Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.

By Ken Sakamoto, Star-Bulletin
Michele Laporte brought her pet rabbit to the BunnyCare
Workshop at Petland in Kahala Mall.

Rabbits do make warm and
active household pets

By Nancy Arcayna
Special to the Star-Bulletin

Bunnies certainly get a bad rap. Many people think of them as cute but boring animals who sit in a cage and do nothing all day. If they do get let out to hop around, they are oblivious of their surroundings.

Cinde Fisher of BunnyCares Workshop believes otherwise. She claims that when bunnies are brought into the home, they show what playful and "wascally wabbits" they can be.

"You need to be willing to be a little silly with bunnies ... they love to be kissed," she says, as she nuzzles an out-of control bunny.

BUNNYCARES WORKSHOPS VCA Kaneohe Animal Hospital: With Veterinarian Jed Rogers, Noon-5 p.m. Saturday Kahala Mall Centerstage: With Veterinarian Iris Kubo, 3-5 p.m. April 15 Borders Ward Centre: noon April 22 PHOTOS WITH THE EASTER BUNNY The Easter Bunny will be available for picture taking at the following locations during mall hours: Ala Moana Center: April 14-16 and April 21-22 Kahala Mall: April 1-22 Pearlridge Mall Uptown: April 1-22 Windward Mall,: Saturday-April 22

"Most people come in and complain that they are not able to hold their bunny," says Fisher. She says this can easily be remedied by learning how to properly pick up rabbits. "Bunnies need to feel secure ... they are animals of prey."

One hand should be underneath the rabbit's chest while the other hand firmly grasps his hind end, grabbing hard enough to prevent him from kicking. The bunny should be held tightly against your body, similar to how you would hold a small baby.

Learning the ropes

BunnyCares workshops are held every other Sunday at Petland Kahala. The next one takes place noon to 5 p.m. April 1. (Other workshops start as early as Saturday in preparing for the Easter run on bunnies.)

Once an owner learns the basics of bunny care, the creatures can make wonderful pets.

Owners attending the workshop eagerly wait their turn to get tips on proper handling, diet and nutrition, litterbox training, and information on behavioral problems and medical concerns and emergencies.

Some participants are regulars who show up for free nail trims and massages. No, not for the humans.

A few strokes over the head and eyes and Fisher had one customer audibly purring in contentment. A few seconds earlier, Bunnicula had been running up and down the arms and shoulders of owner Christa Kadena, causing the little girl to complain, "My bunny runs away from my mom and me ... he's a pain in the neck."

By Ken Sakamoto, Star-Bulletin
Cinde Fisher demonstrates how to trim the toenails of a
rabbit at a BunnyCare Workshop. If you learn to handle
and care for a rabbit properly it will be a cuddly, rascally
friend, Fisher says. She even gives rabbits massages that
leave them purring contendly. "Bunnies love
to make noise," she says.

Fisher said rabbits do have the ability to recognize their owners. Some will even hop around their owner's feet as a courtship gesture.

Candice Lau said that her bunnies ignored her and gave her the stink-eye when she returned from her vacation because they were mad about being left behind.

Another attendee's bunny hit him with its paw when he moved items around in its cage.

"They don't like you to rearrange their furniture," says Fisher. "They will thump you when they're mad at you."

Tips on how to bunny proof the home were also available. Much like infants, bunnies should not have toys with movable parts. She suggested inexpensive toys such as used baby rattles, lightweight wiffle balls, small untreated woodblocks or even toilet paper rolls.

In spite of their quiet demeanor, "bunnies love to make noise," says Fisher. They play with toys by rolling and nudging them with their heads. Michele and Mariliz LaPorte confirmed that their pet rabbit Julie enjoyed tossing toys, especially an Elmo doll.

Buying the right bunny

"There is no best kind of rabbit to buy" claims Fisher. "Whether male or female, adult or baby, whichever one you fall in love with is the right bunny for you."

A general consideration when purchasing rabbits is size. Purebred Netherland Dwarf Bunnies weigh in at 2 pounds while most average bunnies are 3 to 6 pounds.

The Flemish Giant weighs 13 pounds and up.

Rabbits may not be the best pets for young children. If the family includes a toddler, a better choice may be a heavier rabbit that the child cannot lift . The Flemish Giant is recommended for kids because of its calm demeanor.

By Ken Sakamoto, Star-Bulletin
Cinde Fisher instructs pet owners in handling and carrying
for rabbits through her BunnyCares Workshops.

Adult bunnies also have benefits. They may be handled and well socialized, spayed or neutered and even litter-trained. Adult bunnies are available for adopted at the Hawaiian Humane Society.

Rabbits should have a cage with ample space to move about. Other basics are plain food pellets, Timothy Hay, a water dish, a litterbox and litter.

Fisher considers the book "House Rabbit: How to Live With an Urban Rabbit" by Marinell Harriman, to be the "Bunny Bible."

Rabbits do make warm and active household pets

Click for online
calendars and events.