Published: Thursday, April 9, 2009
Front Porch: Real chicks, bunnies not a good gift
Skip chicks, bunnies
Bunnies and chicks as Easter gifts are not the best idea because they grow into full-size rabbits and chickens, said Bud Wessman, director of Everett Animal Services.
"And someone must be prepared to properly care for the full grown pet for the remainder of the pet's life," Wessman said. "Proper pet care can be a learning experience for a child, but it does take time and energy, and too many times the child's interest diminishes once the cute little bunny or chick grows into an adult."
Mary Leake Schilder, public affairs manager for the Progressive Animal Welfare Society, echoed those thoughts.
"These animals," she said, "just like dogs and cats, require a lifetime of daily and specialized care that many families are simply not prepared to meet.
"When the novelty of these cute babies wears off, some chicks and rabbits are abandoned in the wild and left to fend for themselves, or they are dumped at already overwhelmed animal shelters and sanctuaries. In addition, rabbits are high-maintenance, fragile creatures that do not make good pets for young children, and chicks sometimes carry harmful bacteria that make children sick."
Give us the dirt about Earth Day: The Herald wants to hear about your community's Earth Day activities for listings in an upcoming issue of A&E.
E-mail the times, dates, locations, short descriptions of the events, and phone numbers for details about the events to Andrea McInnis in the Features department at amcinnis@heraldnet.com. Information must be sent by noon today.
Bunnies and chicks as Easter gifts are not the best idea because they grow into full-size rabbits and chickens, said Bud Wessman, director of Everett Animal Services.
"And someone must be prepared to properly care for the full grown pet for the remainder of the pet's life," Wessman said. "Proper pet care can be a learning experience for a child, but it does take time and energy, and too many times the child's interest diminishes once the cute little bunny or chick grows into an adult."
Mary Leake Schilder, public affairs manager for the Progressive Animal Welfare Society, echoed those thoughts.
"These animals," she said, "just like dogs and cats, require a lifetime of daily and specialized care that many families are simply not prepared to meet.
"When the novelty of these cute babies wears off, some chicks and rabbits are abandoned in the wild and left to fend for themselves, or they are dumped at already overwhelmed animal shelters and sanctuaries. In addition, rabbits are high-maintenance, fragile creatures that do not make good pets for young children, and chicks sometimes carry harmful bacteria that make children sick."
Give us the dirt about Earth Day: The Herald wants to hear about your community's Earth Day activities for listings in an upcoming issue of A&E.
E-mail the times, dates, locations, short descriptions of the events, and phone numbers for details about the events to Andrea McInnis in the Features department at amcinnis@heraldnet.com. Information must be sent by noon today.
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