free run of the home as long as chewable wires are picked up.

Bunnies are also pretty inexpensive and require fairly little maintenance. In addition to a generously sized cage, they need food, fresh water, hay, and box for the litter. Basic health care is also needed, particularly when it comes to being sure the animal is spayed or neutered, and the cage or litter box will need to be cleaned regularly. Other than that, most of what they need is fun and social stimulation, which is the whole reason people want a companion animal around in the first place!

With all of these positive attributes, they can be a great idea for a gift as long as the potential owner is totally on-board. Just because it is a present does not mean it has to be a surprise, so let the recipient make the decision. That way they will be able to prepare, and you will be able to share the fun of picking out the perfect bunny.