7 Tips to Adopting the Right Pet For You

Bringing a pet into your home, and your life, is a very big decision. At least, it should be! Did you know that almost four million animals are killed in shelters every year in the United States?

There are all kinds of reasons why animals end up in shelters, and one of them is adopting/buying a pet on impulse.

You walk by the pet shop window and can't resist the cutest faces. You go to your local shelter "just to look". Before you know it, you and your new friend are heading to the pet supply store to stock up. That's really the fun part isn't it?

If you really want to share your life with a pet, then the kindest thing you can do for yourself, and your new furry friend, is to think long and hard before you act.

There are so many things to consider, here are some tips to help you.

Do you live alone or do you share your home with others? This matters because if it's only you, all the responsibility will be on your shoulders. Having said that, the same may be true no matter how many people you live with!
Make sure that everyone who will be living with this new pet is on board. Even if you'll assume all the responsibilities, life will become very difficult, very fast, if your family/roommates are unhappy about it.
Do you have the time to care for a pet? No matter what you get, from the smallest hamster to the largest dog, they all need a lot of care, and time spent with them.
Can you afford it? There is quite a bit of initial expense involved in adopting your pet and getting the necessary supplies, but it doesn't end there. No matter how young or how healthy your new pet is, things always happen. You must be prepared for unexpected vet visits, illnesses and medication. Pet sitters and dog walkers may be part of the picture as well.
Research the different kinds of animals you could get as pets. Perhaps you will be interested in one you have never considered.
Make sure that you get the right type of pet for your lifestyle. If you work 14 hour days and are off with friends every weekend, perhaps now is not the right time to bring an animal into your life.
There are other ways to enjoy the company of animals if you are unable to bring one into your home at this time. Why not volunteer at a sanctuary or animal shelter? Most are in desperate need of help. You'll get to hang out with the animals and help and they'll benefit by getting much needed attention. It's a win win situation.

Please remember that this is a lifetime commitment, so whatever you decide, make sure you are doing the right thing for yourself and your new family member.

I have been involved in animal welfare/rescue for about 12 years. I owned a dog walking and pet sitting business in Canada, before joining a farm animal welfare organisation in the UK. I worked in the education department, where I helped recruit volunteer speakers to give talks in schools throughout the country, and attended education conferences to promote our resources. As a campaigns coordinator I oordinated and managed campaign plans including timelines and budgets, I was involved in EU campaign and coalition work, and liaised with member offices and groups across Europe to organise lobbying and public awareness events. I live in the U.S. where I volunteer at an animal shelter and write articles about pet rescue and animal welfare on examiner.com.

http://www.examiner.com/pet-rescue-in-fort-lauderdale/hindy-pearson
http://www.examiner.com/animal-welfare-in-fort-lauderdale/hindy-pearson

5 Reasons To Avoid Buying A Dog From A Pet Store

You pass a pet store window, and observe several cute puppies behind the glass. They seem happy, healthy, and friendly. It's tempting to venture inside the store, and inquire how much it will cost to take one home. You would be better served by continuing on your way.

Many people have heard that buying a dog - puppy or adult - from a pet store is a bad idea. Few aspiring owners, however, are familiar with the reasons. In this article, we'll describe a few of them. If you're thinking of taking home a pet store puppy, the following should give you pause.

1 - A Poor Match For Your Lifestyle

The people who work at pet stores are trained to sell animals to those who want to adopt a pet. While they carry myriad products, the profit margins on animals are higher. Thus, their goal is to "move" the animals. Unfortunately, they often encourage people to adopt canines that are ill-fitted to their lifestyles.

Unlike a professional breeder or reputable shelter, both of which will make sure you know what to expect from the dog you're adopting, the store will simply push the sale. Sadly, many people are burdened with a poor match, which motivates them to abandon their canines.

2 - Puppy Mill Dogs

The puppies that are sold from pet stores often come from puppy mills. These are essentially breeding farms where pups are caged and mistreated. Some of them are malnourished. Others suffer serious health conditions brought about by the squalor in which they are forced to live. Still others suffer from socialization issues that may be challenging - even impossible - to address.

Why do pet stores sell puppies that come from puppy mills? Because the profit margins are high. As long as people continue to buy them, they will carry the inventory.

3 - Health Problems

Related to the previous point, many pet store dogs suffer from an assortment of health issues. Some, like digestive problems, hip dysplasia, and infections, are hidden from view. A casual inspection of the canine will fail to reveal them.

Sometimes, a store will extend a degree of coverage to those who purchase an animal in their care. This coverage is seldom exhaustive, however, and thus may not cover some of the diseases from which dogs can suffer.

4 - Behavioral Problems

Many of the canines at pet stores struggle with behavioral issues. In some cases, these issues are due to treatment they received at the puppy mills from which they arrived. Other times, behavioral problems have resulted from a previous owner's lax approach to training and discipline. As the problem worsened, the owner was finally forced to abandon his or her pet.

These issues are often difficult to address, even by a professional trainer. Over time, persistent separation anxiety, biting, and jumping on people, can strain the relationship between the canine and his owner.

5 - Contributes To The Puppy Mill Industry

One of the best reasons to avoid adopting a pet store dog is because doing so removes financial support from the puppy mill industry. As mentioned earlier, stores will continue to sell these puppies as long as people purchase them. This means new generations of canines will be bred and raised in these facilities. Those that remain unsold - or outlive their usefulness - are often euthanized.

An alternative is to adopt a dog from an animal shelter. The employees at these facilities are keenly interested in finding a good match for the animals in their care. They realize that failing to do so leads many owners to abandon or return their pets. For this reason, reputable shelters will make certain the canines are healthy and friendly. When the pets display small behavioral issues, the employees will inform potential owners.

Buying a dog from a pet store can lead to many frustrating and expensive problems. Each of the reasons above pose a compelling argument against doing so.

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Author: Lawrence Reaves

Golden Retriever Puppy Adoption

Golden retrievers are great family dogs, and have so many other talents as well. Did you know you can get one without spending a fortune through golden retriever adoption? Even puppies can be adopted while making a contribution to the pet population.

Golden retrievers are one of the most popular breeds of dogs. That is why so many end up abandoned and in shelters. Not only do older dogs end up available for adoption, but many puppies end up in shelters as well. You can also save money by adopting a golden puppy. Adoption fees are generally $350 and less. Buying a golden puppy from a breeder could run in the thousands of dollars. Adopting can have other advantages. Most shelters evaluate the good health of their dogs before they put them up for adoption. They also socialize their dogs in most cases. In addition, you can help reduce the pet population and help out the people who work hard in rescue organizations and shelters.

Adopting a golden retriever puppy is not so difficult. There are many options that are available. You can always check what dogs are available at local shelters, rescue organizations, and animal control organizations. There are SPCA's in almost every major city. Conduct a wide search on the internet at sites like petfinder.com. Also widespread, are golden retriever rescue organizations. There are many breed rescue groups that specialize in saving goldens. In addition, there are even puppy rescue organizations that focus on saving golden puppies that have been abandoned or are in distress.

What should you know before you adopt a golden retriever puppy? Golden puppies grow fast into large dogs. This breed is famously active and requires a lot of exercise. Make sure that you have a lot of space before you adopt. Goldens thrive on human companionship. Make sure that you are ready to commit a lot of time with your dog. This breed is very friendly and does well with kids, other dogs, and pets. Goldens do require regular grooming and may not be good if you have allergies. Most goldens are healthy, but some suffer from genetically related illnesses like hip and knee dysplasia, eye problems like cataracts, heart issues and cancer. First ask the shelter about these health issues, then make sure and talk about them with your vet.

Golden puppies like to chew, so have some chew toys handy ahead of time. Also make your home safe for your puppy's arrival by removing low lying sharp objects, dangers, and toxins. Establish some ground rules ahead of time. Being consistent will help your dog learn faster. Being friendly, smart, and trainable, this breed responds better to positive reinforcement, rather than harsh training methods.

Who would not love to have an adorable new puppy? Is it possible to get a lovable golden retriever puppy without paying a fortune? Try adoption instead of buying from a pet store or a breeder. By adopting, you can also be responsible and help control the pet population. Your puppy will thank you, and so will the dog you helped make room for at the shelter!

Laurence Burrows is a golden retriever lover, and trainer. For more great tips on golden retriever puppy adoption [http://www.loyalgoldenretriever.com/golden-retriever-adoption], visit [http://www.loyalgoldenretriever.com].

4 Reasons Why You Should Adopt Your Next Parrot

Most folks have the misgiven understanding that adopting a parrot means trouble. The general consensus is that if a parrot is up for adoption in the first place, it must be problematic. Naturally, like in every species of animals (including us humans), there are problematic parrots. However, it would be immensely naive to think that this is the primary reason people abandon parrots.

FACT #1 - Parrots have a very long life span.

In fact, some would argue that they're on the verge of discovering the secret to immortality. The small ones live for up to 20-30 years. Larger ones can go on to a ripe old age of 60-90 years. Just imagine: If the scheming investment bankers of Merril Lynch knew this, they'd probably convince the birds to buy a dozen retirement homes.

My point is because of their lifespan, they tend to outlive their owners. As a result, many parrots at the rescue centers are only there because their previous owners are no longer in this world. Not because they're particularly ferocious.

FACT #2 - It's not the parrots fault.

I think it's safe to say that humans are the primary cause for most of the bird's problems. Here's why. Mr. New Fish suddenly decides he likes parrots. He thinks that they're gorgeous because of their amazing blend of colors. Also, he reckons that within a few days, he'll have his parrot on his shoulder, squawking instructions to imaginary pirates in his living room.

So he buys one, purely on impulse. He does little to no research beforehand, and just dives in head first. So what happens? The parrot takes one look at Mr. New Fish and realizes that he's nothing but a nutcase. The problem is, the parrot can't actually tell Mr. New Fish this, because well... most parrots don't speak English all that well now do they? Although that's debatable, considering the insults certain parrots have hurled in my general direction.

The parrot makes a mess, because it doesn't know better. The parrot sometimes shows signs of aggression because Mr. New Fish thinks that it's OK to poke it all over. What's next? Mr. New Fish, thinking his parrot is the one with the issues, ignores it. He gives it no attention, no affection and puts no effort in caring for it. Next thing you know, the parrot, along with the cage, is chucked in the deepest, darkest corner of the garage.

So yes, the parrot will naturally go rather bonkers after this ordeal. But is it really at fault? Eventually, the parrot is rescued by a center.

FACT #3 - Living arrangements change

When people get married, have babies, or just have a new set of priorities in life, often times companion animals end up forced into the backseat. This has been the case with numerous parrots. Hence, they end up getting sent to a rescue center.

FACT #4 - Some people are profit motivated.

Pet stores and breeders have realized that parrots are flat out popular. So what do many of them do? They breed them like there's no tomorrow. They sell them without matching up the right people to their bird. The end result? Too many parrots for potential owners to handle, especially in certain countries like the United States. So the parrots get treated like commodities, and a large number of these parrots end up in shelters.

A disturbingly sad ordeal isn't it? I know.

Now, don't get me wrong. There are many terrific breeders and even pet stores that I can freely recommend with a good conscience. But just like everything, there's plenty of not-so-great groups as well.

Naturally, the best way to minimize this problem is to educate potential owners. All they really have to do is read extensively on parrot care, and do their part to spread the word (in fact, you might want to let people you know read this article). However, today I'm going to focus on what you can do to help right now. If you are looking into buying a parrot, you should seriously consider taking part in the parrot rehoming process.

Here's a fact for you. Because of the explosive parrot breeding, rescue centers are flooded. A large number are filled to the brim, and even more are overflowing. Unfortunately, this results in a very nasty irony. Rescue centers can no longer give the parrots the necessary attention and care. They just can't. They are cash strapped organizations that are stretching their resources to the breaking point. As such, some rescue homes are no longer able to serve their purpose. Naturally, they're becoming just another vortex for these unlucky birds.

If you're really interested in owning a parrot, let me take this opportunity of sharing a few perks of adopting one.

REASON #1

Buying a large parrot (African Greys, Amazons, Cockatoos) from a pet store in the United States can cost anywhere between $3000 and $5000. Macaws are known to cost even more than this. It's a lot of hard earned cash isn't it? Guess what? Adopting a large parrot, like a Grey, would probably amount to no more than a few hundred dollars.

REASON #2

The common misunderstanding is that parrots will only bond with you if you're the one who has been taking care of it since its adolescence. This is flat out wrong. In the wild (and your parrot is no different from a wild one), parrots may bond with several different partners in their lifetime, well into their maturity. Most parrots that are up for adoption are already somewhat mature. And if you take up a mature bird that came from a relatively good family, the main issue you're going to have is helping the parrot get used to you. Because when a parrot gets attached to someone, they mean it.

REASON #3

Naturally, adopting a bird would be a huge help to the rescue organizations. They are in desperate need of help from people like you. And if you're able to provide a good home for a parrot, they'll be eternally thankful.

REASON #4

Rescue centers are fundamentally sanctuaries. Many are equipped with the means to rehabilitate birds. And on top of this, they're not profit motivated. You're less likely to be scammed by a rescue home as opposed to a pet store.

Naturally, the story has a flipside as well.

1) Some parrots are bound to have been overly neglected or even abused. As such, they may already be undergoing a great deal of mental trauma. And it can be quite scary. These parrots have an extra aggressive nature. They usually don't hesitate to bite the hand that feeds. Some even go on self-mutilating rampages. And if you're lucky, you'll see one that does nothing but scream it's lungs out. Don't forget though: Adoption is fantastic, but it's not an obligation. You don't have to adopt a bird that is in an extreme condition already. Go for one that would be easier to work with.

However, if you have some parrot keeping experience under your belt, taking on a parrot with existing behavior problems and guiding him to become a friendly, social bird is immensely rewarding to both you and your bird. These birds were often the most abused and deserve a life where they are cared for and thrive.

2) Parrots are sociable animals. That said don't be surprised if they come with their own package of trust issues. You may get a little flustered if the parrot you adopt simply refuses to acknowledge your existence. However, don't forget: Just like people, parrots value trust a lot. They need you to give them a reason to trust you. But once you do, the bond may as well be forged by a goldsmith.

When all is said and done, parrots are truly remarkable creatures. They're very intelligent and you can easily learn a lot about yourself around them. If you're keen on getting one for yourself, seriously consider adopting one. However, just with every important purchase, remember to do your share of research. This way, you will save both yourself, and your parrot a wealth of trouble.

Live with Passion, Purpose and Parrots,

Clara

Clara Hollins has kept and trained 100s of different parrots for 18 years. Check out more parrot articles and parrot training mistakes to avoid at Essential Parrot.

Thinking of buying a new bird? Don't be conned into buying an unweaned baby parrot.

Bringing Awareness to Animal Adoption

As a fellow animal lover, I'm sure that you know of the immense happiness that having a companion animal in your life can bring you and the people around you.

Both of my fur babies, Chewy and Chiquita, are rescue animals so I know firsthand the joy of adopting an orphaned pet can bring. I can't imagine my life without them - they are the ones that cheer me up when I've had a bad day and make me laugh when I most need it.

My pets help me see the fun in life even if what I'm doing isn't particularly exciting... like when I take my dog for a walk around the neighborhood.

As we go for our walk, Chewy forces me to stop constantly...he likes to examine every other bush and tree and make sure to add his mark even after he's run dry!

Sometimes I may want him to hurry up so I can get back to the house to work on another chore or project, but the fact that he makes me wait for him allows me time to finally relax and like him, enjoy and examine my surroundings. He's taught me to notice the beauty of nature around me so that now I occasionally bring my camera with me to take pictures of the interesting things we see on our walks that I would otherwise ignore.

The Facts About Homeless Animals in the US

The Humane Society of the United States estimates that animal shelters around the country admit between 6 to 8 million dogs and cats annually with approximately half of those having the ill fate of being euthanized. Though the number of pets euthanized in this country has been greatly reduced compared to numbers in previous years, 4 million animals euthanized a year amounts to about eight animals being put to sleep every minute!

Two Key Factors That Cause Animal Homelessness

The number one reason that there are so many orphaned animals in United States is that adoption rates are morbidly low. Yet many people don't know that 1 in 4 shelter dogs awaiting adoption are actually purebred.

Another big factor is that there are still many animals out there that are not being spayed or neutered. Did you know that from all of the animals that our shelters rescue each year, only 10% of them are actually spayed or neutered? It's no wonder that our animal shelter population is still so high.

Bringing Awareness to Animal Adoption

Luckily there are many organizations that help bring awareness to the public about the importance of animal adoption and spaying/neutering your pet.

Since 2008, every third Saturday in August is known as the International Homeless Animals Day.

Groups around the world get together every year to hold candlelight vigils, adopt-a-thons for shelter rescues, and microchip clinics.

If you and your animal loving family and friends are interested in participating, check out the International Society for Animal Right's website at http://www.isaronline.org where they've listed all of the scheduled events around the country as well as some internationally.

And if you do decide to attend, make sure to take your pets along if you can. Not only will they have lots of fun meeting other animals at the event, but by showing those around you the bond that you and your pet share, you both will surely help raise more awareness to the value of becoming a pet parent!

Amber Keiper is the Marketing Assistant and Raw Diet Educator for BARF World Inc.. She and her husband have two former rescue animals that are now healthy and proud "BARF brats" - a terrier mix named Chewbacca ("Chewy") and a tabby mix named Chiquita ("Chiqui"). For more articles like these and to learn more about the benefits of raw food for your pets, sign up for The Intelligent Pet monthly e-zine at http://www.barfworld.com.

How to Adopt a Bird

Another type of adoption that is making waves in the world today just like in dog and cat is bird adoption. May I also let you know at this point that lots and lots of birds are out there waiting for people like you to adopt them. You should also know that adopting a bird is not something you can just make up your mind all of a sudden to do, you must get yourself prepared to take very good care of them because they needs a lot of cares unlike other pets.

Taking care of birds needs patience and endurance, because at times you will see the feathers flying everywhere. However when you are sure that you have put a very good amount of bird food and enough water in the cage, the bird will no worry you. Secondly you must make sure that the cage is cleaned out every time, so that the birds dung does not accumulate. It is very advisable that you keep the birds cage outside the house most of the times because most of the times so that the bird will get free air. When the gate is outside, make sure that the door of the cage is properly locked, so that the door will not open by mistake and the bird flies away.

Most of the birds like owls, parrots are commonly used as pets, while birds like eagles, hawks and crows are not often use as pets rather they can be found in bird shelters. The most loving thing about birds especially the mocking birds though they are very rare to have as pet is their beautiful voice. If you have really made up your mind about adopting a bird as pet, then I will advice you to go up the internet and get clear and good information's about it or even from any of the local bird centers. You may also know that birds eats and drinks as well as every other animals, and most of them likes seed and fruits also.

My name is Ikenna Uchegbu a recognised authority on the subject of adoption.Please if you read my articles an it help you solve your problem consider visiting my site [http://www.freeadoptiontips.com] for more articles.

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Is a Pet Rabbit Right For You?

If you are considering purchasing or adopting a pet rabbit, you should first give careful consideration to the demands and rewards of these very special pets. Countless homes have been brightened by the presence of a long-eared lodger, and conscientious rabbit keepers have many years of fulfilling interaction and bonding to look forward to. At the same time, every year thousands of rabbits are given up to animal shelters- or worse, simply dumped in a field- by owners who did not take the time to properly educate themselves on the responsibilities of rabbit ownership. Here you can find the basic information needed to answer the question: Is a rabbit right for me?

Rabbits require daily and weekly care and maintenance, as well as a significant monetary investment. When well-cared for, rabbits typically live 9-12 years, so this is a long-term commitment. Just think- if you buy a pet rabbit for your 12 year-old, the rabbit will likely still be alive when that child moves out of the home. If you simply want a pet that will amuse a young child for a little while, consider a rat or other shorter-lived creature.

Beginning with financial costs, here is a brief summary of the requirements of rabbit ownership.

Initial outlay:

The rabbit itself. Your best bet is to adopt from an animal shelter. In addition to saving the animal's life, you'll be bypassing the morally dubious world of rabbit breeders and pet stores, which often show little to no competence or regard for the animals' well-being. And if that isn't enough of a reason to adopt, it is the cheaper option by far- apart from negating the price of the rabbit itself, the animal shelter should always spay or neuter the rabbit for you. This procedure usually costs $200 or more to have done by a private veterinarian, whereas the typical cost to adopt a rabbit (already spayed/neutered) is around $30.
A rabbit cage. These come in a wide range of prices depending on size and many other factors, but you should not skimp on this purchase, as it will likely need to last a long time. Even if you can comfortably house an immature rabbit in a smaller cage, remember that it will continue to grow up to the age of 6-8 months. A typical cage costs between $50 - $100.
A litter pan. Rabbits are some of the easiest pets to litter-train, and the alternative to a litter pan is constant cleaning of their cage. Average price is around $10.
A water bottle or dish. As much as you might like to save some money, don't bother putting a plastic cereal bowl or similar substitute into the rabbit cage. The rabbit is almost guaranteed to flip the bowl over, not only depriving the rabbit of water, but also soaking the bedding, which will become unsanitary. Use either a small pet water bottle, or a heavy crock. Typical cost is around $5.
Rabbit feeder. Again, you need either a heavy crock, or (preferably) a bin feeder that will attach to the side of the cage. Price is around $10.
Rabbit brush. Regular brushing of your rabbits fur is important to prevent potentially lethal hairballs from forming in its gut. Price is $8 - $10.
Rabbit nail trimmers. Unless your rabbit is going to have lots of time to dig and run over hard, rough surfaces, which is unlikely, you'll need to periodically trim its nails. Prices range from $5 to over $15.
Toys. Rabbits are lively, intelligent animals that need stimulation and exercise. There are a wide variety of household items that can be converted into rabbit toys with little effort, but there are also many commercial toys available. These usually run a couple bucks each.
Total initial outlay: $350 dollars or more, or $180 if adopted.

In addition to these start-up costs, there are various supplies and consumables that you will need to purchase on an ongoing basis.

Pellets. Mature rabbits should eat between 1/4 cup to 1 cup of dry pellets per day, depending on size. A 2.5 pound bag of food should last about a month, give or take. Prices vary, with the upper end around $5 per pound, so you shouldn't have to spend more than $15 a month on pellets.
Hay. Hay is the single most important element of your rabbit's nutrition, and should be freely available at all times. The amount your rabbit will eat will depend to a large degree on the size, breed, individual temperament, and other factors. Hay is fairly cheap, so even if you have a rabbit with a large appetite, you shouldn't need to spend more than $15 a month or so.
Fresh fruits and vegetables. A small amount of fresh plant matter should be part of each rabbit's daily diet. For mature rabbits, plan on feeding at least two cups daily of vegetables, such as beet tops, dandelion greens, collard greens, carrot tops, and similar leafy greens. No more than 2 ounces of fruit can also be included, avoiding especially sugary fruits such as grapes. Another $15 per month, or so.
Bedding/litter. Your rabbit should have some kind of soft material to bed down in, as well as something absorbent for its litterbox. There are free alternatives available, such as shredded newspaper, but for a variety of reasons commercial bedding and litter is preferable. About $5 per month.
Annual check-up. Your rabbit should be taken to a vet who specializes in exotic pets every year to safeguard against health problems that might not be immediately apparent. The price will vary greatly depending on the vet, but about $45 is a good ballpark figure.
Total cost per year: Approximately $480.

Starting to rethink rabbit ownership yet? It is important that you be prepared for these non-optional costs. Everything listed above is an absolute necessity for a healthy pet rabbit, and unless you are able to harvest your own hay or construct your own cage, you won't be able to cut any of these costs. If you don't feel that you can comfortably afford to shell out four or five hundred dollars a year on care and maintenance, a rabbit may not be the pet for you.

In addition to the financial outlay, rabbit care will require an investment of time. Here is a breakdown of the tasks regularly associated with rabbit ownership.

Daily tasks:

Change food and water and clean bowls. Any food pellets that remain uneaten from the previous day should be disposed of and replaced, and the same applies to water. Water or food that is allowed to sit and spoil or stagnate will become a vector for disease. Food bowl and water bowl/bottle should also be cleaned daily. Clean with white vinegar or mild soap, and rinse thoroughly with hot water. 10 minutes or less.
Check the litterbox. Depending on how much litter you place in the litterbox at a time, you will need to change it more or less frequently. Once a week is typical, but you'll want to check it daily to make sure it isn't heavily soiled, is not drawing flies, and that there are no telltale signs of health problems evident in the rabbit's waste, such as misformed cecotrophes. 1 minute.
Remove any bedding or hay that has become wet or soiled. If wet materials are allowed to degrade in the cage, they will quickly become sources of disease and discomfort for your rabbit. 1-2 minutes.
Most importantly: Spend time with your rabbit! Just as much as any dog, and more so than most cats, rabbits are social, communicative animals that require daily interaction for their mental and physical health.

While your rabbit should have at least a few hours per day to roam freely, you'll want to spend an hour or so of that time interacting with it. Try rolling a ball or cardboard tube with it, or tossing a sisal rope toy to it- some rabbits are devoted "catch" players! Apart from the entertainment and satisfaction you and your rabbits will derive from playtime, this is a good opportunity to observe your rabbit for any signs of health problems. 1 hour or more.

Total time per day: About 1 ¼ hours.

Weekly tasks:

Change litterbox. Remove used litter and replace. 1 minute.
Thorough cage cleaning. This should be done during the rabbits normal "playtime", when it is out of the cage. Remove all bedding, hay, litterbox, etc. You can use either white vinegar or diluted bleach to thoroughly wipe down all surfaces, especially areas where the rabbit has urinated. Rinse thoroughly with hot water and allow to dry before replacing. 1 hour or less.
Groom rabbit. Rabbits require two kinds of regular grooming: brushing and nail trimming. The importance of regularly brushing your rabbit cannot be overstated, as it will prevent the rabbit from forming hairballs in its gut that may cause a fatal blockage. Use a rabbit petting brush or gentle slicker brush- rabbits have extremely sensitive skin. This is a good way to promote bonding between you and your rabbit, as mutual grooming is an important social activity for rabbits in the wild.
Nail trimming should be done every week or two, but will be easier if done more frequently. Use nail clippers made for small pets. Remember never to restrain a struggling rabbit, as their fragile spines and legs may break. For more detailed instructions, look for one of the many articles available on trimming your rabbit's nails. 1 hour total.

Total time per week: 1-2 hours.

These guidelines should give you a good idea of how much time you'll need to devote to caring for your rabbit. Although you might be able to get away with cutting a few corners, this is highly inadvisable. Your rabbit's health and happiness will suffer, not to mention that doing so will defeat the point of owning a rabbit. If any of these requirements strike you as overly burdensome, you may want to reconsider purchasing a rabbit. Otherwise, you can look forward to years of wonder and joy as you watch your furry companion grow, learn, and develop a bond with you that few other pets can match. We wish you the best in your adventures in rabbitry!

When it comes to the health and happiness of your pet rabbit, choosing a quality living environment should be on the top of your list. Whether you choose quality Rabbit Cages or opt for larger Rabbit Hutches, the quality of the materials and the construction of the dwelling will determine how well it works for your particular furry friend.