Do you remember the 13 urine-stained abandoned rabbits in Clementi?
Rabbit abandonment in Singapore may be an increasing problem with the upcoming Year of the Rabbit.
Emma Lee, 29, co-founder of The Weekend Groomers and owner of two rabbits, recalls adopting her second rabbit, a Black American Fuzzy Lop, after a customer abandoned him at her groomer.
“I thought they were easy pets, but they are not as easy to care for as expected. They really need a lot of love. You really have to spend time taking care of them and bonding with them.”
A recent TikTok video also captured an abandoned white rabbit at Tampines Eco Green Park.
Lynne Tan, co-founder of the Bunny Wonderland animal rescue service, explains that the phenomenon could be occurring due to a lack of awareness about the commitment expected from pet owners.
Most of the time, people are very excited when they write to adopt. But when I start to tell them about the additional costs, they start to have doubts.
Thinking of getting or adopting stuffed rabbits to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit? We debunked some useful myths.
Myth 1: They should be kept in tanks
“I remember when I was six years old, the way to care for rabbits is to put them in a fish tank with newspaper,” Lynne says.
Unlike some pet stores, it is not ideal for rabbits to be kept in tanks where there is minimal ventilation. This is to help reduce odor.
Rabbits eat and poop constantly throughout the day, unlike humans who only poop two to three times a day.
They can form around 200 to 300 of those round stools a day.
To ensure that they remain odorless, rabbits must be potty trained.
Myth 2: They eat carrots
Contrary to Bugs Bunny’s cartoon character, rabbits should eat carrots in moderation.
Replacing carrots, which are high in sugar, hay should be a staple in your diet, followed by leafy greens.
Hay helps keep their intestines working and consumption should be two to three times their size. Timothy hay is also recommended.
The pellets on display in pet stores are also inaccurate in representing the optimal diet for rabbits.
Myth 3: They need wet showers
Rabbits are not recommended to take a wet bath.
Rabbits do not have oil glands on their bodies like cats and dogs.
Cold water from a wet shower can lower your body temperature and cause a heart attack. If they don’t dry completely, it can cause thermal shock and wear off. Therefore, wet showers are dangerous due to their thin skin.
A dry or dust bath is sufficient to keep the rabbit clean and in good sanitary condition.
These gentle creatures don’t require much grooming either.
The typical short-haired rabbit would only require nail clipping, trimming, and brushing as part of their grooming regimen.
Myth 4: Need for affection
When you see these little furries trying to give you a little bump on the head, they are looking for affection.
Unlike dogs or cats, rabbits do not vocally express their need for attention. Therefore, owners usually do not know when their rabbits are sick or ill.
Rabbit owners should perform regular checks to ensure that their pet rabbits are eating, defecating well, and in good health.
Myth 5: They are cheap to own
According to DollarsAndSense, keeping a pet rabbit would be worth about S$2,530 in the first year. With an average life of around a decade, the lifetime commitment can accumulate around S$11,000 in total.
Therefore, adopting pets should be seen as a luxury. In addition to adoption or purchase fees, the cost must be set aside for food, grooming, and veterinary care.
“Parents often get the idea of adopting a rabbit from their children. They may not think through the commitment to him,” shares Lynne.
She points out the importance of meeting its basic needs before considering a new pet.
Resources such as space, money, and time needed to care for pets are derived from the parents.
As such, pet stores and sellers must educate their customers about responsible pet ownership before making the sale.
Please carefully consider these facts before purchasing or adopting these cute and cuddly animals! Let’s all do our part to discourage the abandonment of the rabbit.
Do you have a story tip? Email: [email protected].
You can also follow us on Facebook, instagram, Tik Tok Y Twitter. Also take a look at our Southeast Asia, FoodY Gaming channels on YouTube.