I was just looking through an adoption website, looking for a friend for my rabbit, and stumbled across one that read 'came into the sanctuary after the child lost interest'.

Now I've had rabbits from the age of 4 and I do believe it teaches responsibility. My Mum and Dad have always set 2 rules about pets:
1) You can have any pet you want as long as you do your research first and accept the responsibilities, which to be fair put me off wanting a pony pretty quick at the age of 6.
2) If you buy a pet you keep it for it's lifespan and look after it how it is suppose to be looked after.

Pets have always been a member of the family in our house and not just one person's pet. I once spent an hour distinguishing between 3 neon tetra fish so that i could name them so they felt loved (a little extreme and thereafter bought fish that looked completely different). I do think if you have a child and buy a rabbit that it's the parents responsibility as well. If you want something that is cute and fluffy with minimal care a teddy is the best option, not something that is going to suffer and have to be re-homed.

My biggest hate is people that see a little bunny all cute and fluffy and then go and stick it in a hutch, never to be paid attention to again. To be fair it's not just children that do this. When my rabbit accidentally had a litter of 2 rabbits my friend asked if she could have one and I told her they were sold, as she is the same. Best friend but not going anywhere near my baby rabbits. Ironically, I kept one, and the other went to one of my Dad's friends who has a little girl. I've been getting regular updates as I was so upset to see her go. She's now a happy house rabbit, that has her own bedroom and the little girl still feeds her everyday even after 4 years

If a rabbit is bought for a rabbit, it should always be the parent's responsibility to care for the rabbit. Young children can love feeding the rabbits, but cleaning, handling etc should be carried out by an adult.

I personally don't think rabbits are the best pets for children, as they are prey animals, they don't like to be handled (can kick and scratch), and they require specialist care, eg large enclosures, unlimited hay.

__________________
I OWN A CHOCOLATE ROAN COCKER SPANIEL
RIP David xx Run free at the bridge. Love you always xx 19th February 2011
RIP Jack and Mickey xx Run free at the bridge. Love you forever xx 20th June 2011

My dad used to help clean them out for hygiene reasons but my sister and I had to stand there and hold the black bag open just to make us a little bit more appreciative and understand that although we did the easy bit of food, water and lots of love, the rabbit hutch didn't clean itself.

Although all my rabbits in the past have allowed you to pick them up, the rabbit i have at the minute, Minion, is the only one that's actually asked to be picked up. Not literally He sits on his back legs stretching himself up my leg. But even then there is a time limit to the amount of affection you can have in one hug and if you don't see the signs that he's getting bored you better hope you have a pair of bird of prey gloves on I wouldn't leave him with a child.

I got a rabbit for my tenth birthday after a good year of nagging. I managed looking after him on my own (with my parents financing it all) until he was pts after a stroke at the age of 8.

I have small pets at the moment, but none have been bought for the kids. The like to help, but ultimately I knew when I got them that I would be responsible for them.

__________________
My BFFs (Best Furry Friends)
horses - Abercrombie and Dominion
dogs - Charlie and Benny
rabbits - Flip and Flop
guinea pigs - Pumpkin and Twinkle
hamster - Colin

personly i would suppervise a child at all times with a rabbit i wouldnt leave my young grand children alone unsuppervised with any of mine

I dont think any pet is good for a child lol, all mine are family pets not the "childs" pet and are treated as such, kids arent responsible enough yet to care for a pet properly, thats what parents are for to look after the young show them how to, but not leave them to it. If my kid said he was bored with our pets then he would get a massive lecture on commitment and compassion

__________________
Pets are Gods way of apologising for our families x

My baby loves the rabbits and will follow them around. The rabbits are mine and not his but they will teach him some very important lessons. When we get our next rabbits (in a few years) we will probably say its Jacks rabbit but it will still be part of one of my groups and I'll be doing all the work. As soon as Jacks old enough he'll be helping me look after them, cleaning their homes and feeding to him him some idea of responsibility. I'd never leave him in sole charge of a rabbit though.

Jack is a year old by the way so he's a long way off having any resposibility with them but he's now learning to pet them gently rather than try grabbing ears.

__________________

I believe that children can learn responsibility and empathy from helping to care for animals. I also believe that the key word here is 'helping'. No child instincively knows the best way to care for an animal; they need an adult to model that care to them and to teach, guide and support them. Ultimately any child's pet is really the parent's pet in terms of overall care; very few children can take their pet to the vet by themselves and manage vet bills, etc., for example.

I think every child with a pet needs a really great role model to help them care for the animal to the best of their ability. For example, my stepdaughter didn't have that in her family home which is why, after she brought home a rabbit from a pet shop one day, said rabbit ended up coming to live with me a year later...

__________________


My beautiful boys...
Ozzy (Burmese Cross, b. Aug 2000)
Buddy (Red Rex, b. Mar 2010)

My Dad would have said "Maybe he's bored of you! Now which one of you is the biggest drain of my money and time?" ... I've never actually got bored of a pet though, they've been family.

Parents who are stupid enough to buy an animal as a toy for a child....
I think the rabbit was best out of there.

__________________
Pet Portraits and People Portraits!
www.sitandfidgetarts.co.uk