Bunny Buying Guide: Where Should I Get My Bunny From?
If you've fallen under the spell of the bunniez and have determined that rabbit keeping is right for you then you'll need to obtain a rabbit from somewhere. Whilst magicians have had some success over the years in producing rabbits out of their hats, odds are that you're going to have to try more conventional means. (Either that or you're going to spend a lot of time without a pet and staring into hats, a behavior that may result in negative consequences such as being carried away by the men in the white coats, and we wouldn't want that now, would we?)
There are four main places to obtain bunnies, I shall list them in order of supposed convenience, it's not too hard to work out what the best options are:
Pet Store - Pet stores are probably one of the worse places to purchase animals from. The environment is stressful on the animal, so while pet store purchase might be cute, it may also be utterly mental. You're also no doubt supporting a practice of bunny dumping. You've probably noticed that they always have the cute little babies in stock? What do you think happens to them if they don't sell in a week or two? They certainly don't go to a farm in the country, that's for sure.
Friends - A friend might be a good place to get a bunny if perhaps they no longer want theirs (an all too common problem due to the fact that people get silly notions in their heads as to what bunnies are like.) Or perhaps you know a friend whose rabbit has had kits.
Animal Shelters - Bless your heart, an animal shelter is probably one of the best places to get your bunny. You are rescuing a creature that desperately needs a home, and you are not contributing to the pockets of irresponsible owners and breeders. Chances are that any rabbits you find at an animal shelter will be older, but when it comes to bunnies, older is not a bad thing at all. An older bunny is equally capable of bonding with you, and is also quicker to pick up things, like toilet training, which is nice if you like your carpets.
Breeder - Be careful with this one., because many like to get tricky with the word play and call themselves breeders when in fact they are bunny mills. A reputable breeder will allow you to see his or her stock in their home environment, and that environment will be well tended and kept. It can be hugely disastrous to purchase a baby bunny from a bunny mill or just a bad breeder. Good breeders don't have too many bunnies and have time to tend to and give attention to them all. These rabbits will be well socialized and more amenable to being handled than rabbits who have at best failed to receive any human attention, and at worst, have been exposed to conditions that are nothing short of abusive.