Here are 5 things you should know.
1. Cigarettes make up more than one-third—nearly 38 percent—of all collected litter. Disposing of cigarettes on the ground or out of a car is so common that 75 percent of smokers report doing it.
Cigarettes are not biodegradable and the litter is harmful to our environment, not to mention awful to look at.
2. Rabbits live 10-15 years and require quite a bit of time, effort, and most importantly, space. If one is abandoned, most die within 24 hours. Please do your research before getting one as a pet.
Lots of people get rabbits on/around Easter and think they’re low maintenance, easy pets that they can just cram in a tiny cage and forget about. When they realize rabbits aren’t as cuddly as cats and their medical care is far more expensive than they thought it’d be (rabbits need to go to exotic vets), they abandon them. Pet rabbit breeds left to fend for themselves outside normally die within 24 hours.
Please, please do your research if you or anyone you know is thinking about getting a bunny. They are wonderful, caring creatures with huge personalities and make great companions. Problem is, most people don’t know the proper way to take care of a bun. This isn’t necessarily anyone’s fault, but at the end of the day, if a rabbit dies due to neglect, it doesn’t matter if it was on purpose or not.
One example that springs to mind is there are rabbit “feed” mixes being sold in major pet stores that have sunflower seeds in them. The fat content of seeds and the husks can cause GI issues, which will more than likely kill a rabbit being taken care of by an inexperienced caretaker. Rabbits have very fragile stomachs and require a specific diet. I know it’s popular to see rabbits portrayed in media as eating lots of carrots, but a diet heavy in carrots can actually also kill your little friend.
Here’s some resources from the House Rabbit Society on how to feed a pet bunny.
IF YOUR BUN HAS NOT EATEN OR DRANK IN 24 HOURS OR HAS A SIGNIFICANTLY DECREASED APPETITE GET THEM TO THE VET/PET ER IMMEDIATELY.
On the heels of food, water is obviously also important. Rabbits require ~50-150 mL/kg of fresh, cold water per day. They tend to be a little picky, so providing them with fresh water twice per day increases water intake, which is very important for GI health. Sipper bottles are okay, but heavy-bottomed ceramic bowls are preferable, as rabbits will more often than not drink more from them. A 2kg rabbit can drink more water per day than a 10kg dog!!
The next big thing I think is important to stress is how much space they need. Rabbits required, at a minimum four times their body size in a cage, and that’s if they have several hours of unrestricted time outside. If they’re primarily being confined, their spaces should be much, much bigger. Ideally, in exercise pen designed for medium to large dogs. It should also be noted that if they’re in a cage, the cage should NEVER have a metal grate floor, or ideally a metal floor at all. The wire mesh flooring damages the sensitive paws of rabbits, which can lead to sores/cuts and eventually lead to infection requiring amputation.
Rabbits should also have access to lots of toys and things to do, as they are naturally playful, energetic animals. They love to knock down toilet paper rolls, throw around baby stacking cups, or baby keys. They also love to chew! Chewing is important, as their teeth never stop growing, and they need to keep them filed. The best thing to get them to chew is soft, untreated wood that WILL NOT SPLINTER. Small pet select has a wide selection of chew toys that are safe for Rabbits. It’s a bit of a guessing game on what they’ll like, so you might find yourself buying several toys they never touch. It is, however, very important for them to feel stimulated, otherwise, they’ll find other outlets for their chewing. This includes your carpet, your baseboards, and your power cables. The last one is particularly a problem, as chewing live power cables will likely burn your poor little pet’s mouth.
Rabbits also love to play/hide/jump, so things like cardboard boxes or boxes made of untreated wood can be made into a little bunny fortress that will provide them with endless fun :). Bonus points if it’s modular. They go absolutely bananas if you move things around slightly.
Rabbits also absolutely DO NOT tolerate high temperatures. Anything over 75 is dangerous, especially if they’re outdoor rabbits, and speaking of outdoor rabbits, it’s just all around not recommended. Rabbits should ideally be kept inside to avoid predators and poisonous plants. Over the years, these little guys have lost their ability to tell apart safe/poisonous plants and will happily munch on something that can cause harm.
Rabbits are social creatures, and as such, they do much better when paired with another, bonded rabbit. I would not recommend getting one rabbit unless you can dedicate large amounts of time to interacting and being with it, and even then, most rabbits prefer the company of another rabbit to that of a human. Being alone/lonely can result in a whole host of negative health effects. If you already have just one, or you’re thinking about getting another, you should also know that it’s not as easy as just dumping them into a room together. Bonding can be a relatively long process and doesn’t always end up working out. Some buns just aren’t meant for each other.
There are plenty of buns available for adoption, so just like with dogs and cats, adopt don’t shop.
Check the links:
https://myhouserabbit.com/ – tons of great information
https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Main_Page – community-run page with lots of information on how to take care of your pet bun.
https://rabbit.org/ – The house rabbit society is AMAZING!!!
https://rabbit.org/vet-listings/ – a list of rabbit-savvy vets. If your vet isn’t specifically trained in rabbits, they can very easily miss common health concerns that can lead to death.
3. Google is surveilling you, even just while using Google Chrome.
Because your privacy matters, and you should not have your every action tracked and traded for ad revenue by corporations. The reason why Google’s products are “free” is because your data is their product, sold to advertisers.
Read more here:
4. Self-degradation when you are anxious and uncertain can be a semi-intentional coping mechanism similar to self-harm.
When something has gone wrong, you’ve made a mistake, or you find yourself in a conflict, or maybe looking at a scary upcoming problem, it is very easy to slip into degrading yourself. To tear into your intelligence, your morals, your willpower.
And part of that is because, like how physical self-harm clears away other emotions with a stronger one and gives you a sense of action, depression and darkness easily replaces that fear. It feels better to be sad than scared. Sadness can be cried out, depression eventually numbs, anguish quickly replaces the tenseness and terror – whereas anxiety and fear can keep buzzing forever.
But like physical self-harm, the short-term escape will not be worth the long-term damage as depressive episodes build up and you start to believe your worst feelings.
It’s better to resist and try to think positively and constructive, even though it is harder and the anxiety symptoms will last longer.
5. The “chasing arrows” triangle symbol on plastic containers is NOT the recycling symbol. It just tells you what kind of plastic it is. And if it’s not #1 or #2, it’s probably not recyclable.
Recycling used to be done by hand and knowing the type of plastic helped sorters. Many states even required the “chasing arrows” triangle and still require it today. But now that it’s largely done by machine, the symbol just confuses people, because it looks exactly like the recycling symbol. This leads to contaminated (25+%) recycling. But it helps the plastic industry by making people think their waste is getting recycled.
Rule of thumb – if the number in the triangle ain’t #1 or #2, it might be recyclable in a specialized facility, but probably doesn’t belong in your recycling bin.
