Below, Chez Rabbit. (Tamara Beckwith)
It was a scene out of Dickens: Coming home late on a cool night this past October, my partner and I spotted a crib flush against the local elementary school’s door.
OK, technically it wasn’t a crib, but a cage. And, inside there was a butterscotch-colored rabbit, calmly chewing on some hay.
We looked around the empty street. Clearly it had been abandoned — a misdemeanor in New York state, FYI. So we took it home, thinking we’d quickly find it a new family. What we didn’t realize was how fast she’d charm us.
Three months, two visits to the bunny vet and one couch-cover later, Chopper — so named because of her helicopter ears — is still with us. Reactions from family and friends have ranged from surprise to, well, surprise, but the deed is done. We have a pet rabbit, and we love her!
According to the Humane Society, there are roughly 6 million rabbits in US households, versus 78 million dogs and 86 million cats.
“They don’t enter anybody’s mind as a grown-up,” says Mary E. Cotter, VP of the International House Rabbit Society, and founder of its New York chapter, Rabbit Rescue and Rehab. “People get the idea that these are great starter pets for children — they’re not.”
Indeed, rabbits require more sophisticated supervision. For instance, canned food won’t work; they eat Timothy hay and fresh greens. Over the past several weeks, we’ve gotten used to buying extra romaine, bok choy, watercress or celery. Never mind the animal, the humans are eating better than ever!
By nature, rabbits are prodigious chewers and rather inquisitive, so you need to prep your home.
“Two of my four rabbits love the taste of cord protectors,” says Natalie L. Reeves, an attorney who’s in the New York bar association’s animal-law committee. “They’ll chomp right through them. So I also try to have cords off the floor and as high as possible.”
But once your house is rabbit-proof, the payoff is great. Chopper playfully jumps on my back when I get down to change her litter, loves snuggling with us on the couch, and cleverly trades licks for pats.
When we’re out of the house, she rests in her new duplex cage, which we bought online from a company specializing in rabbit habitats. Chopper keeps a clean and tidy home — like the majority of bunnies, she’s house-trained. And we leave frigid morning walks to dog owners, thank you very much!
On the other hand, finding an appropriate vet requires more effort.
“Most of the training in veterinary school is in dogs and cats medicine,” explains Dr. Anthony Pilny, from the Center for Avian and Exotic Medicine, on the Upper West Side. “Those of us with personal interest in other animals then pursue an advanced degree.”
Don’t freak: “With the right care and diet, rabbits can remain healthy for a long time,” Dr. Pilny says. The average life span of an indoor rabbit is 9 to 12 years.
After checking with the school — Chopper wasn’t theirs and nobody has tried to claim her — and taking a crash course in bunny care, we’ve settled into life as proud rabbit owners.
And yes, her ears still make us laugh.
You’re nobody until some bunny loves you!
If you’re thinking about getting a rabbit, avoid pet stores, which tend to lack adequate info about care or nutrition. Instead, consider adoption! As a plus, the animals have usually been spayed or neutered. Try the House Rabbit Society’s site (rabbitcare.org/adoptables.htm), the Center for Avian and Exotic Medicine (avianandexoticvets.com/adopt/pets) or petfinder.com.