Shelters’ Pet Peeve: Stray Bunnies
Bunnies may be a hot commodity during the Easter season, but not at several local animal shelters.
Shelters in San Clemente, Mission Viejo and Irvine are among those that have placed a moratorium on rabbit adoptions during the Easter season.
Shelters are typically inundated with unwanted Easter bunnies after the holiday, officials said.
“We get our Easter dump every year,” said Lettie Ajawara, a clerk at the Mission Viejo Animal Shelter, which will resume rabbit adoptions after April 30. “We have had as many as 20 at one time. They dump them in the neighbors’ yard, let them go in the park or leave them at the front door of the shelter.”
The Orange County Animal Shelter will continue to allow rabbit adoptions through Easter, Lt. Marie Hulett said.
“We always have rabbits,” Hulett said. “There’s no moratorium on adoptions. But we emphasize education, especially at holiday time, to make sure people are not buying them as a holiday fad. Animals are not toys, and we don’t recommend small children take care of them.”
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