California Rescue Caring for 'Hundreds' of Abandoned Bunnies Issues Stern Warning

If you're brainstorming what to put in your kids' easter basket, a rescue group in San Fransisco, California is issuing a warning against a common gift.

No matter how cute they may be, Oakland Street Bunz is advising parents to not give their kids a pet bunny for the holiday.

Speaking with ABC 7, Jessica Peters with the organization explained that it might seem like bunnies and Easter are a perfect match. But parents may not realize that rabbits are a lot of work.

The organization has already picked up hundreds of bunnies off the streets that still need a good home. Peters said they're worried that there is going to be a surge of even more abandoned bunnies after the holiday.

Many people mistakenly believe that caring for a bunny will be like caring for a dog or cat, but they have very specific needs that most people are unprepared for.

"So it should never be a gift," Peters said. "They never should be just solely for children. And it should be something you make a long-term commitment for."

"Their lifespan is 10 to 12 years or longer, they require specialized veterinary care - they have a very different diet," she added.

The problem is so bad that rabbits are the third most commonly surrendered animals. It's estimated about 80 percent of rabbits bought as Easter gifts will die or be abandoned within the first year.

"Every year, shelters report an influx of rabbits who were bought for Easter and then discarded once their cuteness or novelty wore off," PETA's Catie Cryar told 10 News. "Some of them are bought to put in children's Easter baskets, whereas others are purchased by family photographers to be used as props for Easter photos."

Another animal that parents seem to gift at this time of year — baby chicks.

"A chick that is half fluff and half feathers isn't very attractive," John Van Zante of the Rancho Coastal Humane Society in Encinitas told 10 News. "And then it starts acting like a chicken. It becomes a pecking, pooping machine with just one purpose -- to become an adult hen or rooster. If you don't want an adult chicken living in your house or yard, don't get a baby chick."

Rescue groups advise that parents who really want to go all out for the holiday instead focus on bunnies and chicks of the chocolate variety. You child will surely appreciate some yummy Easter candy more than having to clean their bunny's cage.

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