The best Easter bunnies are chocolate

Animal shelters around the country wish everybody a wonderful Easter holiday... only with chocolate bunnies instead of live rabbits and marshmallow peeps instead of chicks.

Holidays are when many well-meaning parents give in to their children's wide-eyed pleas and, often on impulse, purchase baby animals such as puppies, kittens, chicks and rabbits as gifts. As a result, shelters see an influx of unwanted pets after holiday season has passed and the reality of owning a pet starts to bite. Unfortunately young kids and baby animals can sometimes be a disastrous equation - fragile baby animals and toddlers' poor fine motor coordination don't mix - and for older kids the novelty of a new animal soon wears thin once the responsibility of pet ownership starts to bear down.

Contrary to popular belief, rabbits in particular make poor pet choices for young children, as they are very sensitive, quite fragile and can be high maintenance over a decade or more. According to the Humane Society of the US, domestic rabbits are the third most frequent animal, after dogs and cats, to be turned in to shelters and, thanks to their ability to breed like - well, rabbits - many shelters are at critical mass with bunnies looking for adoptions even before the Easter weekend hits.

The House Rabbit Society actually runs an annual Easter campaign called "Make Mine Chocolate" to break this cycle of adoption and relinquishment by educating the public about the responsibilities involved in keeping a companion rabbit before a rabbit is brought home. They even have a fun interactive site where families can learn more before deciding to adopt a rabbit.

We at Companions for Life encourage you to take adopting a pet seriously at any time of the year, especially holidays - you're acquiring a new family member, after all! Involve everyone who would be involved in caring for the animal, consider what's involved in caring for a pet and whether you're prepared to make a lifetime commitment. There should be no such thing as a disposable pet.

A fluffy fix:

An alternative to giving pets at holiday times is to give a stuffed animal and an adoption certificate instead - many zoos, farms, and shelters allow you to sponsor the care of an animal. These efforts help creatures of all types and teach children about responsible pet ownership or about being animal caretakers, so that they're prepared for a new furry family member at some point in the future.

If you have thought it through and still want a new pet, consider adopting from a shelter or rescue group in your area - if you wait until after the holiday you can find your pick of perfect pets and provide a responsible, loving home for an animal who will reward your patience with a lifetime of unconditional love!