In the weeks leading up to Easter, it’s impossible to escape imagery of the Easter bunny – it’s everywhere: on TV, on packages of candy at the supermarket, and stores are filled to the brim with stuffed rabbits of all shapes and sizes.

As these things tend go, the barrage of Easter bunny imagery has sadly turned into a yearly trend of well-intentioned parents giving their children live pet rabbits as Easter gifts.

Most often these gifted Easter rabbits are tiny babies, typically purchased from a pet store or breeder – both of which are primarily concerned with making money rather than the welfare of the animal they are selling. As such, there are often no steps taken by the pet store or the breeder to educate consumers on the responsibilities and complexities of owning a pet rabbit.

Rabbits are often thought of as inexpensive and low maintenance pets, so many people think that they make good starter pets for children. Not to mention the undeniable fact that baby bunnies are unbearably cute. They are practically irresistible, and it is unthinkable for most uneducated rabbit owners that this tiny little ball of fur will become a moody, demanding, and destructive animal, whose natural tendencies to bite, chew, dig, spray, hide, and seek out quiet, don’t become apparent until once they’ve hit puberty.

See, puberty is the big game-changer for rabbits. All too often, a few short months after baby bunny hits puberty, and his hormones make him a little crazy, many rabbits find themselves dumped at shelters, or worse – abandoned outside, left to fend for themselves in a harsh environment, vulnerable to cars, predators, and many other dangers.

Your once cute and cuddly baby bunny has suddenly turned into an unmanageable terror over night, and if you aren’t aware that this change is coming and unavoidable, and if you’re not prepared with a plan of what you can do to get your rabbit under control, it’s somewhat easy to understand the frustration that leads to dropping off ‘Terror Bunny’ at an animal shelter.

This is the sad reality for many bunnies given to children as Easter pets. It’s a common fact among animal shelters across North America that the number of surrendered rabbits swells in the months after Easter. However, with a bit of research, it’s easy to avoid this common mistake.

If you are considering giving your child a pet rabbit for Easter, make sure you know the basic facts about rabbit care:

• Rabbits can live 10+ years
• They require the same amount of work as a dog or a cat. This includes regular socialization, regular exercise, a proper diet, and annual check ups.
• Rabbits are happiest when they live inside as members of your family, preferably in a cage-free home in a bunny-proofed environment. An outdoor hutch is just simply not enough.
• An adult, not a child, should be the primary caregiver for your bunny, ensuring the rabbit has been fed appropriately, has enough exercise, and has proper veterinary care.
• Rabbits are very fragile animals and they break easily. As such, an adult should supervise any child’s interaction with a rabbit very closely.
• Rabbits must be spayed or neutered for health related reasons, as a well as behavior related reasons.

If these basic rabbit care facts sound like something you can’t commit to, and your potential new best rabbit friend deserves nothing less than 100% commitment from you, here are some practical and fun suggestions on what you can do instead of giving your child a live pet rabbit for Easter:

Education is key

First off, educate your child about the responsibilities of pet ownership, and particularly the complexities of rabbit ownership. This is probably the best place you can start because there is endless information available online about the joys and challenges of owning a bunny. Kids are smart and resilient, and engaging your child in a discussion on responsible pet ownership will help them to understand what your family is considering getting into by welcoming a rabbit into your home. Being able to back up your reasons for not wanting to give your child a rabbit by showing them the countless websites that strongly discourage the practice of giving animals, and most notably rabbits, as gifts will help them understand that it’s not just you saying no.

Make theirs chocolate

Taken from the concept of the ‘Make Mine Chocolate’ campaign (www.makeminechocolate.org) of gifting chocolate rather than a live animal for Easter, offer your children the gift of a chocolate bunny, or even a stuffed bunny, instead of giving your child a live pet as a gift.

Rabbit-themed baking

Bake fun rabbit themed treats such as rabbit-shaped cookies, rabbit-shaped cupcakes, or a rabbit-shaped loaf of bread. Recipes for each of these delicious treats can be found online.

Go a little deeper and visit an animal shelter

Take your child to an animal shelter that cares for rabbits, such as The Winnipeg Humane Society, and show them firsthand what life is like for surrendered and abandoned animals. As amazing as animals shelters are in terms of how hard they work to save animals and adopt them out, it’s no place for a pet rabbit to live a happy life. Shelters are often crowded and noisy, and this atmosphere can be very stressful for rabbits. In 2012 alone, 118 rabbits found themselves up for adoption at The Winnipeg Humane Society.

Birthday fun at The Winnipeg Humane Society

You can also book your child a birthday party at The Winnipeg Humane Society. This gives your child and their friends the opportunity to take a guided tour of the shelter so they can learn all about what the shelter does for the animals in its care, and what the adoption process is like. The children will also have the opportunity to interact with shelter animals in a safe and supervised environment.

Make a donation

Following a visit to an animal shelter, encourage a philanthropic nature in your child by suggesting they donate their allowance or birthday money to an animal shelter that cares for surrendered rabbits. You may be pleasantly surprised what your child is willing to do for an animal in need.

Lead by Example

Let’s face it: you’re the parent and you have the final say in terms of what you give your child as a gift. Not only that, but as the parent, you have a responsibility to set a good example for your child in terms of how you treat animals. If you teach your children that rabbits are not toys from the get-go, they are likely to carry this mindset throughout their lives and treat rabbits, as well as other animals with due respect and consideration.

Bringing a new pet home is always an exciting and rewarding experience – but it’s definitely not without its challenges. When you adopt a new dog, there are certain in home dog training tips to keep in mind before you bring your new friend home.

When you first introduce a dog to your house, it’s a new environment for them and they can be especially impressionable.  Your first few days together are an especially critical time for this sort of dog behaviour training. Use the time to teach your new pet rules and break some bad habits.

While you and your dog get to know each other, don’t get too caught up in the excitement of having a new pup in the house – start in house dog training and socializing him right away!

Here are the Winnipeg Humane Society’s top 10 dog house training tips:

1. Do your research! Plan for your dog in advance by reading about basic training. If you’re not sure a dog is for you, read Are You Ready for a Dog? on our website – there’s lots of great tips and information on introducing a dog into your life.

2. Have all your doggy accessories before you bring your pup home. This includes food and bowls, toys, brushes, a collar and leash, and a dog crate or gate. Bringing a dog home – especially a puppy – is sort of like bringing home a baby. Things can get kind of hectic during your first few days together, so make sure you have everything you need before bringing him home. The WHS gift shop has some great options for all you’ll need your new dog.

3. Get your dog some ID before bringing him home. When you adopt a dog at the WHS, the cost of an ear tattoo is included with his adoption fee. Consider getting a microchip as well for only $30, and make sure he has a collar with ID tags.

4. Set fair and consistent boundaries for pup and family to adhere to, this will help the pup understand his expectations within the family structure and home environment. Sit down as a family and decide what you would all expect from your pet. Pick your words and strive to be consistent and fair to your dog. Changing the words or boundaries will only confuse your dog.

5. Put on your walking shoes. Daily walks with your dog can help strengthen the bond between your dog and his new family. A dog should be walked at least once a day (some more than others). Exercise can help relieve stress, burn off excess energy and create an all-around happier dog.  Remember: “A tired dog is a HAPPY dog”

6. Dog obedience training classes are a great way for your dog to use his brain and at the same time learning some new tricks and behaviours. These new tools can be used to replace any unwanted habits such as jumping up, while in the home, Discourage dogs from jumping up. Your new dog may be over-stimulated by his new surroundings. Make sure not to reward him when he jumps up, – ignore him and give praise and attention once all four paws are on the floor.

7. Make chew toys available as an outlet for your dog’s energy, and to discourage him from your furniture (or you!) as his own personal chew toy. Make sure that toys are appropriate for the size of dog and they are removed if they show any signs of wear and tear,

8. Avoid feeding your dog scraps. Dogs are opportunists and may attempt to remove food from counters if left unattended. Make sure that any tempting items are safely stored away.

9. Housebreaking. Take your dog out on a long leash every two or three hours to a designated “bathroom area” – the place you’d like him to use to relieve himself. Whenever he uses it, praise him and reward him with a few minutes of play, or a walk. Be prepared as accidents can happen. In order to limit the amount of accidents Keep your dog near you inside the house. Be vigilant and take your dog outside to relieve himself after naps, eating, play time or if you see him circling and sniffing the ground. Never punish a dog after an accident as this will lead to confusion.

10. Correct and re-direct bad behaviour, but always remember to praise when he does something good. If the dog ignores your corrections, work on your communication skills. Pay attention and be consistent – don’t send mixed messages. You may inadvertently reward bad behaviour, and this will confuse your dog. It may be cute if he jumps up and tries to steal your food, but if you let him do it he will never behave reliably!

Here are some of our Happy Tails dogs!

(this post was written and submitted by Eleanor Mohabir)

Hi!  My name is Iffley and I am a cat; born December 1996 on a cold and blustery street in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

I was adopted from the Winnipeg Humane Society (WHS) on March 1, 1997, where I was showcased at the Eaton’s Place Satellite location. That was a very long time ago!

My owner Wendy and her sister Eleanor were out shopping and stopped to make a donation to the WHS.  Lucky for me I caught their eye! They told me later that it’s because my beautiful orange fur coat was the same color as Wendy’s hair!  It was a match made in heaven!

So instead of purchasing that just right handbag, Wendy ended up shopping for my litter box, food and all my toys before I arrived to live in my new home in Osborne Village. I was so ecstatic to have found my forever friend, and loved to lie spread-eagle on my new bed – one very happy cat!

Wendy and her soon-to-be husband Phil, decided to call me Iffley after the road where they met in Oxford, England, a couple of years before. I fit into their lives perfectly!

But before I knew it, things were about to change.

Wendy married Phil and we all moved to sunny, hot Los Angeles, California.  L.A. has a population of 4 million and is the second most populous city in the United States. This small-town cat was going to the BIG city!

I traveled by plane, and that would be my very first and last trip via that mode of transportation! No purring; it was just awful!

We spent a couple of years in my L.A. apartment with a roof-top deck (that was the life) before settling into our new home in North Hollywood, the Entertainment Capital of the World. I never met any movie folks, but Wendy and Phil were undoubtedly the brightest stars on my Hollywood Walk of Fame!

In my new home I had an awesome cat flap, so I could come and go and relax in my spacious  tree-lined back yard. Ah, those were the days, sunning myself in or under the fruit trees! I never ventured outside of my yard except for one night… all night!  Wendy and Phil were frantic with worry. Finally they tracked me down; wet and confused after being surprised by an automated sprinkler system!

Just when I thought things were perfect, Wendy and Phil had to return to Winnipeg for a couple of months. This time I traveled by car and stayed with my relatives, including my nephew, a feline named Mikky (also adopted from the WHS), in Winnipeg Beach, Manitoba. I enjoyed heading back to my roots and although I didn’t like travelling by car much at first, I soon got used to it. At least it wasn’t that horrible “iron bird”, like last time!

After returning to L.A., I spent another 4 years in Hollywood. (No cat commercials, but Wendy and Phil thought I was the cat’s meow anyway.) As time went on, they realized that the lights and action were a bit too much for me. It was decided that we should all venture to Vashon Island, Washington to live out the rest of my 9 lives.

Situated in the “Heart of the Sound” with views of water or mountains at every corner, Vashon can only be reached by a breathtakingly beautiful ferry ride. I must admit that trip was rather painless!

My island is magical! The pace is slower and all the people are friendlier and more relaxed. Vashon Island is just west of Seattle, approximately 13 miles long and 8 miles at the widest point with a year-round population of about 11,000.   My new home is nestled on a hillside, overlooking the Olympic Mountains. This is my heaven on earth after the bustling pace of L.A.!

Soon after arriving, we welcomed a new addition to our family – a lab cross puppy named Sally. Sally was adopted from Homeward Pet Adoptions, a shelter in Woodinville, WA. I basically ignored her; I mean she’s just a dog, but tolerable as far as dogs are concerned. I would never let anyone know that deep down I considered her my beloved companion.

So, my human friends in Friendly Manitoba, this is my life and what a life it is!

To my furry friends waiting to be adopted at the WHS, don’t despair. There is someone special out there waiting to share his or her life with you.  Who knows where you might travel and what far and exotic places you will end up!

Note: Iffley is now an Angel in animal heaven, passing away in 2010 from renal failure. Wendy and Phil were heartbroken, having spent 2 years trying to treat his condition.  They keep Iffley’s memory alive by sharing stories and photos.

After some time, they adopted 2 new furry kittens (joining Sally the dog) named Bentley and Riley, from Vashon Island Pet Protectors.

The family continues to reside on Vashon Island, WA.

This morning I took a little brown striped cat into The WHS. We had a cat coming around our yard for some time over the summer, so we decided to rent a trap from Winnipeg Animal Services to try to catch the little one. We put fresh food and water out for it every day. The cat was smart and seemed to know where to step to not set off the trap. This morning though, I found a little brown cat looking at me from the trap, and mewing, scared out of its mind when I came near.

I talked gently to the cat, put a blanket over the trap to calm it down and immediately drove off to The WHS. It was a long drive, but the blanket helped to keep the cat calm and quiet throughout most of the ride. I took a little peek at it when I stopped at a light and saw it sitting curled up in a corner. I periodically would talk to it to make sure it was ok, and I’d get a little string of mews back.  Upon arrival at The WHS, the intake staff told me the cat was a little girl, and wasn’t a wild cat. But she didn’t have a tattoo. She was small, and so pretty with shades of brown and white in her striped fur. The WHS staff took her away to begin the intake process, and my job was done.  As I drove away from The WHS, my eyes filled with tears for the scared little kitty. Is she healthy? Will she find a good home? Does she have owners, and if so, why did they let her wander around on the dangerous streets every day?

I own two cats, a boy and a girl, who I adopted from The WHS. I am very tuned into noticing other cats I see wandering around outside, or sitting out in their owners’ yards. My heart is so concerned for cats as I do not want to see any suffer. I always think “what if that wandering creature was my cat?” Truthfully, it probably was one of my cats at one time, as one was a stray. The other was born at WHS. I took them in to give them good homes and I love them more than they can understand. I never want to see harm come to them.

I have to implore all cat owners out there – take responsibility for your pets! If you own a cat, do not let them roam around the neighborhood! If you care for your pet, why would you want to risk them getting hit by a car, getting into a fight with another animal, getting sick or getting lost forever? If you own a cat, make sure that your pet is fixed, so that more litters aren’t added to the streets. Finally, if you own a cat, make sure they have a tattoo or a chip so that when a compassionate person like me catches your pet, he or she can be returned to you!

It broke my heart this morning thinking about this cat and I truly don’t want to see any other cats without homes wandering around my neighborhood. All animals are gifts and deserve to have good lives and forever homes.

I hope the little girl finds a good forever home and I’ll be looking forward to following up on her in the next few days.

By Candace Weselowski

By Meret Shaker, WHS Camp Counsellor

Well, it’s the end of summer holidays, and as the days get shorter and the last day of Daycamp has come and gone, I can’t help but feel a little sad. It has been somewhat of a bittersweet ending: bitter because it’s over, but sweet because it’s been a wonderful experience! When The WHS campers walk in through the classroom doors, they are buzzing with excitement. Whether they run straight towards the markers, papers and the board games (such as Cat-Opoly, Dog-Opoly, and any other kind of –Opoly you can think of), or take a little while to warm up to their surroundings, they know that we have a great day in store for them!

Getting lots of animal interaction is not the only thing that makes The WHS Daycamp special; it’s also everything we do in between. From cool crafts like cat grass pots, rock animals, decorating bandanas and mugs, friendship bracelets, and tie-dye T-shirts (I’ve made each of these crafts for myself, because I couldn’t help my inner-child), to awesome activities like Amazing Race, Price Your Pet and Water Games, I can’t even decide which one is a personal favorite. To end an amazing weeklong camp, we always have a Friday party with lots of snacks and freezies. Now, who wouldn’t love to be a WHS camper? I’ve personally enjoyed each and every activity of those, if I do say so myself.

From all of the day camp weeks, nothing is quite like pre-paws for the little 4-6 year olds. We have them for only three days in total, and they are simply the cherry on top of a fantastic summer. They would come up to me, with a look of complete bewilderment on their faces, and ask me with high pitched voices, “We can actually, like, pet the animals?…Like, touch their fur?” Instinctively, I can’t help but smile and say, “Of course you can, silly! What else would you do here if you weren’t allowed?” After they get over the shock of it, that’s when they’re so eager to go to “The cat comBos, where all the cats are spRayed and neutRal!” Translation: the Cat Condos, where all the cats are spayed and neutered. So, we bundle them up in the little yellow aprons, and off to the cat combos we go!

Being one of the four Daycamp counsellors at The WHS, I can assure you, it’s no easy job! There are some, let’s call them “qualifications” or ”abilities” you must possess. For one, you must be accustomed to hearing your name being called 76 times, within the span of 20 seconds. Also, you must always walk with Band-Aids, and you must be able to tie and/or untie 6 different aprons in less than 10 seconds. You must be able to listen and respond to 8 different stories being told at the same time, and last but not least, you must magically be able to control the mind of an animal to make them feel like visiting with the kids. Well, maybe not so much of the last one, but it would sure be a bonus!

At the end of the day, in closing circle, we get them to say what they’ve learned from their very busy day at The WHS camp. It never ceases to amaze me just how much information the kids can absorb, and all the new and exciting information they take home. For us counsellors, after a crazy day of camp full of cat fur, doggy slobber, laughter, silliness, board games, and yes, even time-out warnings, when those kids walk out the door, we are proud to know that we are helping build a new generation of responsible pet owners. It’s been a great summer, and I can’t wait to do it all over again!