Search Results for: Rabbits

Rabbits — The New Cats

They roam your house, use a litter box, are best kept indoors, should be spayed/neutered, and their homeless population has been exploding.

Sound familiar? Well, I’m not talking about cats, but rabbits.

Around September 2021, we declared our rabbit population a burgeoning crisis. Rabbits were coming to us in entire litters, easily cruising into the double digits. It was a bunny-palooza.

And the number of rabbits at the OHS hasn’t slowed down since. If you’ve been closely watching our adoption pages, you’ve likely seen the ebb and flow of adoptable animals. Depending on the time of year, there might be a considerable number of cats or dogs looking for forever homes. Other times there may be very few — right now, all of our adoptable cats fit into a single page of the website.

Our rabbit population, on the other hand, has been consistently high. Currently there are three pages of adoptable small animals and there are only three animals who are not rabbits.

The cause? It’s hard to say for certain, but we’ve got some ideas. In the great dog rush of 2020 it’s possible that people who weren’t able to find a dog might have shifted their focus to rabbits. Rabbits make great pets, but like any pet, you should know what you’re getting into before bringing one into your home. New rabbit parents may have been aware that rabbits do best in pairs, but might not have realized the need or had the resources to have the bunnies sterilized or to seek out regular, essential veterinary care.

Ottawa has made strides in its efforts to curb cat overpopulation, but even with cats there are still more improvements to be made. Rabbits are starting at square one and are missing key protections and resources such as a greater number of veterinary clinics that are equipped to care for rabbits and by-laws to prevent the sale of rabbits in pet stores unless sourced from an ethical provider like the OHS.

Much like cats, rabbits will need the support of the community to help solve their current overpopulation issues. We’re looking for more families interested in adopting a rabbit (or two) in need and who can provide a loving home for the bunny’s entire life. We’re also looking for more people to join our foster team and give temporary homes to Ottawa’s homeless bunnies.

If you don’t have space in your home for a bunny, temporary or permanent, you can still help by encouraging others to adopt from the OHS or get involved in our foster program. You can also advocate for bunnies and let your city councillor know that rabbits need similar protections to cats and dogs.

Let’s hop to it, Ottawa.

Stephen Smith

Manager: Communications

Hamsters, Rabbits and Guinea Pigs. Oh my.

I am well aware that many people associate the Ottawa Humane Society solely with dogs and cats. Though our Mission embraces all animals, admittedly a very large portion of our day-to-day work is with and about cats and dogs. Perhaps this is why even long time OHS supporters are sometimes surprised when I mention the little critters that we have for adoption: the gerbils, hamsters, mice, guinea pigs and rabbits in our care needing a forever home.

In fact a year or so ago, a good friend bought a rabbit for her children and when I asked why she didn’t adopt from the OHS, she said, “You guys have rabbits??” Yikes! I’m not doing a very good job at spreading the news about the delightful critters in our adoption centre. My friend would have been much happier to adopt, rather than buy, a rabbit. She would have also been much happier to have adopted a sterilized rabbit at the OHS, than the unsterilized one she bought.

So this week, I’m going to try to make up for my poor marketing of the little ones by introducing you to some of them. And please help my atonement by spreading the word.

Bruce Roney
President and CEO

Rabbits Make Great Pets

Rabbits are intelligent, affectionate animals that make strong social connections. They enjoy interacting with humans on a regular basis, and with daily care and attention, they can form tight bonds with their owners. With the right socialization, rabbits can even become close friends with other animals in the home.

For someone living in an apartment or a house with shared walls, a rabbit could be the ideal companion. Rabbits are quiet pets and are naturally clean animals. With a little training, rabbits can even be taught to use a litter box. Typically they are most active in the morning and evening, so they have a perfect natural schedule to accommodate work or school commitments. Using positive reinforcement, rabbits can be trained to perform tricks and have even been known to complete rabbit-sized agility courses!

A healthy rabbit can live up to 10 years and can be a great companion for people who have never had a pet or older children who are ready for the responsibility. For the right person, caring for a pet rabbit can be an extremely rewarding experience that can bring companionship, joy and love to your home for years to come.

To learn more about rabbits, check out our brochure and check out rabbits at the OHS who are looking for their forever home.

Rabbits

Learn more about rabbits.

A Rabbit Around the House

I confess, despite the many pets I have had in my life, I have never had a pet rabbit. My good friend in the U.K. did though. The bunny, simply known as “Rabbit,” was a house rabbit. Rabbit had run of the house. In fact, he wasn’t happy that I would close the door of the guest bedroom, keeping him out. Invariably, at some time during the night, he would throw himself at the door to try to get in.

I will further confess, till I met him, I never thought of a rabbit as a viable pet, having seen only undersocialized ones confined to cages at the edge of the garden growing up. To me, keeping rabbits seemed cruel and pointless. But a house rabbit is different thing. Rabbit was paper trained, and my friend told me he rarely had a accident, unless sick. He was moderately affectionate, though not with me. Perhaps because I locked him out of the guest bedroom.

Given this month is Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month, here are a few things our adoption staff want you to know about pet rabbits:

Rabbits are intelligent, social animals. When given plenty of attention, they make affectionate and rewarding family pets. They can be trained to use a litter box and are more enjoyable, responsive pets when living indoors as house rabbits. Given appropriate care, rabbits can live 10 years or more. Before adopting a rabbit, consider the following:

Rabbits need daily exercise and play

Rabbits need nutritious food, fresh water and a clean habitat

Everyone in your household should understand how to hold and play with a rabbit, and be eager to welcome a rabbit into the family

Some rabbits can be destructive. They like to chew on books and wooden furniture and electrical cords, and will need to be monitored

For more information about rabbits and their care, visit www.ottawahumane.ca/?s=Rabbits.

For rabbits and other small pets available for adoption right now, visit https://ottawahumane.ca/adopt/small-animals-and-birds/.

Bruce Roney
Executive Director

The Shocking Reality of Ottawa’s Rabbit Crisis

Ottawa is in a rabbit crisis, and there’s more to it than the droves of bunnies arriving at the OHS. Our Rabbit Week promotion has helped 10 bunnies find their forever home so far, but during the same period, 18 more have arrived in our care.

It’s like trying to save a leaky boat with a bucket.

I’m often asked: where are these animals coming from? The persistent assumption is that people who acquired a rabbit during the pandemic are now no longer able or willing to care for the animals and are surrendering their pets en masse. This is both inaccurate and an oversimplification of the issue.

Our data shows that when rabbits are surrendered to us, it is often one client surrendering many — generally a consequence of acquiring unsterilized pets. But at least these pets are moving from a home to the OHS, compared to the ones who are dumped outdoors and left to fend for themselves — a situation that is happening with alarming frequency and outpacing the number of rabbits surrendered to us.

A quick search on Kijiji shows a number of rabbits for sale in Ottawa — most unsterilized. Some of these seem to be legitimate attempts to rehome a pet while others suggest the rabbits have been bred for profit. Perhaps what’s most disturbing is their age; often just a couple of months old and being marketed as “adorable babies.” While some of these rabbits will be sold to new homes, will those who aren’t, be dumped outdoors, abandoned to fend for themselves?

There are, sadly, callous attitudes, or at best lack of education about bunnies and their wellbeing in our community. When we speak out about our population crisis, we have received comments suggesting we release the rabbits outdoors.

Let’s be clear. These are domestic animals that do not have the ability to survive outside. Imagine if someone was to say the same about cats or dogs. Abandoning them is a criminal offence. If you are aware of rabbits being abandoned, contact the Provincial Animal Welfare Services at 1-833-9-ANIMAL.

Rabbits are excellent pets, but there are currently too many in need of homes, for the homes available. At this time, acquiring a rabbit from anywhere but a reputable shelter or rescue, is contributing to animal suffering. All rabbits adopted from the OHS are already spayed or neutered, ensuring they won’t contribute to the ongoing crisis.

Sharon Miko
President & CEO

2022 Media Releases

Local Rabbit Sets the Record Straight: Why Bunnies are the Best Pets Ever

You know what gets my ears in a twist? People always say they’re dog or cat people and totally ignore rabbits like me and my buddy, Pooh.

I don’t get it.

Rabbits are adorable, cuddly, friendly, and we’re not going to slobber all over you or scratch up your furniture. Dogs? You have to walk the beasts multiple times a day and good luck having breakables around the house. They got no respect for personal space or your family heirlooms.

On the other hand, bunnies are happy to calmly explore your home and don’t need to run like 1,000km every day. Yeah, we’ll pop a binky or two when we’re pumped, and love playtime and toys, but we’re civil, refined creatures.

I’ve heard a bunch of people don’t even know that rabbits can be litter trained. Cats aren’t the only ones who know to keep it tidy and do their business in a box.

Am I convincing enough yet? How about the fact we’re dang vegetarians? You don’t need to worry about super stanky breath (if you’ve got a cat or dog in your life, you know what I mean) and we’ll help you polish off that head of lettuce in the fridge that you never would have been able to finish.

To recap:

Rabbits are super sweet, have unique personalities and are the perfect roommate;
We’re not gonna judge your home, we’re cool with a smaller place and your décor is mostly safe with us;
We’ll do our business in a litter box to help keep our home clean;
We’ll help you cut your fresh veggie waste waaaaay down. Cats and dogs are doing literally nothing to fight climate change; and,
We’re social butterflies who love to have another rabbit as a friend. Meaning you’ll have two stupidly cute rabbits to keep you company. And you’ll love it.

If somehow all of that’s not enough for you to adopt a rabbit, how about that the OHS is running a special adoption deal on rabbits from July 23 to 29? You get more than 20% off our adoption fee, a free bag of hay, and a gift card to supply our first week of veggies.

OH! And unlike the buns listed on Kijiji and other places, the OHS has already spayed/neutered us and checked us out to make sure we’re healthy and chill. No surprises.

If for whatever reason you don’t want to adopt me and Pooh, there are rabbits of all shapes and sizes at the OHS who are perfect for you and want to hop into your home right now.

You’ve been making a mistake all your life not having a rabbit. But you don’t have to keep making the same mistake. Adopt a rabbit now.

Eeyore

Rabbit who has been waiting too long for a new home

The Real Crisis

Every couple of weeks or so, I receive a call from a reporter or producer. Invariably, it’s because they want to do a story about pandemic puppies: the thousands of dogs supposedly surrendered to shelters by owners returning to work who no longer want their pets. I calmly explain that this story isn’t real, not at the Ottawa Humane Society, and not at any shelter in the country that I am aware of.

Then I try to pitch one or more stories about the real issues for dogs during the health crisis:

Dogs purchased from puppy mills or other disreputable breeders;
Puppies flown to Canada en masse to meet local demand, arriving sick, dead or dying at our airports;
Dogs experiencing distress, including separation anxiety, related to abrupt changes in routine;
Dogs behaving fearfully or even aggressively in routine social interactions as a result of under-socialization; or,
The shortage of veterinary care in the community.

The reporters don’t exactly hang up on me, but it feels like it. I guess the reality for dogs during COVID just isn’t as exciting or newsworthy as the persistent myth.

Recently though, that myth has become reality — but not for dogs — for rabbits.

Over the past few months, the OHS shelter and many other shelters in Ontario have seen a dramatic increase in the number of rabbits surrendered. Many of us are running out of space for them and it is on the verge of becoming a crisis.

Our friends and partners across the province have a few theories. It may be that people bought rabbits for the same reason they bought dogs: companionship for themselves and their children during lockdowns. Maybe they couldn’t find or afford a dog and bought a rabbit instead. Perhaps the demand for pets brought breeders into the business of breeding and selling rabbits.

Whatever the reason, there is a crisis — a pandemic bunny crisis.

Reporters, are you listening?

Bruce Roney

President & CEO

P.S. Rabbits make great pets and all rabbits available for adoption from the OHS are sterilized.

2023 Media Releases

Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
…
Page 5
Next »