“Bunny Quick Facts” flyer for the bunny-curious

[Barbie]

I actually got this idea from Littly Puffy Tail from a thread about the poor care we see most bunnies receiving at fairs… If you’re interested: https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/5…fault.aspx

Anyway when I take Leroy out, we get a lot of attention from people who went to pet Leroy.  But, unfortuantely, most of them know nothing about rabbits.   So I’m going to make up a flyer with a few of the most important bunny care tips and facts and keep a few of the flyers in my purse.  That way, when I run into someone who shows even the SLIGHTEST interest in bunnies, I can whip one out and give it to them!  And if they won’t take it, I’ll force it down their throat! Muah hahahaha!  Lol, ok ok… or not, but I’ll try my best to get them to take it and look at it!

The other day, I was at Walmart, buying veggies for Leroy, and the cashier was asking me to identify all the veggies so she could ring them up.  (Having had a stint in high school as a grocery store cashier, I can confidently state that not many people buy mustard greens… )  Anyway, I mentioned that all the veggies were for my rabbit and she started asking me about him and telling me about a rabbit she used to have, and of course, she cared for him all wrong – he stayed outside, and didn’t get hay. Made me sad.    So a flyer like this would have been PERFECT for me to give to her, and if I see her again in there, I’ll be sure to give her one!  Also, the lady I bought a bale of hay from for Leroy didn’t even know that rabbits should have access to good timothy or grass hay 24/7, and they HAVE a bun.  Though I think I might have convinced her to start giving it hay all the time!

If I can educate just a few people with these flyers, it will be worth it.

Also, I’m going to talk to the managers at my local pet stores and see if they’ll let me post a few flyers around their rabbit section.  Though… on the flyers I put in pet stores, I have to be careful how I phrase things so I don’t intentionally ruin sales for them by saying things like “Pet stores don’t always have rabbits’ best interest in mind.  For example, pet stores sell corn treats and yogurt drops marketed for rabbits, and yet rabbits should never get corn becasue it can expand in their stomachs and casue a blockage and rabbits should never be given any dairy products”

I haven’t typed up anything yet – I’m going to poke around the HRS site, LPT mentioned they have a quick facts sheet – but when I come up with something, I’ll post it.

Please give me your input on things to mention!

I plan to cover the basics like:

• diet – HAY
• litter training
• the importance of having a rabbit savy vet and how to find one
• play time and bunny proofing
• Misc. warnings
  • “Rabbits are NOT low maintainance pets.  They can be as time consuming and expensive as a dog or cat, sometimes more so.”
  • “Rabbits are fragile creatures, and therefore generally not suited for children.”
  • “Never pet a rabbit by extending your hand straight in front of it’s face.  Rabbits have eyes set on the sides of their faces, so they have a blind spot directly in front of their noses.  Approach, with your hand, slowly and from the side”
  • “Never pet a rabbit beneath its chin.  Some rabbits enjoy this, but most do not.  It is seen as a dominant, threatening gesture, and in addition, it puts your hand in a perfect position for receiveing a nip from sharp bunny teeth!”
  • “Never EVER pick up a rabbit by its ears.  The ears are delicate and are NOT handles.  They were not designed to support a rabbit’s weight; they were intended to help a rabbit cool itself – circulating blood though the ears comes in contact with the cooler atmospheric air, and then returns to the body, at a lower temperature.  In addition, don’t pick up a rabbit by it’s “scruff.” They have thin skin, and it is especially thin on it’s neck behind its ears.  A mother rabbit doesn’t carry baby rabbits by the backs of their necks, so it’s not a natural behavior!”
  • “Rabbits are prey animals, meaning they must be kept seperate from predator animals like dogs, cats, snakes, and hawk-type birds.  This also means that most rabbits do not enjoy being held.  When you hold a rabbit you cut off its only form of self defense – flight.  However, ost rabbits enjoy a nice petting session on the floor”
  • “When it is absolutely necessary to pick up a rabbit, support its legs and cradle it close to your body to prevent the rabbit from kicking out and/or falling.  A rabbt’s leg muscles are so powerful that if it is being held incorrectly and it kicks, it can break its back.”
• adoption!
• the importance of spaying/neutering
• ETA: living indoors!
• Additional resources: HRS, Binky Bunny, Language of Lagomorphs

I think this is going to be a long flyer…

Does anyone know if I have to get permission from the sites I want to list as resources before I can list them on my flyer?

Oh, and for anyone who’s interested in doing this too, please do!

[Sarita]

http://www.rabbit.org/presspolicies.html

Above are the House Rabbit Society policies.

Nice idea.

I’m not certain about the corn expanding in rabbits stomachs though – I don’t think that is correct.  It is not recommended but it is hard to digest (which is the case for most any animal and corn) and it can cause digestive upset.

[mrmac]

So many people have had rabbits but do not know much about them. You get so much attention when people see a bunny. Thats a great idea!

[Barbie]

Posted By Sarita on 09/08/2009 12:53 PM

http://www.rabbit.org/presspolicies.html

Above are the House Rabbit Society policies.

Nice idea.

I’m not certain about the corn expanding in rabbits stomachs though – I don’t think that is correct.  It is not recommended but it is hard to digest (which is the case for most any animal and corn) and it can cause digestive upset.

 

Thanks!

As for the corn… I guess I have to do more research.  I thought I read that somewhere when I first got Leroy…. man, my memory is failing me already!

 

And mrmac, I think that’s one of the saddest things about domesticated rabbits.  There are so many people out there who get a rabbit, thinking it’ll be an easy pet for their kids, and then don’t care for it properly.  It drives me bonkers!

—————-

“Nothing in the world is more dangerous than a sincere ignorance and a consciencious stupidity” MLK Jr.

[mrmac]

I had never owned a rabbit until a little over a year ago, and it still amazes me how intelligent, and complicated they are! Definitely not the simple pet you thought of as a kid, ‘ooh a bunny! I want to hold it!’ It amazes me how little people know when they buy a pet, thinking ‘oh its just a bunny’.

[luvmybunny]

That is a great idea!! I was buying toys for Valen before at the petstore and the clerk asked me what animal the toys were for and I said my bunny. Well she had no idea you give bunnies toys and then she commented that her’s looked bored all the time! DUH! So I told her to get him/her a few toys to enrich their life a little more. Scary!!! So I love your idea, as so many people people are clueless when it comes to rabbits.

[jerseygirl]

I like! I see Leroy with a little sign in front of him in a trolley “Hi I’m Leroy, an Advocate Bunny”

makeminechocolate.org also has some printable factsheets.

I wish there was mandatory reading that you have to do before getting any animal. It might not change some peoples attitudes/behaviours/intentions but at least it might give some good info to anyone who is just innocently unimformed about some animals needs.  I’m one of those people.  I bought a bunny at a pet shop without too much knowledge compared to what I know now.  I don’t kid myself I know everything there is to know or even if the care I give is ”right”.  But I do endevour to learn and adjust as needed.  Alot of people may have not thought past the excitement of getting a new pet.  I think it would be helpful to point them in direction to learn for themselves.  Especially if they approach and are asking questions.

[Author]

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