Should a Child Have a Pet Rabbit?

Photo by Tamas Tuzes-Katai (Unsplash)

The other night at the concert, my husband Dennis and I spotted a rabbit, on a leash. We smiled at each other.

But those smiles didn’t last long. What we saw was disturbing.

Three little girls. I’m guessing ages 4, 5, 6, at most, seemed to be “caring” for the rabbit. I watched one little girl pull the leash hard, dragging the rabbit in her direction, while it was hopping away from her. Then another little girl grabbed the rabbit and held it tightly in her arms so the others couldn’t pet it. All three took turns with the rabbit and were all a bit hard-handed, not at all gentle. They also took the rabbit to a section where seniors were dancing, oblivious to the fact that a rabbit was near their feet. A disaster waiting to happen — for both seniors and the rabbit.

(Whoever said little girls were made of “sugar and spice and everything nice” was wrong).

The rabbit was obviously stressed and frightened and it ran into a bush. The little girls were trying to get him out and he wouldn’t budge. Finally they got their mom (or baby sitter?) to get the rabbit out of the bush. (And even she had a hard time).

At that point, I focused on the show and stopped looking. I couldn’t take anymore. I said a silent prayer for the rabbit, and even a wish that this family would give up the rabbit to a better home. Dennis was just as upset as I was.

I’m no expert in children or rabbits or parenting, but the following questions come to mind…

1. Should a rabbit be at a concert?
2. Should a little girl have a rabbit as a pet?
3. Why not a puppy instead? Dogs are great with kids.

While many would disagree with me (yes, they would, thanks to the internet I know firsthand that thousands of people HATE animals, yes they do) I stand by the fact that animals are more than animals. They are little souls, making their way into this world that they didn’t ask to be born in. When I see an animal being mistreated it breaks a bit of my heart.

I’m sure some children are very gentle with little animals, and that’s beautiful to see, but these little girls were just brats. A parent should assess the personality of a child before presenting them with a small pet. Is my child kind or rough? Will my child take care of the pet? Will my child accept that a pet is a living creature and not a toy? You gotta know your kids, right?

Sadly, this blog won’t help save the world. Parents will continue to be defensive about their “little darlings.” And animals will continue to be abused. I hate using the word “stupid” but some people are “stupid.”

Not too long ago I was in a pet store getting food for my cats, and I saw a woman looking at a small goldfish bowl. She wanted to purchase it for a larger goldfish (that was almost koi size). None of my business, but when it comes to animals I will speak up. I told her that bowl was too small.

“It’s for my grandson,” she said.

“No, that bowl is too small for that large goldfish,” I repeated.

She listened to me and she didn’t get the bowl or the goldfish.

Good.

If I saw that woman and her three little girls in the pet store, buying a rabbit, I would have steered her in another direction for sure.

I manifest/pray, so hard, that someday we will live in a world where people are kinder to all animals.

If you liked this blog, feel free to buy me a kombucha: https://ko-fi.com/maryannechristianomistretta

Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta can be reached at: maryannechristiano@gmail.com.

Pre-sales for Maryanne’s 6th book, “So You Think You Know the Jersey Shore?” are now available: https://omni-pub.com/product/so-you-think-you-know-the-jersey-shore/

And while we are celebrating, here is a wonderful article about the book: https://www.mypaperonline.com/beautiful-ride-in-maryanne-christiano-mistrettas-front-row-seat-to-the-jersey-shore.html

“Be (Extra)Ordinary: 10 Ways to Become Your Own Hero” is available on Amazon. To get your paperback or Kindle version, visit:Be (Extra)Ordinary

“I Don’t Want to Be Like You” is available on Amazon. To get your paperback, Kindle or audio copy, go here: I Don’t Want To Be Like You

Her fiction book “Love Cats” second printing is now available, under the pen name Krystianna Mercury, from Pink Flamingo. You can purchase it here: https://eroticbooknetwork.com/product/love-cats/

Maryanne is also available for book editing and coaching. Rates are competitive.

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Rest in Peace, Little Cottontail

Eastern Cottontail

Sunday night my husband found a wounded rabbit near the bushes, near our home. The little guy was alive, but his pelt was stripped off his back and there was also a wound near his neck/shoulder area. Seems another animal tried to attack him and as he was getting away, his pelt stripped off.

Immediately my husband put him in a box and we called dozens of animal refuges, many which were filled to the max; or wouldn’t take rabbits only deer, or whatever animal they specialized in.

The next morning we found Woodlands Wildlife Refuge (www.woodlandswildlife.org). It was an hour drive and the bunny was placed on the floor of the backseat of the car, still alive, but in shock. Every so often his eyes would blink or his little front paws would twitch. Boy, was he a cutie pie. We had high hopes for his recovery.

They took him right in. He was so badly injured, they got right on it.

Sadly, he didn’t make it. In less than 24 hours he was gone.

It’s terrible to see a defenseless animal hurt, and then die.

What does make me feel somewhat okay about all of this is: 1. It was an act of nature and he didn’t get killed by a car.; 2. We tried our best. And at least we had a place to bring him and he didn’t have to die in the bushes and be eaten by bugs.

In honor of this beautiful Eastern Cottontail, my husband bought me a necklace from the refuge, along with a bunny statue (and another statue that looked like one of our cats).

I’ll never forget this sad week, but I did learn a lot about rabbits, and that such a beautiful place like Woodlands Wildlife Refuge exists.

Rest in peace, sweet little bunny. We tried……………

NOTE: The above photo was swiped from Google. Friends have asked to see a photo of the rabbit, but he was too badly torn up. No one would like to see an animal like that, though his beautiful eyes were just fine — big and round. And his front paws were adorable, along with his little cottontail.

If you liked this blog, feel free to buy me a kombucha: https://ko-fi.com/maryannechristianomistretta

Maryanne Christiano-Mistretta can be reached at: maryannechristiano@gmail.com.

She is the author of the following books:

“Be (Extra)Ordinary: 10 Ways to Become Your Own Hero” is available on Amazon. To get your paperback or Kindle version, visit:Be (Extra)Ordinary

“I Don’t Want to Be Like You” is available on Amazon. To get your paperback, Kindle or audio copy, go here: I Don’t Want To Be Like You

Her fiction book “Love Cats” second printing is now available, under the pen name Krystianna Mercury, from Pink Flamingo. You can purchase it here: https://eroticbooknetwork.com/product/love-cats/

Maryanne is also available for book editing and coaching. Rates are competitive.

And for positive messages, visit Be YOUnique, the Anti-Bullying You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLq6J9MSvcjd-haQ30ycLWA/videos