BLACK RABBIT WITH ATTITUDE.

Why does Easter make me feel sad? Many adults buy bunnies for their children for Easter without realizing what they're getting into.  Most likely, many once-loved bunnies will be surrendered to animal shelters or cruelly dumped outdoors to fend for themselves. Some will be "loved" to death while others will end up exiled to a lonely cage in the back yard.

With resources such as The House Rabbit Society website, people lack the excuse that they couldn't find information on house rabbits. In fact, many folks believe they don't need to learn anything about how to care for these mentally-complex creatures.

As I found out, bunnies are like other pets. They get into mischief and some have attitudes. In When a Man Loves a Rabbit (Learning and Living With Bunnies), I wrote about one little Netherland Dwarf with a big ego.

Because he was small and black, I named him Neutrino. It was partly because he was so hard to see in semi-darkness but also because of my favourite Klaatu song, The Little Neutrino

My little fur friend had a stubborn streak. One of his bad habits was to pee in front of places he thought needed marking. Though Neutrino had been neutered, he still defied the usual bunny stereotype of being perfectly litter trained. When I placed litter boxes where he wet, he nosed them aside and peed on the same spot. No amount of cleaning and spraying with strong-smelling cologne detered him.

I should add that most rabbits are better behaved than Neutrino was. Even so, some are strong-willed and, as a result, are surrendered to shelters or dumped outside. Many otherwise-loveable bunnies die or are euthanized as a result of feckless humans who should have done their homework.

When a Man Loves a Rabbit is filled with many more fascinating stories of life with house bunnies. These vignettes range from the tragic to the hilarious. Please click on the link to my books for details about both of my paperbacks. You're also welcome to contact me directly for more information.

THE EASTER BUNNY HOLOCAUST

Am I being melodramatic when I describe the annual sales of under-aged rabbits to unprepared people as a holocaust? I don't believe so. Having adopted many cast-off bunnies from families who didn't want them anymore, I feel that I'm right.

Even my family succumbed to the allure of having a cute bunny. During April of 1968, my mom and I did some shopping at Woodward's department store. A fenced-in table attracted our attention. Six or eight tan-coloured rabbits regarded us curiously through the chicken wire as we strolled up to their enclosure. "Let's get one for Diane," Mom exclaimed. "Which one of them do you want?" I chose a lighter blond coloured rabbit. A store clerk put her into a cardboard box with holes punched in it and we smuggled our new pet home on the Greyhound bus.

My sister was delighted with our new bunny at first. As time passed however, both of us tired of her. She was eventually consigned to a lonely hutch in the back yard. That poor animal died during summer due to our ignorance.

For some perverse reason, people feel compelled to tell me their dead rabbit stories. I've heard of dogs attacking the bunny, "it" getting sick and dying, or even worse. The fact that a domesticated creature with emotions and feelings died or was left to fend for itself in parks doesn't impinge on their consciences.

Doubtless people would feel differently if they knew how to care for house rabbits and realized what delightful companions they can be. Since 1996 when I found out about the House Rabbit Society, I have shared my home with quite a few delightful bunnies. From the incredibly-curious Gideon to my present rabbit, Deborah, I've felt such a close bond to my long-eared friends. They also repaid me with their affection and cute antics.

Because of the rampant ignorance regarding rabbits and the tricks some breeders resort to, I wrote When a Man Loves a Rabbit: Learning and Living With Bunnies. It shows how each rabbit who entered my care changed from a shy fur ball to a charming and intelligent creature. By letting them be themselves, I've had many happy years of companionship with each of them. Check my Bruce Atchison's books page for more about this marvelous memoir.

WHEN A MAN LOVES A RABBIT

"Why on earth do you like rabbits?" That's what many of my acquaintences have asked me over the years. In the minds of most adults, bunnies are just a pet for kids. They assume that since their rabbit didn't live long and did nothing but sit in the tiny backyard cage that they bought for it that these creatures aren't worthy to be a house pet. When I explain about what charming and intelligent animals rabbits are, people give me incredulous looks.

If only people would give bunnies a chance. The first thing they need to do is to learn the proper way to litter train, feed, and rabbit-proof the room where the bunny is kept. The House Rabbit Society website has all the information a novice rabbit owner needs to know to care for a bunny. Though there are other sites claiming to have credible information, the data is often wrong and based on opinion rather than empiracle observation.

What I love about bunnies is their inquisitive natures. Once a person wins a rabbit's trust, a precious gift in itself, they  become outgoing and affectionate. All the rabbits I've had in my house quickly warmed up to me once I got down to their level and showed them I wasn't dangerous. I let them make the first moves rather than grabbing them up like a stuffed toy. Being prey animals, rabbits instinctively fear being picked up.

Like dogs and cats, rabbits need proper veterinary care. This is often expensive because they're only seen by exotic specialists. But if somebody truly loves their long-eared companion, the expense of a proper vet is worth it.

Bunnies can live up to ten years with proper care and correct nutrition. I've heard of some who have lived to thirteen but they were quite frail by the time they died. Since this is so, potential rabbit owners need to be committed to their pet for the long haul. Vidulence is also required as bunnies tend to hide their illnesses from the prying eyes of predators. I've taken my rabbits to the vet when they exhibited some odd behaviour and usually discovered that they had a serious illness. I've also made the mistake of ignoring subtle signs of discomfort and ended up losing my beloved fur friends.

Back in 2006, I published my debut memoir called When a Man Loves a Rabbit: Learning and Living With Bunnies. It shows how I came to live with these amazing and amusing members of God's awesome creation. I also pass along the lessons I learned during the eight years covered by the book. For more information about it, check the Bruce Atchison's books link.

THE PERFECT SITE FOR GOOD RABBIT CARE INFORMATION The Internet is an amazing source of information. The problem is that some of it is inaccurate or completely wrong. This fact makes it hard for casual researchers to know if the information they're reading or hearing is correct.

From my experience with having bunnies living in my home, The House Rabbit Society web site is the best place to learn about these long-eared pets. Because this organization is made up of volunteers who live with house rabbits, they know much more about the behaviour and care of these creatures than most people.

Moreover, The HRS rescues unwanted and abandoned rabbits and finds them good homes. Each summer, the population of rabbits at animal shelters swells because naive parents bought baby bunnies at Easter. The novelty soon wears off and the poor animals end up in shelters or dumped in the woods. The HRS works tirelessly to educate the public regarding the joys and difficulties of having house rabbits.

Additionally, this rescue organization has a veterinary listing so people can find clinics which know about bunnies and can give them expert care. Most vets consider rabbits to be exotic animals so they only treat dogs and cats.

The HRS also has an activist Corner for those who want to do more than feel sorry for abandoned or abused bunnies.

As a service to animal shelters, they provide a page For Rescue page. It has a wealth of information on how to rescue rabbits and how to care for them. Grants for rescue groups are also available from this non-profit organization to deserving organizations.

For those who wish to help out with educating the public and rehoming bunnies, visit the support HRS page. On it is information on becoming a member of the society or just donating to help them out. They accept cheques and PayPal.

One excellent page for additional information on bunnies is The Rabbit Reading Room. Along with The House Rabbit Handbook by Marinell Harriman, the page features a good variety of bunny-related paperbacks. It even has a link to my memoir, When a Man Loves a Rabbit: Learning and Living with Bunnies It's also available from this page.

My new book, How I Was Razed: A Journey from Cultism to Christianity is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Virtual Bookworm Publishers.

THE ANNUAL EASTER RIP OFF.

"Buyer beware" is certainly applicable when it comes to the sale of baby bunnies during the Easter season. Far too many people still cave into the whining of their kids and buy a bunny or chick. A few months later, these animals grow to maturity and become a chore for the parents. Kids lose interest quickly and the poor rabbit or chick ends up neglected or dead.

Because I know a fair amount about rabbit care, people tend to dump their unwanted Easter props on me. Since I'm on a pension and I can't drive, obtaining vet care is a difficult task for me. Though I love rabbits passionately, I decided a few years ago that I would refuse any more cast-off pets.

There aren't any excuses these days for buying animals on a whim. Various agencies have spoken through media outlets about the long-term commitment that any pet requires. Google and other search engines make it easy for anybody to find out what sort of care the creature of their choice requires. For those unable to use a computer, the local library is still a good source of information.

One fact that should be made clear to potential rabbit owners is that some breeders take the kits away from their mothers too soon. People like cute little bunnies but they forget that they grow to be their regular size in just a few months. Some people even sell under-age kits as dwarf rabbits. Their unsuspecting customers soon end up with unexpectedly large bunnies.

Then there's the care and feeding issue. Since folks figure that they know how to take care of a bunny, they feed the poor creature all sorts of junk food and then wonder why it died. Even carrots can kill a rabbit if too much is given to him or her. This is why people shouldn't assume that they know how to take care of a bunny.

Rabbits are poor pet choices for children as well. Because they have delicate bones, young children could hurt them without realizing it. Rabbits have actually broken their backs because toddlers picked them up incorrectly. Bunnies instinctively fear being lifted because it resembles being caught by predators.

Almost everybody I've met figured that rabbits only live for a few years. With proper vet care and nutrition, as well as being spayed or neutered, bunnies can live past ten years. They need plenty of grass hay, not alfalfa, and leafy greens.

For a wide range of rabbit care resources, visit The House Rabbit Society. I also wrote about my experiences of living with house bunnies in a memoir titled When a Man Loves a Rabbit. Check out the left side bar of this page for details. As for my recently-publishedHow I Was Razed: A Journey from Cultism to Christianity memoir, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Virtual Bookworm distribute it in e-book as well as paperback form.

CREATURES OF UNLIMITED CURIOSITY.

If you think that cats are nosey creatures, and they certainly are, check out the snoopiness of rabbits. Many folks who have never kept bunnies in the house miss witnessing their insatiable curiosity. Never have I seen such inquisitive animals like rabbits. I've had plenty of experience with their explorations over the years.

Gideon was my first proper house rabbit. Regretfully, I kept previous bunnies in cages and rarely let some out for exercise. According to my rabbit-loving list friends, I let Gideon establish where his litter box should be. Then I let him have progressively more space to roam. He eventually had the run of the entire main floor. You can see him in action on my Bruce Atchison YouTube channel.

Harry was my next bunny. Friends of a friend gave him to me in 2000. The poor rabbit was in sad shape but he perked up after I got him cleaned up. Though he was a Fuzzy Lop, he was just as snoopy as Gideon. In fact, Harry resembled Snoopy, in the Peanuts comics, doing his Joe Cool impression. I don't have any YouTube video of him yet but I hope to upload some soon.

Neutrino was the third house rabbit that was given to me by a friend. He's the bunny inside the cardboard concrete form picture. Rabbits love hiding places and this tunnel became Neutrino's favourite play and sleeping area. He too loved poking his wiggly nose into places where it wasn't wanted.

One of the boldest bunnies I've had the privilege to care for was Sierra. She was a three-pound bunny with a ton of attitude. As you can see on another Bruce Atchison YouTube video, she was quite a handful when it came to doing naughty things. Even so, she was also very sweet to me.

As I've posted before, rabbits aren't for everybody. Check out the A Channel newscast that I appeared in during April of 2000. It has some good information about rabbits. The House Rabbit Society has far more information for people seeking accurate answers regarding bunny care.

My When a Man Loves a Rabbit: Learning and Living with Bunnies memoir makes a good companion paperback to all those "how to" books on the market. I relate how I discovered much about rabbits by letting them live with me as companion animals. More information about this memoir is at the left side of this page.

I also have a brand new book out called How I Was Razed: A Journey from Cultism to Christianity. Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Virtual Bookworm Publishers distribute this testimony of how God led me out of a cult and into the freedom of his truth.

BLACK RABBIT WITH ATTITUDE.

Now that Easter is over, what will happen to all those bunnies which unwise parents bought on a whim for their children? Most likely, many will be surrendered to animal shelters or cruelly dumped outdoors to fend for themselves. Some will be "loved" to death while others will end up exiled to a lonely cage in the back yard.

With resources such as The House Rabbit Society website, people lack the excuse that they couldn't find information on house rabbits. In fact, many folks believe they don't need to learn anything about how to care for these mentally-complex creatures.

As I found out, bunnies are like other pets. They get into mischief and some have attitudes. In When a Man Loves a Rabbit (Learning and Living With Bunnies), I wrote about one little Netherland Dwarf with a big attitude. In this excerpt, I show that not all rabbits retain their litter habits.

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By April, Neutrino's cockiness had surfaced with his increasing freedom and as a result, I locked him away during the nights and mornings. Even so, the naughty boy chewed holes in one runner and urinated several times next to the sink. Caging him after each offense didn't seem to help the situation, so I moved the rectangular rug under the table.

Neutrino retaliated by wetting in the corner behind my chair and he ripped some threads out of the carpet. Chasing him away from under my table where he liked to loaf and getting in the habit of pushing the chair in each night only helped a bit. That bad lad still insisted on peeing in the corner. Eventually, I just gave in, wiped the floor and washed the rug whenever it was
wet.

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When a Man Loves a Rabbit is filled with many more fascinating stories of life with house bunnies. These vignettes range from the tragic to the hilarious. Please click on the link to my books for details about both of my paperbacks. You're also welcome to contact me directly for more information.