Every spring, social media is filled with memes warning about the plight of rabbits around Easter. These warnings aim to protect rabbits and prevent shelters from dealing with an expected influx of rabbit surrenders following Easter. Year after year, the same messages are shared confidently by shelter staff and volunteers. The logic seems sound—some claims state that 95% of rabbits acquired at Easter don’t even reach their first birthday.
However, the accuracy of these claims is seldom questioned. Do we actually see a surge in rabbit intake after Easter? What does it mean when we say Easter bunnies don’t make it to one year old? Does it imply they are neglected and die at home or are surrendered to shelters before their first birthday? More importantly, how does discouraging adoptions and criticizing those considering a rabbit for Easter truly help homeless rabbits?
In a recent review of intake data over the past few years, the MSPCA analyzed the monthly intake of rabbits. The data revealed no significant increase in rabbit intake during the months surrounding Easter. In fact, January and September emerged as the highest months for rabbit intake.
Similarly, a compilation of recent statistics from 12 adoption centers in New England conducted by Shelter Animals Count tells the same story. The highest number of rabbits surrendered occurred before Easter and not again until mid-year. The intake patterns are fairly consistent month to month, with small variations likely due to various factors, none of which indicate an Easter-related spike.
As a field, we often resort to fear tactics without supporting data. We caution against getting a puppy or kitten at Christmas, giving pets as gifts, adopting black cats at Halloween, or getting a puppy during a pandemic. But where are all the pandemic puppies everyone warned about? It appears that people are more likely to change their job than give up their pet when returning to the office. Perhaps, instead of fear and shame, we should position ourselves as positive resources for families considering a rabbit or small animal for Easter. It’s better for people to get information from animal care experts on our teams to help them avoid mistakes. If families decide to get a rabbit, wouldn’t it be best if that rabbit was a homeless one, spayed or neutered? Our shelters are full of rabbits and other small animals, and we should welcome adopters into our centers whenever possible.
Let’s make this the year we change our messaging. Let’s invite families into our centers to learn and adopt. Let’s greet people with open arms and open minds. In collaboration with the MSPCA, Northeast Animal Shelter, Animal Rescue League of Boston, Dakin Humane Society, and Lowell Humane Society, we are hosting fee-waived adoption events for rabbits and other small animals the week before Easter. We aim to find homes for every small animal in our care and plan to share our success stories and data with all of you.
