This weekend’s kick-off the Chinese Year of the Rabbit is believed to bring good luck to those born under the zodiac sign, but conservationists fear it may bring bad luck for a lot rabbits.
Based on the belief that feeding rabbits in their zodiac will bring luck, they are being snapped up from pet stores and farms as the New Year approaches.
While this is all seems like a fun way to celebrate the New Year, some are warning that the animals will be dumped once the novelty wears off and the cost and trouble of keeping them kicks in.
Ashley Fruno, Asia representative for PETA, says:
“People think they are small and cute, [but] they are a lot of work. They just can’t be stuffed into a cage.”
Rabbits often live up to 12 years, need space to roam, have fragile physiques and are prone to diseases like cancer, which means hefty veterinarian bills.
That sounds like A LOT of work for one day of celebrating, so we’d like anyone to consider the responsibility it takes to raise an animal like a rabbit or any animal for that matter before running out and buying one!
Fruno said her group has seen similar trends before like the scouring of oceans for clownfish after the release of the hit animated film Finding Nemo, as well as the rush to buy Dalmatians — that were subsequently dumped at animal shelters — after movies in the Disney franchise 101 Dalmations.
We’d like anyone to consider the responsibility it takes to raise an animal like a rabbit or ANY animal for that matter before running out and buying one on impulse.
We wish anyone celebrating the Year of the Rabbit this weekend a happy Chinese New Year, but remember, we should be celebrating the animal, not hurting it.
[Image via AP Images.]
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