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Post by Brooke on Apr 6, 2004 23:10:21 GMT -5
A Moratorium On The Sale of Easter Pets LOS ANGELES — Moratorium On The Sale of Easter Pets Issued A citywide moratorium on the sale of rabbits, chicks and ducks, often given as Easter gifts, will prevent them from being killed, abandoned or neglected once the novelty wears off, an expert said Monday. Michelle Kelly, who represents the Bunny Bunch and Los Angeles Rabbits, lauded the city Department of Animal Services' moratorium, which began Friday and will last through April 12, the day after Easter.
"Rabbits are not toys and should not be purchased or adopted for this purpose," Kelly said. "They are living, breathing creatures that need love and care."
Every year, scores of Easter pets are bought, adopted or sold during the holiday season, department officials said.
Once the novelty of them wears off, some animals are abandoned at parks or dropped off at city shelters, while a vast majority die within a few weeks due to unintentional neglect, officials said.
Bunnies frequently are killed or maimed by the neighborhood cat or dog, officials said.
They also warned that rabbits and young children are not a good mix. Rabbits do not like to be picked up and carried and can scratch children with their strong hind feet when frightened.
Small children can easily break a rabbit's fragile bones and cause other fatal injuries, officials said.
Rescue organizations are exempt from the moratorium. Any of the city's six shelters can be reached by calling 1-888-4LA-PET1.
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Post by Nicole on Apr 7, 2004 15:50:10 GMT -5
I think the moratorium is a great idea!! I had rabbits as an older child and they are a lot of responsibility. You can't imagine how much they poop which requires daily cleaning of their cage area and they need exercise and attention. They are such cute creatures.
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Post by Brooke on Apr 7, 2004 16:35:08 GMT -5
I had a bunny once named Ben and yeah...lots of poop which the dogs loved as snacks This was when we had Kuma and her siblings. (3 dogs in one house) Kuma would not leave him alone. I thought eventually she would get used to him and leave him alone but 3 months went by and she still would constantly walk around behind him and nudge him with her nose all the time. It really stressed him out so a friend without animals took him. We ended up with a kitten for awhile...Mooshi. She taught Kuma some manners. That cat cracked me up. She had the zoomies all the time. She'd race down the hallway full speed and jump at the (full sized) couch and completely miss the couch (how I don't kow) and fly into the wall...lol it was just like a cartoon. She eventually got better coordination. Luckily there wasn't too much brain damage till she got to that point though I really miss her but I get to see her this week! ;D
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