Tuesday, March 26, 2019

Make Mine Chocolate 2019


For many years now I have participated in the Make Mine Chocolate campaign. I was a rabbit owner for almost two decades and absolutely adore rabbits as pets and I think everyone should own one. However, I do know full well that not everyone should own a rabbit. They are not low maintenance "starter pets" that so many people think they are.



For the past couple of years, I have not been a rabbit owner because my last rabbit, Bri, died of a URI and with two cats who have chronic URI symptoms I can not face the idea of bringing a rabbit into my home only to expose it to a fatal disease. In my current home, I do have the ability to foster a rabbit since there are areas of my home that my cats are not allowed to go (IKR??) but I would not feel comfortable owning a pet and keeping it isolated out of my living area.

Because I haven't been a recent rabbit owner my MMC posts have been a bit repetitive. I reached out to Speedy The Cheeky House Bunny and asked them to help me out this year. Rachel sent me this wonderful post to share with you.

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Meet Speedy My Bunny. He's a happy Fellow and an adventurer who brings me much joy but he is also hard work and costs a lot of money to keep


Every morning He has to have his pens and litter trays cleaned. He has a salad 3 times a day.then he has his litter trays cleaned again for the evening. He has to be played with and needs a lot of company because rabbits like to be in groups or have one companion at all times. We are constantly doing little things for him throughout the day


Speedy's food bill alone costs me a fortune around £60 a month which is about $80....that is $20 every week! This covers his pellets, greens(salad)and his hay and treats, it would cost me more if I had to buy all his hay from a retailer lucky for me I have a couple of farmer friends who let me have a bale of hay cheap a couple times a year.


Then there is the cost of Housing and Bedding and litter trays which could set you back another £60 or $80, then there are toys and chews to keep him busy every couple of months. Bunnies chew and destroy everything from their toys to doors and baseboards...oh and cables, Rabbits love cables!

Then there are the vet bills. Some rabbits suffer with tooth problems all their lives and need regular checks and dentals. They have delicate tummies and the slightest thing can upset them and they stop eating which means emergency vet care. They need health checks with a rabbit savvy vet a couple of times a year and they need worming up to 4 times a year. Speedy has also had eye removal surgery which today would cost £300 to £400 / $400 to $500 dollars he also had a lump removed last year and an ear infection which left a bill of the same £400/$500.Then there is the cost of a spay or neuter which I know in the US for rabbit costs a fortune in the UK it can cost up to £90 or £100 pounds depending on your vet. Vet bills in the UK are Cheaper than the US so you can add a couple hundred dollars to those prices easily. Rabbits aren't a cheap pet They can cost as much as a dog or a cat....sometimes more.


Rabbits are prey animals, they don't like being picked up. They will bite, kick, and claw, wriggle and jump to get away from you and your children....causing possible injury to you, your children and the rabbit. Rabbits aren't a very good pet for young children as they can frighten and injure a rabbit without realizing.


A Rabbit is a 10 year plus commitment. Sadly many Rabbits get neglected after a couple of months or handed into shelters or even released to fend for themselves in the wild...Domestic Rabbits don't know how to survive in the wild and die very quickly.


Speedy Says if you can't Deal with the commitment and the cost that comes with having a rabbit as a pet Please don't buy a real Rabbit this Easter.... He Says Buy a Chocolate one or a toy one for your children instead This Easter



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Read some of my other posts for Make Mine Chocolate a mission of the Columbus House Rabbit Society - here or individual posts:


9 comments:

  1. My human loves bunnies... and that is why she doesn't have any! She knows they are more high maintenance even than kitties, and we are pretty much all she can handle.

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  2. Thanks for this post. I didn't know much about rabbits.

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  3. Every time I'm at our city shelter to pick up a foster, there are many rabbits sitting waiting to be adopted. The last time I was waiting, someone came in to adopt a dog and the shelter only had one! There was probably a dozen rabbits. Rabbits and cats -- "disposable" pets. :-(

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  4. Great post, thank you for all the bunnies ! We didn't (or forgot) about the Make Mine Chocolate campaign, it's a wonderful project. Purrs

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  5. People are so dumb, to adopt a bunny or chick at Easter...and those who sell them are equally at fault, imho.

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  6. We love Speedy! He's our bunny too. Though we have some outside ones around here that we like too.

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  7. Excellent post. I was a crazy bunny lady before I became a crazy cat lady.

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  8. We love Speedy! I don't know why people think animals are gifts - especially for kids. Some species have very specific needs and one must be prepared to meet them - not just treat them as an aside. My family got a rabbit when I was in fourth grade. It wasn't for a holiday - I just wish I'd done more research to make Black Spot's life as good as possible.

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  9. Thanks for asking us to help out,it was a pleasure....And of course we love everyone here too,xx Rachel and Speedy

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