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Critters Home Page: Critter Collection: Rabbit

Rabbits and Children

Rabbits are not a good choice of pet for very young children. They have powerful back feet that can deliver painful kicks and scratches if not handled properly. The correct way to pick up a rabbit is to gather the ears and scruff of the neck in one hand and slip the other hand under the rump so the pet feels secure, is under control and is less likely to kick. This is difflcult for small children to do safely. If the child is carefully

supervised and only wishes to watch and pet the rabbit, it may work out quite well.

Rabbits are a good choice for older children. Their gentle and inquisitive nature can provide companionship as well as entertainment. They are a popular 4-H and Future Farmers of America project. Raising and exhibiting rabbits is a great hobby for youth who do not have the room for livestock or prefer a smaller animal. It is important to choose a breed that is of a size and type that will be easy for the youth to handle.

An adult should monitor the pet daily and be prepared to take over care if the child loses interest. Most children do not posses the attention span and reliability to completely care for a rabbit. If the adults in the family do not have enough interest to supply some or most of the rabbits' care, another pet which is of interest to the adults should be selected. Don't depend on a pet rabbit to teach a child responsibility--forced responsibilities will be resented, and the rabbit will soon be disliked and ignored. The true value of the child/pet relationship is the unconditional love and companionship that they share.

Author(s): Julie Wright

Critters Home Page: Critter Collection: Rabbit

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