SOME folks view bunnies as cuddly but boring animals that spend most of their time in cages.
Zachary Johnson disagrees. He says rabbits make good pets, so long as you learn to take proper care of the critters.
"One rabbit is all you need. They definitely have their moments and are very curious. They like to sniff around and check things out," said Johnson, owner of Zac’s Rabbitry in Makakilo. "It will bring comfort to you. … You’ll have peace knowing that you are taking care of another creature."
Johnson breeds New Zealand rabbits, which he says resemble the Cadbury bunny, a fixture on the candy maker’s TV commercials around the Easter season.
In fact, the New Zealand is often referred to as the prototype for the Easter Bunny. The breed is distinguished by its relatively large and solid bodies covered in dense, white fur, and its upstanding ears and red eyes, although it also comes in other colors. They can weigh between 9 and 12 pounds when fully grown and are considered less skittish than other breeds.
(You might not want to share this with the kids, but New Zealand rabbits are also preferred for their meat. And, yes, Johnson sells rabbits for that purpose and occasionally dines on them at home, making him no different from other farmers and livestock breeders who practice food sustainability. "One bunny is good for about three to four meals. It goes a long way," he said.)
Johnson is a member of the American Rabbit Breeders Association and has been raising rabbits for about 30 years. At any given time he is caring for 40 to 100 of the animals.
HE SELLS dwarf Hotot bunnies as pets for $50 each, and the New Zealands starting at $30. He raises other breeds, including Californian, rex and a mini lops, which he brings along when he gives talks about bunny care. (He’ll give such a talk at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Kapolei Public Library.)
Bringing a rabbit home as a pet requires careful consideration, according to Christina Kam, communications specialist for Hawaiian Humane Society. In the case of bunnies, it can mean a commitment of seven to 10-plus years.
Kam cautions against giving any pet as an unplanned gift. Although the agency doesn’t see an increase in bunnies being brought to the shelter after the Easter holidays, they comprised a good portion of the nearly 4,000 small animals turned in during the last fiscal year.
"BUNNIES can be great pets for children, as they do not require as much attention as a dog or cat and can help develop early responsible pet-ownership skills," she said. "Parents should be cautious as frightened bunnies tend to kick and bite. And bunnies are fragile. Children need to be taught how to properly handle them."
Rabbits are intelligent and sociable, and with enough interaction, they’ll come when called and maybe even engage their owners in a game of tag.
Johnson says it’s relatively easy to keep rabbits healthy for those willing to learn more about proper care through books and online research. Litter box training isn’t too difficult, either, he added.
Contact Zac’s Rabbitry at 672-3989 or email ewablueworms@gmail.com. Contact the Hawaiian Humane Society at 946-2187 or visit www.hawaiianhumane.org.
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A COURSE IN CARE
Zachary Johnson will talk about proper rabbit care and bring some of his bunnies to Kapolei Public Library at 10:30 a.m. Saturday.
BUNNY TIPS
» Shelter: The minimum recommended cage length for one rabbit is 3 to 4 feet. Use a solid-bottom metal cage, a large dog crate or puppy exercise pen. (Wire-bottom cages can cause foot sores.) Rabbits are highly social and do best when they can interact with family members. But don’t house rabbits with other rabbits unless all are spayed or neutered.
» Litter box: Rabbits, once spayed or neutered, will readily use litter boxes. Use dust-free, natural litter (not the clumping kind) and no pine or cedar shavings.
» Playtime: Rabbits are built for running and jumping, so they need exercise out of their cage in a safe area for several hours daily. To satisfy a rabbit’s urge to dig and chew, use cardboard boxes, an old telephone book or chew sticks. For digging, fill a cardboard box halfway with soil or shredded paper.
» Outdoors: Rabbits should never be left outdoors unsupervised. They can literally be frightened to death when approached by predators such as dogs or cats. They can also dig under fences to escape.
» Diet: Provide unlimited grass hay, such as timothy, for intestinal tract health, and supplement with 2 cups of fresh, green, leafy vegetables and a quarter-cup of pellets daily, depending on age and weight.
» Grooming: Brush your pet regularly with a soft brush to remove excess hair.
Source: ASPCA, www.aspca.org
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