Bunny Facts

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#FFFFCC" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="f7d065a1ezwnvf.gif"> <div> <B><IMG SRC="e9e81560.gif" border=0 width="129" height="86" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="556" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 69 ><NOBR><div> <B>AnimalSave</B></div> <div> PO Box 817 <IMG SRC="d190f0e0.jpg" border=0 width="15" height="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> Grass Valley, California 95945 <IMG SRC="d180d0e0.jpg" border=0 width="13" height="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"> (530) 271-7071</div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=145 BGCOLOR="#000099" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <bR> <div> <B><script type="text/javascript">  </script></B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFF33" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Home"><U>Home</U></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id248.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About Us"><U>About Us</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id256.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Adopt A Pet"><U>Adopt A Pet</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="how_to_help.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="How to Help"><U>Get Involved</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id257.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Spay Neuter Clinic"><U>Spay & Neuter Clinic</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id25.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Our Programs"><U>Our Programs</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id220.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Education"><U>Education</U></A> </div> <div> <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Thrift Store"><U>Thrift Store</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id231.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Upcoming Events"><U>Event Calendar</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id240.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Newsletters"><U>Newsletter</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id221.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Community Page"><U>Lost Pets / Finding a New Home for a Pet</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Related Links"><U>Related Links</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><U>Contact Us</U></A></div> <div> <I>Contact</I><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Verdana" ><I> <a href="javascript:void(0)" onclick="return sendmail('office', '')">Webmaster</a></I></FONT></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <script type="text/javascript">  </script></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="f71906d0.png" border=0 width="144" height="109" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="15" VSPACE="0">Bunny Facts</B></div> <bR> <div> Rabbits are about the cutest animal that ever set foot on this earth. But they have specific needs and care requirements that may not be obvious when they first look at you with their gorgeous eyes. The following information is simply an overview for those considering a bunny. There are several good books that give the details necessary to know before bringing home a bunny. They are very susceptible to certain dangers and health issues that can be prevented if known about from the beginning. In addition, it is important to know what is involved to prevent a situation where you, your family and the bunny are unhappy with each other.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Food: </B>“Rabbit pellets,” those green morsels sold as bunny food, should provide only a small fraction of bunny nutrition. Believe it or not, bunnies need more “real” (unprocessed) food than you might think. Timothy hay, NOT alfalfa hay, should be their largest source of food. Fresh vegetables are important too. The infamous rabbit pellets are way too rich and can cause chronic diarrhea and/or obesity if bunnies eat too much of this “treat.” Water is, of course, extremely important and must be available at all times to rabbits. They eat and drink in small amounts throughout the day between naps, but eat in larger quantities at night and can become very ill if deprived of food and water for any length of time.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Exercise: </B>Being in a rabbit hutch 24/7 is not only unhealthy but depressing for bunnies. Bunnies love to hop and run and play. A safe, large enclosed space for bunnies to run about is essential for rabbit longevity.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Shelter:</B> Rabbits are low on the food chain and thus susceptible to numerous predator species including but not limited to dogs, raccoons, coyotes, owls, skunks and bobcats. Even the domestic cat may pose a mortal danger to rabbits. Bunnies need shelter from predatory animals as well as extremes in weather. Bunnies are VERY vulnerable to high temperatures – heat stroke leading to death is common on warm days where the temperature is 80 degrees Fahrenheit or above. Misting systems and frozen water bottles may help protect rabbits from heat related death. In addition, their hutches or cages need to be cleaned daily (even when litter box trained), as they have very efficient digestive systems and can make a hutch or home unpleasant in a very short period of time! This can be time consuming and must be taken into consideration when taking on the responsibility of having a rabbit.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Behavior:</B> The biggest unsaid secret about rabbits is that they have some pretty unpopular habits! For instance, an un-neutered male rabbit sprays urine. Both males and females can be territorial around other bunnies and even around humans when protecting their food or home turf. And contrary to a popular perception, most rabbits don't particularly like to be carried about or cuddled. They may nip, bite or scratch in an attempt to escape. This could result in injury to the human or to the bunny if s/he falls or flips quickly. In addition, bunnies have a propensity for chewing and digging and, as quiet as they may otherwise seem to be, they can “stomp” rather loudly when feeling threatened or upset. </div> <bR> <div> <B>Reproduction:</B> It is not an overstatement to say that rabbits will reproduce like rabbits! If you decide to care for more than one bunny, take them to a vet with rabbit expertise and have their gender VERIFIED by a professional. A wrong assumption in this department may turn into an unwelcome lesson in multiplication! A female rabbit is sexually mature at 3-6 months, does not need to be “in heat” to become pregnant, and can become pregnant again within 24 hours of giving birth. A female rabbit averages 8 babies (up to 12!) per litter. </div> <bR> <div> <B>Rabbit Lifespan: </B>Spayed or neutered bunnies can live 8 -12 years. The Guiness Book of World Records claims that the oldest rabbit lived to be 18 years of age.</div> <bR> <div> <B>Where to procure bunnies:</B> Check out rescue groups and animals shelters first before heading to the pet store. House Rabbit Society's website is <A HREF="http://www.rabbit.org/" TARGET="_blank" TITLE="http://www.rabbit.org/"><U>www.rabbit.org</U></A>  There are SO MANY rabbits needing homes, no need to buy one from the pet store and encourage more to be “bred” (as if making more baby rabbits was difficult!) Especially after the Easter holidays, many people lose interest in their bunnies and they are dumped, left in fields, or forgotten after the last Easter egg is consumed. A loving, compassionate, informed decision about where to get a bunny will help decrease the suffering of other bunnies. Please remember that there are more wonderful rabbits in this world than there are rabbit-people. </div> <bR> <div> <B>Spaying and Neutering Rabbits: </B>Having a rabbit spayed or neutered will lessen or eliminate some of their less fun behaviors including spraying and aggressiveness, and can contribute to a longer, healthier life. </div> <bR> <div> <B>Rabbit Resources:</B></div> <div> For more information on Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month, log onto<B> </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.rabbit.org/" TARGET="_blank" TITLE="http://www.rabbit.org/"><U><U>House Rabbit Society</U></U></A></FONT><A HREF="http://www.rabbit.org/" TARGET="_blank" TITLE="http://www.rabbit.org/"><U><B>,</B></U></A><A HREF="http://www.rabbit.org/" TARGET="_blank" TITLE="http://www.rabbit.org/"><U><B> </B></U></A>or<B> </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.petfinder.com" TARGET="_blank" TITLE="http://www.petfinder.com"><U><U>PetFinder</U></U></A></FONT><B>. </B>To find out more about adopting a rabbit, contact your local shelter or <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.rabbit.org/chapters/" TARGET="_blank" TITLE="http://www.rabbit.org/chapters/"><U><U>your nearest HRS chapter</U></U></A></FONT><B>. </B>For more information on House Rabbit Society's rescue and education work in your area, please call House Rabbit Society at (510) 970-7575. </div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>