Each year, hundreds of domestic rabbits are abandoned to Pittsburgh animal shelters. Many more receive improper care, even neglect, from owners who simply don’t understand their rabbit’s basic needs for housing, diet, exercise and health care.
The Pittsburgh House Rabbit Club was launched in July 2005 to help educate
people who own rabbits, and those planning to bring one home. The mission
of the club is fourfold:
- To promote rabbits as house pets.
- To assist shelters in the foster care and permanent placement of rabbits as house pets.
- To promote not only humane care of rabbits, but to encourage a standard of excellence in their care.
- To educate animal professionals and the public regarding rabbit care, behavior and the need for spaying and neutering.
Rabbits are inexpensive to buy, so people wrongly assume they are cheap,
low-maintenance pets. Parents often believe a cute baby "Easter bunny"
is a good choice for young children. However, rabbits reach their reproductive
years before six months of age. Without patient, daily training –
and spaying and neutering, which can cost more than $150 – a baby
bunny can quickly grow into a destructive, aggressive, adolescent rabbit.
Like dogs and cats, domestic rabbits are intelligent, social animals. They have distinct personalities, and can live from 8 to 12 years. They make wonderful additions to families who are prepared to care for them.
BEFORE YOU GET A RABBIT,
GET THE FACTS!
To learn all about rabbit
housing, diet, exercise and veterinary care, visit the comprehensive website
of the House Rabbit
Society
Pittsburgh House Rabbit Club, and it's members in the news
CONTACT US!
Info
Whether you are a
long time bunny owner or are just thinking about adopting a rabbit, we
welcome your inquiries, requests or suggestions.
Adoption
What could be more
rewarding than giving a new home to a shelter bunny? If you are interested
in adopting a bunny, please contact us. We can make sure this is the right
decision for your home, the care of the bunny and the type of bunny that
would work best for you. The Pittsburgh House Rabbit Club volunteers with
all the shelters so we know all the bunnies that are available. Want to
start now? Check here: Animal
Friends, Animal
Rescue League and WPa
Humane Society
Outreach
Nothing is more rewarding
than helping a bunny in need. Unfortunately, there are many bunnies in
Pittsburgh that need help. Any amount of time that can be donated to improving
the lives of rabbits can make the difference between a healthy rabbit
to one that is neglected. Some ways you can help is by volunteering to
cuddle a bunny at one of the animal shelters, volunteering to educate
people about rabbits at one of our pet store events, and/or fostering
a shelter bunny for a month or two. If you would like to improve the life
of a bunny, please contact us. We can find an outreach program to fit
your schedule.
Grooming
Wondering which comb is the best for your breed of bunny? Looking for
the right tools to trim your rabbits nails? We can help. From ear cleaning
to scent glands and everything in-between. Just ask!
Coming soon: Downloadable Info Sheets, Veterinarian Referrals, Foster Training, Recommended Reading, Local Resources