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RABBIT SOCIETY PROMOTES RESPONSIBLE
PET OWNERSHIP
Press Release for Wednesday,
5 Jun 2002
A group of bunny lovers have formed the House Rabbit
Society of Singapore (HRSS) to reduce the number of
unwanted rabbits in Singapore and to promote awareness
about responsible pet ownership.
SINGAPORE - Pet store windows are filled with adorable
baby bunnies. Your kids are begging you to buy one.
It is so hard to resist. After all, you think, wouldn't
this be the perfect, low-maintenance "starter pet"
for a young child?
Think again! Every year in Singapore, many hundreds
of rabbits are abandoned to shelters or released outdoors
(a sure death sentence for a domestic rabbit) often
because of misunderstandings on the part of the parents
who bought them for their kids.
"Many pets in Singapore suffer unnecessarily because
of ignorance on part of their owners," commented
HRSS President Kapil Sharma. "Many people buy pets
on impulse and do not fully appreciate the responsibilities
of keeping an animal at home. The problem is particularly
acute for rabbits because people wrongly assume that
they are low-maintenance starter pets."
Kapil added, "Many pet shops in Singapore fail
to convince inexperienced prospective owners that owning
a rabbit requires special care, attention and devotion,
just like dogs and cats."
The House Rabbit Society of Singapore was formed by
a group of concerned bunny lovers to address this problem.
Besides promoting awareness about responsible pet ownership
through public events and talks, HRSS maintains a website
(www.hrss.net)
to educate the general public about rabbit care and
behaviour. It also runs a fostering programme to rescue
and re-home abandoned rabbits.
Rabbit overpopulation is also a big problem in Singapore.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
(SPCA) receives over 60 unwanted rabbits every month,
of which not even half can be successfully re-homed.
Many more are abandoned to die in parks, HDB void decks
and even car parks where they become prey to crows,
stray cats and dogs. The sad reality is that there are
more wonderful rabbits than there are rabbit-people.
"If you are planning to get a pet rabbit, adopt
one from SPCA or from an HRSS foster home. Our website
has pictures of many rescued bunnies that are looking
for good homes," appealed Eng Ling, an HRSS volunteer.
"Many people are simply unaware of the number of
rabbits being surrendered and euthanized in Singapore.
They don't realise that to purchase from a breeder or
pet store is to write a death warrant for a shelter
rabbit."
Eng Ling also had this piece of advise for people who
already have rabbits at home, "Do not allow your
rabbit to have even one litter. Even if you find good
homes for those babies, those are good homes taken away
from the shelter rabbits. All mature rabbits should
be sterilised to prevent unwanted babies. Spaying and
neutering your rabbits is also essential for health
reasons."
"A house rabbit can make a great pet," remarked
Desmond Ng, another HRSS volunteer. "Baby bunnies
are cute and cuddly. However, they quickly grow up into
something quite different than that warm and fuzzy fur
ball that loves to be held against your cheek. If you
plan to get yourself a rabbit, please do your homework
first about the responsibilities involved in owning
a pet rabbit."
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House Rabbit Society of Singapore (HRSS) is an all-volunteer,
non-profit organisation dedicated to rabbit welfare
and awareness. It seeks to reduce the number of unwanted
rabbits in Singapore and improve rabbits' lives through
education. For more information on HRSS, visit its website
at http://www.hrss.net
For additional information, reporters may contact information@hrss.net
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