You and Your Rabbit

Greetings to all WAGazine Readers!

First of all, please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Timothy Chan and most of you in the Malaysian “Rabbit Circle” knows me through my weblog TruLuvRabbitry.com which celebrated its 5th year Anniversary on the 16th of June 2012. After 5 years of raising the wonderful Holland Lop rabbit breed, I asked myself what else can I do in terms of educating more people about the most misunderstood household pet – the rabbit. The opportunity came when Ms. Ellen Whyte introduced me to Mr. Andy of PetFinder.my. It is indeed very humbling to be invited to write by such an esteemed writer as Ellen and even more so to be given the opportunity byAndy who works so hard for animal welfare himself . For that, I would like to thank both Ellen & Andy for this opportunity.

I hope that readers will enjoy my articles and that they will bring not only knowledge but joy to all.

Things To Think About � Before Getting Your Pet Rabbit

Impulse buying as we all know is the main reason why many pets are abandoned and sent to animal shelters. We know that most are being put down or euthanized if the shelters are unable to find homes for these once lucky pets.

Lifestyle

Lifestyle is the most important thing to consider when acquiring a pet of any kind. Though a rabbit can be left alone most of the time, it defeats the purpose of having a companion animal without providing companionship. It is not uncommon for people to approach me seeking help to find a new home for their pets. Most often than not, a change in job responsibilities is why most opt to give up their pets.

Purpose & Expectations

If you are looking for a pet that will sit on command, a rabbit may not be the suitable pet for you. Rabbits have a mind of their own and although some have successfully mastered the skill of obeying commands, others can be difficult to train. It does take a lot of time and patience but not impossible. I often get updates from my buyers sharing the many funny antics of their pets. Beast for instance, hops on his owner�s bed to cuddle up for the night and knows how to return to his litter tray for his �businesses�. Tridus and Tinga on the other hand will run towards the refrigerator whenever their owner opens it expecting a raisin or two.

Single or Multiple

We humans are social being and naturally, we prefer to keep pets in pairs. We somehow tend to include our feelings when we keep pets. Fearing that our pet will be lonely, we tend to get them a companion as well. Some believe that rabbits are social animals and they thrive in a group. Unfortunately, keeping rabbits as pets can be a catch 22 situation. Although not applicable to all setups, raising two rabbits of the same gender opens up the possibility of territorial fights while raising two rabbits of different gender may end up having an entire house full of rabbits unless neutering is performed. If one still feels that his or her rabbit needs a companion of the same kind, the best setup would be to have a neutered buck and an intact or neutered doe.

Pedigree or Non-pedigree

A pedigree rabbit

A non-pedigree rabbit is one without any identification and pedigree document. Most of the time a non-pedigree rabbit does not appear to adhere to any breeds standard specification physically.I do not think it is the best analogy, but some may look at it as getting a branded pair of shoes or non-branded ones. The American Rabbit Breeder Association (ARBA) and the British Rabbit Council (BRC) are two widely recognized establishments that govern the breed standards for pure breed rabbits in the world. Each have different number of recognized breed i.e. the ARBA recognizes 47 different breeds of rabbits. A pedigree or pure breed rabbit usually comes with a form of identification i.e. ear tattoo or leg ring. It will also come with a pedigree document stating clearly the tattoo number and at least 3 generations lineage of the rabbit in question.

Either the pedigree or non-pedigree is equally good to have as a pet. The main reason one would like to have a pedigree is mostly due to the preference for a certain physical outlook.

A non-pedigree lop ear rabbit

Financial needs

Like keeping any other household pets, rabbit owners should be prepared to spend not less than RM 40 per month for the maintenance of their pets. Not forgetting the occasional vet bills in the events when bunny needs medical attention.

Once all the above has been ironed out, a potential rabbit owner can then consider the next course of action to take in acquiring a new pet rabbit.

Lastly, I welcome any questions that you might have regarding rabbits in general and would appreciate if you can email your questions to truluvrabbitry@gmail.com. Perhaps I shall address your questions in the next article. Till then, happy hopping!

Tweet

Timothy Chan

I am an animal lover since the age of 8 years old and in 2007, I took on the role of a show rabbit enthusiasts specializing in the Holland Lop breed. Through the years of raising this wonderful breed, I have also shared my experiences raising them at my blog - http://www.truluvrabbitry.com. My time away from the usual routine of work, family, my rabbits and blogging is mostly spent educating and sharing my knowledge with fellow rabbit enthusiasts both locally and internationally.

More Articles   |   Pets For Adoption   |   Website