FERNDALE –
Oswald and Cadbury are grey Flemish Bunnies on a mission. The super soft and extra friendly rabbits ride around the Ferndale area in a double baby carriage pushed by animal-loving activist Julie Miron of Ferndale. Miron hosts rescue bunnies, mainly from the Michigan Anti Cruelty Shelter in Detroit where she also volunteers. And she takes Oswald and Cadbury around to help introduce bunny love and proper care to the people they meet.
"We can go anywhere and it makes people smile," Miron said. "Earlier today someone stopped us on the street and said 'thank you, I was having a bad day and this made a difference.'"
The pair even has their own Facebook Page where fans can follow them on their adventures. And they've been selected to be in the Great Lakes Rabbit Sanctuary 2013 calendar.
Miron said that many rabbits that end up in rescues were purchased to be children's pets for Easter that they didn't want to take care of. "Rabbits are a lot of work, it's a commitment. They can live 7-10 years and you can't just put them in a cage outside. They require a lot of care." She said that bunnies can easily die from either heat or cold, and that anything over 84 degrees is too much for them. "People should read a couple books and talk to rescues before they get one," she said.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals gives information to consider before adopting a bunny, including a breakdown of the expenses and the special health concerns the creatures may have.
They caution that "rabbits are physically delicate and fragile, and require specialized veterinary care. It's true that children are naturally energetic and loving, but 'loving' to a small child means holding, cuddling, or carrying an animal around – precisely the things that frighten most rabbits. Rabbits can't cry out when distressed. Instead, they may start to scratch or bite to protect themselves from well-meaning children. Thousands are abandoned at animal shelters every year for this reason. Many rabbits are also dropped accidentally by children, resulting in broken legs and backs. While a rabbit may be a great pet for your family, an adult should be the primary caretaker."
They also have strong urges to dig, chew and bite. That's why bunnies need plenty of toys like cardboard, old phone books or chew sticks from the pet store. If left free to roam the house, a bunny will chew on things, including electrical cords. So while they do need to be allowed to roam for exercise, they should be monitored as well. Find out more about bunny care at http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/small-pet-care/general-rabbit-care.aspx. For information about adopting a bunny contact the Michigan Anti-Cruelty Society through http://www.macsshelter.org/default.htm or The Great Lakes Animal Sanctuary through http://www.rabbitsanctuary.org/.
And if you want to be friends with Oswald and Cadbury on Facebook go to https://www.facebook.com/OswaldAndCadburyBunny.
