The Easter bunny seems to have become the Santa counterpart for this major religious holiday. As much as we would not gift a human being to someone for Christmas, many people start to consider gifting their children a live bunny, often a baby bunny. Of course, baby bunnies are soft, cute and cuddly, but they are not toys and they grow. Three to four months later as these babies hit puberty, thousands are then discarded as the novelty of cuteness wears off or even worse, end up dying or living a life of neglect. Those that are let loose most often will not survive long in the wild and those that are relinquished to a shelter end up with sad and broken spirits.
History of the Easter Bunny
The Easter Bunny’s origins are very old. It can be traced back to pagan traditions in Germanic cultures when spring and fertility were celebrated. The hare became the symbol of springtime renewal and abundance due to its ability to plentifully reproduce. Later on, Christianity incorporated many pagan traditions and the Easter bunny became popular especially in Germany before migrating to the United States. The hare developed human traits and qualities as can be seen by the Easter bunny delivering baskets of eggs to children.
Just say NO to Bunnies for Easter!
As much as rabbits are wonderful pets, there are many reasons why they should not be given as gifts. They should be considered family and treated with as much love and respect as anyone else in the family.
Lack of Commitment: Rabbits can live for many years (up to 10 years or more), so they require a long-term commitment. Giving a rabbit as a gift may not consider the long-term responsibility involved in caring for them.
Rabbit Nature: Rabbits are very fragile animals and children often don’t know how to handle them properly. Their bones can break and limbs become dislocated easily. They are also very nervous being a prey animal and can get stressed out by loud noises and sudden movements. They do not typically like being picked up and may scratch or bite out of self defense.
Specialized Care: Rabbits have specific dietary, housing, and healthcare needs. Many people may not be aware of these requirements or be prepared to meet them adequately.
Allergic Reactions: Some people are allergic to rabbits or their hay, fur, or bedding. Gifting a rabbit to someone who is allergic can cause health issues and discomfort.
Impulse Purchases: Easter is often associated with impulse purchases, and getting a live animal on impulse without proper consideration can lead to neglect or abandonment once the novelty wears off.
Educational Considerations: It’s important for potential rabbit owners to understand rabbit behavior, social needs, and how to handle them properly. Without proper education, the rabbit may suffer from stress or mishandling. Many shelters offer free classes on topics such as care, diet, behavior and health.
Easter Gift Alternatives
When planning your child’s Easter baskets, the best options are to choose bunny themed items like clothing and accessories, toys, candy and food.
- Candy: chocolate bunnies, peanut butter eggs, egg or cross shaped chocolates, lollipops
- Books: Easter bunny themed story or religious
- Toys: small spring items like bubbles, chalk, jump ropes, silly putty, slinkies, rubiks cube, stuffed animals
- Clothing: bunny themed sweatshirts or tee shirts, rain boots, umbrellas, sunglasses, pj’s
- Hair: bows, ties, barrettes, hats or hairbands
- Games: cards, board games, puzzles, video, Lego’s, trains
- Beauty: make-up, hair products, perfume or cologne, nail polish, bath items
- Craft: crayons, markers, paints & brushes, canvases, color books, beads, floss
- Kitchen: baking supplies, apron, kids cutlery, kids cookbook
- Candy Alternative: fruit snacks, juice, chip bags,
Easter Bunny Movies
Consider having a fun rabbit themed family movie night! Pop some popcorn, grab your favorite bevies, a bowl of candy and a cozy blanket!
Don’t Forget Your Bunny on Easter!
When cooking your Easter feast, don’t forget to fix your bun a great holiday meal! This is the perfect time to serve some of those delicious early spring greens, fruits and veggies such as peas, broccoli, kale, arugula, cabbage, spinach, carrots, radishes, cilantro, celery, lettuce, pineapple and kiwi.
Bunny’s Basket Ideas:
- home made treats like my Valentine Bunny Heart Treats (just use an Easter bunny shaped cookie cutter)
- a new toy
- a cat scratch pad
- a house from Aldi’s, Target or Amazon
- a new bed.
Final Thoughts
As rabbit owners and advocates, I think we can all agree that giving bunnies as Easter gifts is not a good idea. Rabbits are an 8-10+ year commitment. Ideally they should be free roamed indoor pets, they need to see an exotic vet and have a special diet. They are loving, social and intelligent beings who need a lot of love and attention, toys for stimulation and room to run.
For those really wanting a pet rabbit, it is very important to do research and become educated first. A better idea than gifting a bunny is to volunteer at a rabbit rescue or sanctuary. This experience will provide an idea of what it is like to really care for a rabbit, to discover the different types of breeds and to see a wide variety of personalities. If you decide on a rabbit as a pet, I recommend fostering your chosen bunny and then adoption.
