Why You Shouldn’t Get Live Animals for Easter. Stuffed Ones are Just as Cute

Easter may seem like the perfect time to welcome a new pet into your family. Bunnies and chicks are especially popular pets this time of year and pet stores display them in the window and have many on hand to give away to eager families. But you if you’re considering buying a new pet to celebrate Easter with, you may want to reconsider. There are many reasons for both the animals and the people who will care for them that make buying pets not a very good idea, especially for young children.

The first thing to remember is that by buying a cute pet such as a bunny for Easter, you are taking on an added expense that will last for approximately seven to twelve years. The expenses for a pet include food, cage supplies, veterinary visits, and other expenses that pertain to the pet. Also, although a pet bunny may only cost approximately thirty dollars for the initial purchase that is only the cost of the animal. You will also need a cage, bedding, feeding and watering supplies, toys, grooming supplies, and perhaps a book on rabbit care if you have never owned a rabbit before and aren’t sure how to care for them.

Your youngster will no doubt be delighted to see a real live pet as their Easter present on Easter morning. They will probably spend the entire day caring for the pet and doting on its every need. However after that, the novelty may wear off and they will no longer be interested in the commitment that caring for a pet involves. The pet’s care then falls on the shoulders of the parents. For many busy parents, this is too much and they often end up giving the pet away. Even if you think you’re providing a good home for the pet by dropping it off at a local shelter, remember that these shelters are already overcrowded with pets and they don’t usually have room for more.

Or you could have the opposite problem and your child loves his new bunny, chick, or duck so much that they spend the majority of the time mauling them and playing with them quite roughly. This can be very dangerous to small animals and put them at risk for a neck or back break. Often children who mean well and only want to play with their new pet end up hurting them or even causing death by this rough play. Keep the animals safe by keeping them where they belong, in the company of adults and professionals who know how to care for them.

You also shouldn’t buy a live pet to keep your child safe. Although they may clean and safe, the truth is that animals are often dirty and carry diseases that are undetectable. At Easter time, the chance of these animals being infected is greater because they are shipped together in large quantity to pet stores due to the large demand for Easter pets. Although the pet may not have started out infected, they could have picked up an infection from another animal that they were travelling with. Children often play with these pets and before washing their hands, put their fingers in their mouth, leading to infection. Often, these animals also have sharp nails that can scratch a child and cause infection that way.

Instead of buying your child a live pet, opt for a stuffed bunny, chick, or duck instead. These cuddly creatures are very safe and won’t spread infection to your child but can be cuddled and swaddled as much as your child wants. These animals also don’t need constant care so if the novelty wears off within a few days, the most damage done is the money spent on a forgotten toy. Buying stuffed animals rather than live ones is best for the animal and the child both!