People always ask me why rabbits? My response, “why not?” They are adorable, highly intelligent, cuddly, independent, and fun. They can be litter box trained and even have their own language. You just have to learn how to understand them. They come in all different shapes and sizes, and just like people have all different personalities. I don’t think I can narrow it down to just one reason. I guess they’ve just always held a special place in my heart.

I think I was seven when an older cousin bought me my first rabbit. She was an adorable little REW (red eyed white) rabbit that I named Cottontail. She was just a tiny little thing, for a little while anyways. He didn’t consult with my parents, who were not thrilled about this unexpected gift. Of course, I promised to take care of it as every child does. Did I mention I was seven? But, we all know where this is going. She was so sweet, and I loved her so much. However, during the next year the cute pocket pet turned into a gigantic rabbit. She was actually a Californian Rabbit , which full size weighs about 10 lbs.

Alright, maybe she wasn’t that enormous but to a 2nd grader, I was overwhelmed. I couldn’t pick her up anymore, and I wasn’t taking care of her. At that age, it really is the parent that is the caregiver. We knew nothing about rabbits, nor knew anyone who did. We trained her how to use a litter box, that was the extent of it. She began spraying everywhere, which limited her run time. If only someone would have told us about the benefits of getting her spayed, it would have made a world of difference. The information was not readily available back then, as it is now. We ended up giving Cottontail to a farmer, where she could live with other rabbits. Or, so that was the story my mother told me.

I never saw her again. But, there was always a tugging in my heart, to own another rabbit. A few years later, our family adopted a dog. That hole in my heart was still there for a rabbit. I begged and begged until finally my parents gave in. We found that the Netherland dwarf was a smaller breed that was great with children and just seemed to fit the needs of our family. Without a lot of effort, we found a pet store nearby that had a litter of dwarfs. There appeared to be a mix of Netherland and Silver Marten breeds.

There were a half dozen or so in the cage. As we approached the cage, a little guy ran up to the front of the cage immediately as though he was saying, “choose me, choose me!” Call me crazy, but I knew he was the one. He was perfect and would not get much bigger than he was then. He was really friendly, and he picked us out. And, here is where my story gets a little crazy. Don’t fall off your chair now, but I named him Cottontail. Yes, you heard it right. I named him the same name as the first one. Parents when you let your kids call the shots, what do you seriously expect?

This time around, it was a different story altogether. Not only were we prepared, but knew what we were getting into. It didn’t take long before we trained him how to use a litter box, which now I was old enough to take care of. We blocked off an area in the basement where we could play. Not only could he run and jump, but he had tunnels (made out of tubes and boxes) to run in and out of, and balls. He had his own personal gym! One of the biggest mistakes first time rabbit owners make is not giving them things to do. Your pet needs to have an outlet to be a rabbit! Without this, they will become destructive. They will find creative ways to occupy their time, which won’t make you happy.

Over the years, rabbits have gained popularity and are now considered to be the third most popular pet , falling short behind dogs and cats. With that title also came overpopulating and the same homeless problem that was now hitting the rabbit community. It is still hard to believe that a homeless animal is put down in a shelter about every eight seconds - about 4 million a year.

After losing my third rabbit, I looked to a rescue for a companion and found an adorable little Havana named, Max. This very shy little guy needs some time before he will warm up to new people. Being animals of prey, sometimes rabbits can be skittish in new environments.

Although, in Max's case, he is just an anxious little rabbit. I thought finding him a mate might help calm him down. After a couple dozen attempts without success, I've given up on bonding him with another rabbit.

Rabbits have been known to bond quite well with cats, dogs, and guinea pigs. I've recently discovered that he is fond of guinea pigs. But for the present time, he remains a bachelor.

I also have another rabbit named Anna who is a Mini Rex. She is the “spokesrabbit” for Great Lakes Rabbit Sanctuary. She is my social butterfly who enjoys visiting schools, scouts, seniors and other civic groups. Future articles will feature some of her many adventures.

Debbie Ann is a volunteer at Great Lakes Rabbit Sanctuary (GLRS) in Willis, just west of Sumpter Township. The focus of her articles will be domestic rabbits are pets, their habits, breeds, a “Bun of the Month”, and community events. Contact her at debbie@rabbitsanctuary.org.

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