Shelter Hope Pet Shop Giving Hope to Easter Bunnies

Shelter Hope Pet Shop is trying to help educate people about responsible rabbit adoption. Real rabbits are not Easter toys. End Quote

Ventura, CA (1888PressRelease) April 06, 2012 - Shelter Hope Pet Shop and Janss MarketPlace are expecting a visit from the Easter Bunny on Saturday, April 7, 2012. Easter activities are scheduled from 12PM to 3PM, and include Photographs with Shelter Hope Pet Shop rabbits, strolling Easter bunny, face painter, magic show, petting zoo, games for children, free Easter tote and Easter Egg Hunt. 100 lucky finalists will have a chance at winning prizes supplied by Janss Marketplace.

During the holiday festivities, Shelter Hope Pet Shop hopes to introduce people to the benefits of owning a rabbit, and help educate the community on proper care and treatment of these animals as pets. Bunnies are not meant for Easter baskets.

Kim Jones, Founder of "The Bunny Brigade", the volunteer group working with Shelter Hope Pet Shop and Ventura County Animal Services, explains, "Easter is a difficult time for rabbits. Right now there are many shelter rabbits looking for permanent homes and impulse shopping isn't what we want to promote at this time. We need to educate and show how wonderful companion rabbits are all year round. There is an influx of rabbit surrenders at county shelters in the months following Easter, when the baby bunnies purchased for Easter baskets get to be 4- 6 months old, not spayed or neutered and show their teenage behavior. Humans don't understand their needs, rabbits are very social, then the humans lose interest in the lonely bunny in the backyard hutch and then the rabbit is relinquished at his or her average 'rabbit' size of 3 -7 lbs from age 6 - 12 months. …until we educate the importance of spay and neuter and understanding rabbits as companion pets, the Easter bunny myth continues. "The Ventura County Animal Shelter has always put an adoption hold on shelter rabbits a week and a half before Easter, in order to help avoid impulse adoption.

Playboy Bunnies are speaking out in support of proper rabbit care and adoption. "This Easter, don't fall into the hype and give a real rabbit as a gift unless you make a real commitment for the life of that rabbit." Explains Devin Devasquez, Playboy Playmate.

The famous Barbi Twin sisters and animal activists, Shane and Sia noted, "Bunnies are the perfect animal to adopt as a pet by a responsible pet owner that researches proper rabbit care. However, buying rabbits from anywhere other than a rescue or shelter is not only supporting bunny mills, but it promotes buying them as a toy for a child. Please if you adopt a rabbit for Easter; make a lifetime family member commitment, not just a toy for the holidays."

Shelter Hope Pet Shop is located at 275 Moorpark Road, #193F, Thousand Oaks, CA 91306. Phone 323-432-8138. www.ShelterHopePetShop.org.

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