With his giant, floppy ears and fluffy, white coat, he may look very cute — but he’s a lot of work.
Froster the lop-eared bunny is one of around 80 rabbits up for adoption at the Richmond Animal Shelter, run by RAPS, and is a reminder for people not to buy bunnies for Easter gifts.
Most rabbits need their cages cleaned out at least once a day and sometimes more.
And a few weeks after Easter, it’s not uncommon for RAPS to see an influx of unwanted bunnies arriving at the shelter on No. 5 Road.
“People buy them on impulse and then bring them to us with reasons ranging from ‘I don’t have time for them anymore’ or ‘I didn’t realize how much work they are,’” said Wendy Riley, RAPS’ community development coordinator.
“Most people don’t understand how much work goes into keeping a rabbit, but we don’t mind people dropping them off here, we’re never going to turn people away and we’d rather they dropped them here than dump then in the park; where they breed very quickly.”
Meanwhile, other long-term residents at the shelter are looking for good homes and, if they could speak, Riley is pretty sure the word “thanks” would be in the sentence.
“We have five senior dogs that we’d love to get into good homes,” said Riley.
‘We’ve had some luck in getting some senior dogs into good homes, but we still have some here that we’d love to match with the right families.
“Senior dogs are so appreciative when they get into a home and it really does improve their health and extend their life.”
Riley said RAPS hear all the time from people who’ve adopted senior dogs from RAPS that the dogs seem to be so appreciative and that it’s the best dogs they’ve ever had.
“They’re well cared for here at RAPS, but they can go into a kind of depressive mode and their life would be so much better in someone’s home,” she added.
The dogs, such as Pixie, a 10-year-old blind Chihuahua, are looking for a home and are available to be fostered or adopted. If you decide to foster a dog, RAPS will pay for the animal’s healthcare.
And to help pay for that healthcare and the medical bills for other special needs animals, RAPS is hosting an Easter Bake Sale and Easter egg hunt this Saturday, April 4 from noon to 4 p.m. at the shelter at 12071 No. 5 Rd.
If you can contribute to the bake sale, email the shelter at [email protected] or go to www.rapsociety.com.
