How to Decide on an Easter Pet

The selection of an Easter pet for your family requires careful consideration of what will be needed to care for it when it reaches adulthood. Read the information below before you commit to the lifelong obligation of providing for a baby bunny, chicken or duckling.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Chicken Feed
• Bird Food/water Bowls
• Pet Food
• Baby Chick Grit
• Cage

1. Seek advice from your local veterinarian, Humane Society or Audubon Society prior to purchasing a baby animal for Easter.

2. Ask detailed questions about the care and shelter that are required for the animal you are thinking about acquiring, as a baby and as an adult.

3. Talk with those selling the baby chick, bunny or duckling; find out how long it will remain a cute little baby.

4. Prepare to care for this animal for years, providing special food, shelter and medical attention as needed, both while it is a baby and as it grows quickly to adulthood.

5. Check laws and regulations for your locale prior to purchase, as many areas prohibit keeping certain domestic animals inside the city limits.

6. Think about it overnight, and discuss it in detail with your family; do not buy one of these cute little critters on impulse.

Tips & Warnings

• Visit local animal shelters with your children so your family can interact with all types of animals prior to selecting a pet for your home.
• Check with your friends and neighbors prior to purchase and get their reactions and experiences with similar situations involving adoption of chickens, bunnies or ducklings.
• Search the Internet for information about the pros and cons of adopting these little creatures as pets in an urban or suburban setting.
• Baby chicks, ducks and bunnies may carry diseases that can be harmful to your family. Check with your public health department or veterinarian about safety issues prior to purchase.
• Occasionally, the darling baby chicks, ducklings or bunnies are appreciated and find good homes; but most end up at local animal shelters before summer and do not find people to adopt them.
• These animals cannot be released into the neighborhood or surrounding farm lands or forests when they reach adulthood; they lack the skills needed to survive on their own in the wild.

on 6/30/2006 Volunteer at an animal rescue/rehab before you decide to bring an animal home. Your local humane society, animal shelter, or pet store can help you find rescue groups.

If you don't have time to do this, you don't have time to care for a pet.

If your child is too young to work here, they are too young for a high-maintenance pet, like a rabbit.

on 11/22/2005 Realize that if you buy an easter pet, it will be a commitment. you shouldn't get rid of it whenever you get tired of it.remember it will need food and and water and a place to use the bathroom, etc. think about it and if you don't want to care for this animal for the rest of its life, get a stuffed animal for easter instead.

on 11/22/2005 Please do not give pets as gifts at ANY time of the year!! Animal shelters are already overburdened with unwanted animals, so please, please don't add to this awful problem unless you are prepared to make a full commitment.

on 11/22/2005 Do you own a body of water for that cute little duckling? Can you protect it from mink, coyotes, snapping turtles? Can you handle the mess that waterfowl leave behind? Animals are not toys and can't be put away on a shelf when the kids get bored.

on 11/22/2005 Bunnies are not meant to be "toys" for children - they require constant love, care and attention. I have 3 independent, potty trained, intelligent spayed/neutered rabbits. They have the "run of my house" - go where they please and live very happily.