October, 2011
Give bunnies a break!
Celeste Ling, Renata Dharma and Yip Sue Min (all Pri 6 students of River Valley Primary) celebrated International Rabbit Day by sharing with us some important facts about pet bunnies.
Look around your house. You will probably see at least one rabbit, be it a real one, a cartoon drawing or a soft toy. Cute, isn’t it? Here lies the hidden problem. For being cute, many rabbits are bought on impulse, especially baby rabbits. Then they grow old, weak and are not as cute and energetic as they once were. Soon, the novelty of having a fun, adorable rabbit to play with wears off. The pet owner grows weary of it and it is seen as a burden. He chooses to abandon the rabbit not knowing how dire the consequences can be for himself and for the rabbit. Abandoning a domestic rabbit is almost a sure death sentence for it.
The irresponsible pet owner, if caught, may be imprisoned up to twelve months, fined $10,000 or both. Anyone caught abusing rabbits will receive the same punishment.
As for the rabbit, it may die a slow and painful death, unless it lands in the safe hands of the House Rabbit Society Singapore (HRSS) or the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). Being a domestic animal, it does not know how to fend for itself or find food and shelter for survival, so if help is not extended quickly after it is being abandoned, death is highly possible.
Every year, over one thousand rabbits are abandoned. However, this year, there is a spike in the number of abandoned rabbits. This is probably because this year is the Year of the Rabbit. And, those who are superstitious believe that having a rabbit in the house brings luck. Hence, they buy on impulse, not considering if they have what it takes to care for them.
Firstly, to adopt a rabbit, you should have the will, commitment and sense of responsibility. Having knowledge of the rabbit’s diet, habits and weakness is important, too. But, the most vital part is that you should truly love and care for the rabbit and treat it as one would a child.
Owners often get angry when pets misbehave. When children misbehave, parents can verbally reprimand them. But, when a pet misbehaves, owners often resort to physical punishment. A reckless fit of anger could cost a pet’s dear life and rip the owner of ten-thousand dollars. Definitely not a good deal!
So, what is considered rabbit abuse? Physically hurting rabbits, conducting rabbit races, dressing them up or putting them in cages that are too small or have wire flooring. In addition, rabbits do not like to be carried, nor do they like to be bathed. These could cause unnecessary stress for them. And, being in Primary schools with many dreaded examinations, we should be able to empathise and understand that stress is not a pleasant feeling! International Rabbit Day comes to the rescue — it promotes proper protection and care for rabbits. Usually celebrated on the 4th Sunday of September, it was celebrated on 25th September this year.
Proper caring for rabbits includes a good veterinarian diet. Carrots should not be given to rabbits too often as they are too sweet. Nails also need to be trimmed regularly. And most importantly – no matter how you treat your soft toys, rabbits should not be held by the ears!
We encourage children who are too young to handle the responsibilities of a pet not to own one. They may get irritable easily and vent their anger on their pets.
Remember, before you go to your nearby pet store and get yourself a new-found furry friend, consider these questions: Am I able to provide good care for this vulnerable animal? Do I have the patience and love to take care of the rabbit? Am I prepared to be with this friend for 10 years?
The SPCA says that “animal abuse is not just socially unacceptable, it also reflects a lack of respect for life!”
Look around your house. You will probably see at least one rabbit, be it a real one, a cartoon drawing or a soft toy. Cute, isn’t it? Here lies the hidden problem. For being cute, many rabbits are bought on impulse, especially baby rabbits. Then they grow old, weak and are not as cute and energetic as they once were. Soon, the novelty of having a fun, adorable rabbit to play with wears off. The pet owner grows weary of it and it is seen as a burden. He chooses to abandon the rabbit not knowing how dire the consequences can be for himself and for the rabbit. Abandoning a domestic rabbit is almost a sure death sentence for it.
The irresponsible pet owner, if caught, may be imprisoned up to twelve months, fined $10,000 or both. Anyone caught abusing rabbits will receive the same punishment.
As for the rabbit, it may die a slow and painful death, unless it lands in the safe hands of the House Rabbit Society Singapore (HRSS) or the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). Being a domestic animal, it does not know how to fend for itself or find food and shelter for survival, so if help is not extended quickly after it is being abandoned, death is highly possible.
Every year, over one thousand rabbits are abandoned. However, this year, there is a spike in the number of abandoned rabbits. This is probably because this year is the Year of the Rabbit. And, those who are superstitious believe that having a rabbit in the house brings luck. Hence, they buy on impulse, not considering if they have what it takes to care for them.
Firstly, to adopt a rabbit, you should have the will, commitment and sense of responsibility. Having knowledge of the rabbit’s diet, habits and weakness is important, too. But, the most vital part is that you should truly love and care for the rabbit and treat it as one would a child.
Owners often get angry when pets misbehave. When children misbehave, parents can verbally reprimand them. But, when a pet misbehaves, owners often resort to physical punishment. A reckless fit of anger could cost a pet’s dear life and rip the owner of ten-thousand dollars. Definitely not a good deal!
So, what is considered rabbit abuse? Physically hurting rabbits, conducting rabbit races, dressing them up or putting them in cages that are too small or have wire flooring. In addition, rabbits do not like to be carried, nor do they like to be bathed. These could cause unnecessary stress for them. And, being in Primary schools with many dreaded examinations, we should be able to empathise and understand that stress is not a pleasant feeling! International Rabbit Day comes to the rescue — it promotes proper protection and care for rabbits. Usually celebrated on the 4th Sunday of September, it was celebrated on 25th September this year.
Proper caring for rabbits includes a good veterinarian diet. Carrots should not be given to rabbits too often as they are too sweet. Nails also need to be trimmed regularly. And most importantly – no matter how you treat your soft toys, rabbits should not be held by the ears!
We encourage children who are too young to handle the responsibilities of a pet not to own one. They may get irritable easily and vent their anger on their pets.
Remember, before you go to your nearby pet store and get yourself a new-found furry friend, consider these questions: Am I able to provide good care for this vulnerable animal? Do I have the patience and love to take care of the rabbit? Am I prepared to be with this friend for 10 years?
The SPCA says that “animal abuse is not just socially unacceptable, it also reflects a lack of respect for life!”