Easter is a time for the world to become anew, where cold harsh winters disappear and fall into warm spring breezes filling the world with new life. Animals are born, flowers bloom among the fresh grass, stuffed animals, eggs, and easter baskets cover stores and shopping malls. It is common to see all those cute Easter movies and stuffed animals and want a new fuzzy friend of your own, every year hundreds of people buy baby bunnies, chicks, and ducklings inspired by the life-bringing holiday, but it is important to know why this is not a wise choice.  

Bunnies are charming animals and make wonderful companions, however thousands of rabbits are surrendered to animal shelters right after Easter, a day when they are often gifted to children. Rabbits are the third most frequently surrendered animals at shelters, and the third most euthanized. According to an ASPCA study, rabbits are more expensive to own that ats or guinea pigs. It is also common for house rabbits to be left outside, to fend for themselves in the wild which will always end with the death of the rabbit as they are animals of prey. While rabbits are particularly good pets, they are also very high-maintenance pets requiring as much care as dogs. 

Rabbits are highly active animals with most of their activities being in the early morning, night, and dusk meaning these animals are “daytime” sleepers; because they are most active at night, they could keep the whole family up during the night. Rabbits not only need a cage, but they must also be given space to exercise outside the cage with at LEAST 8 square feet of enclosure space combined with at least 24 square feet (about twice the area of a bathtub) of room to exercise, they need to run around for at least 5 hours a day.  

Rabbits are mostly bought during Easter as gifts for young children when rabbits should not be left alone with young children. Rabbits’ bones are incredibly fragile, and their limbs can become dislocated if these pets are dropped, held too tight, or jerked around something that kids often do with animals as they simply do not know any better. The children will also not understand the rabbits’ body language, rabbits do not like being picked up without warning, and will scratch a child out of self-defense (especially those who attempt to lift the bunny incorrectly).  

They are nervous creatures by nature meaning too much noise, activity, and even other family pets can upset them so much to the point that they often have fatal heart attacks. Bunnies also love to chew and will do so on anything, you need rabbit proof play areas for them, so they do not chew on furniture, electrical cords, or anything else that is not safe. 

 Vet bills for these animals are very pricey, requiring an exotic veterinarian with additional training. On average, rabbit owners spend about $1,100 per year and up to $85 for basic rabbit care, not including veterinary bills. They are expensive animals with vast dietary needs, and they can be fussy eaters. 

It is never a promising idea to buy an animal on impulse, unfortunately bunnies are not the only animal bought on impulse during the Easter holidays; chicks and ducklings are commonly bought around the holiday. Dr. Jane Kelly is president of the Utah Veterinary Medical Association, director of the Central Utah Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, and a professor at Utah State University, and she has professional and personal experience handling these animals.

“Remember, they do need a pond or other water source to be happy,” Kelly said. “And those ponds tend to get messy and muddy. They are not ideal for people with pristine lawns and lovely flower beds.” Ducks are also incredibly messy creatures, littering feathers all over the place and flinging food in every direction when eating. 

Like chickens, ducks love eating from vegetable gardens. Both can bring noise complaints from neighbors, become distressed without a fellow chick or duckling, live up to 10 years, and have fragile bodies that are easily damaged by overenthusiastic children. And while ducklings at least seem like they should be safe near water, that assumption can also lead to very unfortunate situations for everyone involved. 

While getting a new pet is always exciting, it is important to know when the right time to get one is. Getting an animal without the proper research, care, and requirements is not good for you or the animal; getting an alternative easter gift is always in the long run.