1. Rabbits can live 10+ years. A healthy rabbit can live up to 14 years. Rabbits are a serious commitment and should not be adopted on a whim or given as gifts. Have you thought about caring for a senior bunny? In many cases they will need the same care as a senior human. 2. Rabbits are NOT a child's toy. The primary caregiver MUST be an adult and any interaction with small children must be supervised. Rabbits do not like being handled or picked up, as these are unnatural actions to them in nature.
3. Rabbits are prey animals. They are very good at hiding illness; it is important that they are seen by a rabbit savvy vet (see our vet list). Always be on the lookout for the three A's to make sure your bunny is healthy and happy: appetite, attitude (is your bun curious, exploring its surroundings, and active?), and affection. If your bunny is missing any one of these, consider consulting a vet. 4. Rabbits are social animals. They need 2-3 hours of out of the pen time daily to socialize with their human companions. Consider getting your rabbit a friend of their own (see our bonding section).
5. Rabbits are active. In addition to socialization, rabbits need plenty of time and space to run around. We highly discourage keeping rabbits in small quarters and recommend all prospective rabbit owners to be prepared to let their rabbits roam free.
Please refer to the video below for other factors to consider before adding a bunny to your family.
Handling
Knowing the proper way to handle rabbits is very important and can be the difference between a healthy rabbit and one with permanent injuries:
Bunnies have delicate skeletal frames and can literally break their backs if not picked up and held properly.
A rabbit's spine must always be supported.
Never pick up a rabbit by the ears or scruff, as this can easily cause permanent damage, to include paralysis. Mother rabbits never pick their babies up.
This will be reviewed in person with you once you have been approved for a bunny.
You can also refer to the video below for a demostration on how to hold and handle a rabbit.
