ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, March 24, 1997 TAG: 9703250128
SECTION: NEWSFUN PAGE: NF-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SARAH COX SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES
Owning this lovable animal with the big ears and twitchy nose can be rewarding if you accept the responsibility
Bunnies don't just twitch their noses to be cute. It's a sure sign they're healthy and happy, and it's one of the signs to look for when you're shopping for a pet bunny.
But wait! Before you leap into bunny-ownership, there are a few things you should know about these cute creatures. After all, they require care, love and attention. The only pet that doesn't really take a lot of work, said veterinarian Dr. Vanessa Rolfe, may be a goldfish.
Most bunnies live seven to eight years, although Rolfe said she's seen some that have made great pets into their teen years. Because your rabbit will be around for a long time, you need to be prepared to train it, feed it properly, take it to a veterinarian for regular check-ups and buy the proper equipment for it.
Rolfe explained that rabbits are fairly messy because, like horses, they are grazing animals that produce a lot of waste, so their cages need to be cleaned often.
Denise Spangler of Pet City, who sells a lot of rabbits (especially in the springtime) and had two dwarf bunnies when she was a child, said the type of cage you buy and what you put into the cage also are extremely important.
The cage has to be plenty big for a grown-up rabbit to get some exercise, and it should be lined with pine bedding. Although litter-box training is possible with some rabbits, said Rolfe, teaching a rabbit to do that takes patience and more time that it would with a cat or dog. And then you have to bunny-proof your house if you're going to let your pet roam around.
Bunnies chew - they can't help it, it's their nature. "All electric wires have to be out of the way - they can chew them and become electrocuted,'' explained Rolfe. And, she added, anything that's of value should be put up. "They are grazers, and that's what they do in the real world,'' she said.
Rabbits need a variety of foods including different types of greens and hays, pellets and a selection of vegetables. Spangler also said you should provide chewing material such as salt and hardwood blocks so their long front teeth will stay filed down. If not, rabbits' front teeth will grow too long and prevent them from eating properly.
Rabbits have very sharp nails and strong legs (which are made for digging). Unless you handle your pet bunny carefully, you could get scratched badly. In addition, their backbones are very delicate and if they're not held properly they can thrash around and their backbones could snap. On the other hand, said Rolfe, they are very social creatures and want to be held and played with.
"If you work with them, they'll turn into very, very nice pets. Some bunnies are remarkable - they know their names and seek out attention,'' Rolfe said.
Spangler said she's known rabbits that have come to the door when their owners enter the house. "Rabbits don't bark, and you don't have to take them on long walks,'' she said in their favor. "We have quite a few loyal bunny customers. A lot of rabbits these days are just as spoiled as dogs and cats, and I love to see that.''
To spoil your bunny, first realize that you are accepting a responsibility. Next, choose one carefully. Rolfe suggested looking for one with bright eyes that seems alert and hops around. It should have healthy, full fur, a twitchy nose - "a bunny that's not twitching its nose very much doesn't feel very well,'' she said - and formed, round droppings.
Spangler said they sell a lot of dwarf rabbits because they're smaller (about 3 to 5 pounds), and many times easier to litter-box train. Some rabbits, such as the angora breed, require a lot of brushing. Spangler said Pet City also carries the popular harlequin type, which resembles a calico cat. Siamese dwarf bunnies are more uncommon, harder to come by, but also very popular.
After you've chosen your pet bunny, buy the right equipment. That means selecting a nice cage, good bedding, the right kind of food, and a water bottle. All of that, plus a rabbit, will cost a new owner about $100, depending upon the type of rabbit chosen. But you're not done yet.
Rolfe said you should select a veterinarian who's familiar with rabbits, because of the animals' particular requirements. They need special medicine, at times, and they should also have neuter or spay operations, which can be costly.
Two rabbits from Pet City have found a good home with Daniel Sawyer, 7, and his sister, Ashley, 5, who each have a rabbit. As a matter of fact, they ended up with a male and female rabbit, which had babies.
At one point the children had more bunnies than they bargained for. Their mother, Teresa Sawyer, said they bought the two rabbits last summer.
"My son has a lop-eared rabbit, and my daughter has a regular bunny,'' she said, adding that these grown rabbits are kept outside in a cage.
"They're great pets. They don't bite and the only thing they do is kick if you don't hold them right," Sawyer said. She asks her children to pull grass to feed their rabbits, although "my husband and I clean the pens out twice a week. To me, bunnies are just so sweet and innocent; they are great pets, and I've really enjoyed the ones we have.''
Ashley described Megan, her grown female bunny, as having "a brown face, a brown back, a brown cotton, and she's white in the middle.'' She took her rabbit to kindergarten the day they reviewed the letter "R.'' Her brother Daniel's pet's name is Fluffy. "He's white and brown. I liked him when he was a little baby bunny,'' he said. Their mom said she lets the rabbits out of their cages to hop around their fenced-in yard for exercise, but when they do that, Daniel and Ashley's friends aren't allowed to play with them because, sometimes, the rabbits will get chased.
The Sawyers take their rabbit responsibilities seriously, as should all pet owners. If you are in the market for a pet with long, floppy ears and a "cotton" on the end, consider your commitment before you hop into the bunny business.
LENGTH: Long : 108 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ERIC BRADY/THE ROANOKE TIMES. Cloverdale Elementaryby CNBpupils Ashley Saywer, 5, and brother Daniel, 7, play with a bunch of
bunnies. color.