KUCHING: Many families are looking at getting live bunnies to usher in the Lunar Year of the Water Rabbit which is fast approaching,
A rabbit will make a great pet and companion and can bond very well with one’s family if they understand its nature and habits.
However, Sarawak Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) president Datin Dona Drury Wee has reminded the public there are many things for them to consider before rushing to the nearest pet shop to look for the‘cute balls of fluff’.
“Adopting a rabbit comes with responsibility, just like when you get a cat or dog or any other pet,” she told New Sarawak Tribune in an interview.
She said rabbits that were well taken care of would live for up to 10 years.
“Before buying a rabbit, consider matters such as how are you going to house your pet rabbit? Will it be stuck in a cage for the rest of its life?.
“No animal should suffer such a fate. There are plenty of rabbit hatches available online or you can purchase a double-storey pet cage for your rabbit to have more room to move around,” she said.
Rabbit owners, she said, should also let their pets out for a few hours a day when they were home.
“But before you do that, you have to understand a rabbit’s natural habits. It likes to chew. Whether it is on your wires and computer cables, your curtains, the bottom of your sofa, carpets – basically anything it can get its teeth into. So, you need to protect anything that may be in your rabbit’s area,” she said.
She added rabbit owners could prevent them from running around the whole house by using puppy pens to restrict their wandering.
“Rabbits also like to pee and poop a lot. So you need to get a proper litter box for this purpose, with rabbit-friendly pellets or you could use shredded paper.
“Cat litter is not suitable for rabbits to use. You must change their water daily and give them fresh food in clean bowls every day, just like any other pets.
“Don’t forget bunnies can jump so your pens have to be at least two and a half to three feet high,” she said.
Rabbits shed their hair several times a year, and to keep their coats looking beautiful and healthy and to stop them from getting intestinal hairballs, she said, rabbit owners should brush their pets’ fur daily.
“Don’t forget that rabbits have long sharp teeth and if they are not happy, they can nip or bite you,” she said.
Fireworks and rabbits
Dona pointed out that rabbits could actually have heart attacks and die of fright.
“So, be very careful about loud noises. Even loud barking dogs can scare a rabbit to death.
“The advice for rabbits is to let them roam around freely in their designated areas rather than keep them in cages if you are expecting loud noises.
“If the rabbit can run away to escape the sound, it will have a better chance of surviving rather than being stuck in a cage where it has nowhere to run but can only cower in fright and then most likely, have a heart attack,” she said.
As the fireworks and firecrackers are already being set off, she stressed that SSPCA would like to remind all pet owners to have a safe room or safe box or enclosed area where the animals can seek refuge and hide from noises.
“I know a friend of mine who has to sit in a cupboard with her dog to calm it down during Chinese New Year Eve,” she said.
Recently, owner of Kho Animal Enterprise Johnny Kho told New Sarawak Tribune that he had been receiving quite a number of queries from customers wanting to buy rabbits at his pet shop.
“Yes, as this year falls under the year of the rabbit, and according to Chinese beliefs a long time ago and Feng Shui masters, the rabbit brings ‘Ong’ (prosperity).
“Hence, many people are starting to look for rabbits to buy as pets this year,” he said.
However, for Sarah Chang, a rabbit lover and a rabbit owner, she just adores rabbits and does not believe in superstitions.
“I always have a soft spot for rabbits. They are like my companions and emotional support.
“So, I don’t really believe rabbits bring good luck just because this is the Rabbit Year.
“But my pure intention of having a rabbit is so I can hug my fluffy rabbit and it gives me comfort whenever I see this cute little pet,” she said.
Sarah now has Mushi which is her third rabbit and a male rabbit.
“Mushi does not have a companion, but I always make sure I play with it at least once a day and allow it to go out and roam for a few hours from its cage,” she said.
Sarah said rabbits needed proper food and comfortable places to sleep.
“As pet owners, we must be responsible for our pets. Before adopting one, one must always know the do’s and don’ts.
“And in the case of the rabbit, do research or ask experts on the food rabbits can or cannot eat,” she said.
