Families often surrender Easter rabbits to rescues after realizing the long-term care involved.
WORTHINGTON, Ohio — This is the busiest time of year for Ohio House Rabbit Rescue, a nonprofit dedicated to rabbit welfare.
Around Easter, families often adopt or buy rabbits to make the holiday feel special for their children.
However, many don’t fully understand the commitment that comes with caring for a rabbit. It’s a long-term responsibility, not just a seasonal gift.
Mia Ng, who volunteers with Ohio House Rabbit Rescue, mentioned that following Easter, many rescue organizations receive inquiries from individuals wanting to give up their pet rabbits. She noted that the rescue currently has approximately 35 to 40 rabbits available for adoption.
She provided several tips for people to know before adopting a rabbit.
- Space: Provide a roomy enclosure (ideally 4x the size of the rabbit) with plenty of time outside of it to roam and exercise.
- Flooring: Avoid wire bottoms—opt for solid flooring with soft bedding like fleece or hay.
- Bunny-proofing: Rabbits love to chew—cover wires and remove toxic plants or substances if they roam indoors.
- Hay: Unlimited fresh hay (like timothy or orchard grass) is crucial for digestion and dental health.
- Fresh veggies: Offer leafy greens daily (e.g., romaine, parsley, cilantro, dandelion greens).
- Pellets: Feed high-fiber, low-protein pellets in moderation (about ¼ cup per 5 lbs of rabbit).
- Water: Always have clean, fresh water available—in a bowl or bottle.
- Litter box: Rabbits can be litter trained! Use a rabbit-safe litter (not clay/clumping cat litter).
- Spot clean daily, deep clean weekly to keep odors and bacteria at bay.
- Brush regularly (especially long-haired breeds like Angoras).
- Trim nails every 4–6 weeks.
- Watch for signs of illness, such as loss of appetite, unusual droppings or lethargy.
- Vet care: Find a rabbit-savvy vet for regular checkups and emergencies.
Enrichment & Socialization
- Toys: Chew toys, cardboard tunnels and digging boxes help prevent boredom.
- Bonding: Rabbits are social. Consider bonding with a second bunny or spending lots of time interacting with them.
- Quiet & routine: They prefer calm environments and consistent daily routines.
- Temperature control: Keep rabbits indoors or in a climate-controlled area. They do best in cool temperatures (60–70°F / 15–21°C).
- Avoid stress: Loud noises, rough handling or sudden changes can stress them out.
Ng said rabbits are very social and pens should be kept in areas like a living room where families often gather.
If you need to surrender a rabbit, click here to fill out the form.
To learn more about adopting and hours of operation, click here.
