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Know what to expect before deciding to bring a bunny into your home

Before you decide to buy your kids that adorable bunny for Easter, understand what kind of commitment you're getting yourself into.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Before you decide to take home that bunny to the kids this Easter, make sure you know what you're getting into.

Bunnies, just like all pets, have their own needs, personalities and behavioral issues. The best thing you can do is research. Bunnies are an 8- to 12-year commitment and although they're cute and small when you get them, they grow up to be bigger than you might think. Bunnies are a lot like cats with their care. You can't leave a bunny for more than a couple of days at a time. Bunnies are exotic animals so they have their own unique medical and behavioral issues that you need to watch out for.

Humane Society of West Michigan tend to see bunnies return to their shelter after 4 to 6 months once the rabbits have begun to establish their behavior, start testing their limits (much like teenagers) and people realize they don't have time for them anymore. Humane Society of West Michigan calls them "retired Easter bunnies" and say bunnies are the third most surrendered shelter pets.

Ashley Dahl from Humane Society of West Michigan likes the phrase "at Christmas, you wouldn't buy your child a reindeer, so why would you buy your child an Easter bunny?"

If you're still interested in adopting a bunny, consider adopting from a shelter. Most shelters will check your bunny for behavioral and medical problems before adopting them out. A lot of the time they will also spay and neuter the animal which will help prevent some behavioral issues.

If your child wants to learn more about bunnies, Humane Society of West Michigan offers summer camps that help families prepare for the arrival of new pets, making sure you're ready for your new four-legged family member.

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