Bringing attention to Easter bunnies
Sisters’ fundraiser urges families to research pet plans
When her daughter wanted a pet ferret, Nicole Leslie suggested a rabbit instead. She had no experience, but thought how hard could it be?
Turns out, Winston the rabbit required a lot of work.
“I had absolutely no idea the care that a rabbit requires. I had no idea,” she said. “A lot of YouTube videos, a lot of research. I reached out to a lot of rescues if I had any questions.”
Winston eventually fit right into the family (they have since brought home a lady bunny), but it took time and patience. Leslie learned that bunnies, like cats and dogs, have to be spayed or neutered to prevent unnecessary litters (and discovered the “substantial cost” to do so). She found out rabbits requires an exotic veterinarian, not simply an ordinary vet. She researched about what it eats and its bathroom habits.
She learned as she went.
“People don’t understand the care that rabbits do require. They are very, very sensitive animals, but they’re very sociable, they’re very loving animals. And they do require a lot of work,” she said.
In an effort to raise awareness about bunny care, and to make sure people do their “proper research” before bringing home an animal, Leslie and her sister, Stefanie Bishop, started a fundraiser, Adopt Don’t Shop.
For the second year, the sisters are baking and selling cupcakes, as well as crocheted bunny baskets, bunny beds, bracelets and bumper stickers, outside Pet Valu on Glendale Avenue in St. Catharines. All of the proceeds are going to Pumpkin’s Acres Rabbit Rescue in Thorold, Tiny Paws Rabbit Rescue in Windsor, and the Lincoln County Humane Society.
“We do our fundraiser specifically at Easter because a lot of people give animals as gifts,” she said.
“Neglected and dumped rabbits is worse this year than it’s ever been … our local rescues are at capacity with all these abandoned and
dumped bunnies and they need extra help.”
Last year, Leslie and her sister raised more than $1,000 selling cupcakes alone. They donated half the money in cash to the Humane Society, and the other half in supplies for its small animal clinic.
Pumpkin’s Acres founder Lyla Frick said the months following Easter are a “huge problem for rabbit rescue,” with families purchasing rabbits without doing any research beforehand.
When the child gets bored, or parents begin to understand the work a rabbit needs, they are surrendered or abandoned outside. Despite what people think, domesticated rabbits don’t do well in that scenario.
“Domestic rabbits are so genetically different than the wild cottontails you see outside, and they don’t have the same survival instincts. We’ve seen so many domestic rabbits succumb to life outdoors, whether it was from a predator, being hit by a car or from an untreated illness,” Frick said.
The past two years have been worse due to the pandemic, and the number of rabbits in need far exceeds the number of foster or adoptive homes available. Frick said people have surrendered more than 30 rabbits due to accidental litters.
“Many (pet stores) still get their rabbits from breeders and sell them to people without screening them or educating them on proper rabbit care,” said Frick.
“Those are usually the rabbits that end up coming to us when the family can no longer care for them.”
It may have started with rabbits, but Leslie said the fundraiser is now an opportunity to bring attention to proper care for all animals — from cats and dogs to fancy rats (even a domesticated rat, which her daughter has as a pet), and how to properly surrender them, when necessary.
And to encourage adopting, rather than shopping.
“We want to make sure all animals have loving homes and are taken care of properly,” said Leslie. “All animals that are in shelters need a loving family and a loving home.”