Sunday, Apr. 12, 2009

Bunny adoptions at Easter usually discouraged, but rescued rabbits need homes

Twelve-pack of Peeps: $1.

Ten-inch chocolate bunny: $3.

A pair of rabbits during Sacramento County's two-for-one adoption Saturday: $45.

The shame of abandoning Peter Cottontail: forever.

If she had it her way, Kimberley Wheatfill would never help someone adopt a rabbit the day before Easter.

"Every Easter people adopt all these rabbits," said Wheatfill, president of Friends of Unwanted Rabbits.

The problem is that once the excitement of the impulse buy wears off, many furry friends are surrendered to an animal shelter or become hawk food once released, Wheatfill said.

But there she was Saturday helping with Sacramento County's two-for-one rabbit adoption event the day before children – Christian and non-Christian alike – enjoy the Easter Bunny's generous offering of eggs and chocolate.

However, as Wheatfill and county officials explain, they didn't have much choice. A month ago, responding to a tip, county animal control officers seized 66 rabbits from a single Antelope property. Five others had already died from the deplorable conditions, officials said.

Authorities are still trying to track down the original owner of the rabbits and determine whether charges should be filed. The allegedly negligent owner kept the rabbits at the Antelope property but didn't live there.

The woman has used several assumed names, including Cindy Chatman, Cindy Detar, Cindy Derter and Crow Hair, said Ruben Hernandez, the supervising animal control officer for the county. Thus far, every phone number has been a dead end, he said.

Rather than overtax the shelter staff and volunteers caring for the herd of rabbits over a long period, county officials teamed with Wheatfill's group to help find the rabbits good homes.

"They are not starter pets," said Celeste Ingrid, a volunteer coordinator at the shelter. "We are definitely discouraging impulse adoptions."

To cut down on impulse buys, Wednesday will be the earliest bunnies adopted over the weekend will leave the shelter. Rabbits that need to be neutered won't go to their new homes for a couple of weeks.

Wheatfill said parents should not buy a rabbit for their kids.

"Some children are great animal lovers," Wheatfill said, while others will grow tired of their pet once a shiny new toy arrives.

Wheatfill said rabbits should be a family pet. "If they want something for their child to hold, buy a stuffed toy," she said.

Doug Sequeira, who visited the adoption event with his three young children, believes his daughter Marilyn has the temperament to be a good pet owner.

"She's always loved animals. She's real patient," said Sequeira, who lives in the South Land Park neighborhood.

While her brothers were more interested in running about and wrestling Saturday, Marilyn, 6, sat patiently in the rabbit pen lightly patting her new friend Oreo.

Marilyn wasn't the best at explaining why she wanted a rabbit or why she'd be a good owner, but she showed it in her deeds.

Earlier, when she wanted a potbellied pig, her mother and father told her she could only have one if she was willing to pick up after the family dogs for a month. Sequeira said the 4-year-old cleaned up after the animals without complaint.

That time, they distracted her with toys. This time, the family decided Marilyn could not be dissuaded.

So in a few days, Oreo the rabbit will join the family's two dogs and a cat. Not bad for a little girl who says she wants to be a farmer.