Here in Asia, human new year celebrations start a bit later than 1 January. Many Chinese humans from countries such as China and Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia celebrate the Chinese New Year which is marked by the lunar calendar and the beginning of spring. Chinese New Year celebrations last for 15 days.
The Chinese zodiac marks every lunar year by one of 12 animals. Myself for instance, I was born on the year of the rat. My human Mommy was born in the year of the goat. This year marks the year of the rabbit.
Which is not a good thing for rabbits, at all.
In preparing for the new year of the rabbit, a lot of those who celebrate the new year wanted to have pet rabbits in the house for good fortune. This triggered a boost in pet rabbit sales across pet shops before the new year, which, eager to meet the sudden increase in demand, bred rabbits for sale even more than before.
Unfortunately this causes an alarm for rabbit welfare activists because rabbit abandonment will also increase this year. In Singapore, the last year of the rabbit saw a 116 percent increase in rabbit abandonment over the preceding year, says Jacelyn from House Rabbit Society Singapore (HRSS). Many humans who buy rabbits from pet stores on a whim fail to see that a pet rabbit requires committed care over the entire lifespan of a rabbit of about 10 years. Once the novelty of the purchase wears off, their owners abandon the rabbits when they realise a rabbit needs lots of love and care.
Abandoned rabbit, photo by HRSS
To reduce the severity of the problem, rabbit welfare groups and SPCAs across Asia have also been advocating the responsibilities involved in caring for a pet rabbit, and not to succumb to the fad of purchasing pet rabbits just because of the new year. 
Education of humans is key in helping rabbits this year. Rabbit welfare advocates have been rolling out massive campaigns teaching humans about the necessary care for pet rabbits through various mediums such as posters, videos and social media. It has been educational for me too. I found out that rabbits also need to be neutered, and that they use litter boxes too, like us cats! By propagating information on rabbit care, humans will be more aware of the responsibility of caring for rabbits in their home. If they have already bought a rabbit on impulse for the new year, I hope that these humans will decide to take on fully the responsibility of caring for their pet rabbits and truly give them forever homes. That way, it will really be a Happy Year of the Rabbit!
{ 4 comments }
Education is so important. I just hate it when a “fad” catches on for one animal or another because of a movie, and in this case it’s the Chinese New Year. Good article friend.
grate artikle mai furiend! it is impawtant to think something like a new pet thru furry carefully. ewe wudn’t abandon one of your own children, so why would ewe abandon a pet?
It’s just kind of odd…seems like it would be WORSE luck to buy a rabbit and abandon it during the Year of the Rabbit than to not have had one at all.
@mariodacat I do agree with you that it is about educating the humans. There is a great video from HRSS that explains it well, you can see it here – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTU3U0HIbTw&feature=feedlik
@TeenysFriends Thanks fur the encouragement! It be my first time as a writer-cat. My human Mommy was all hissy at me for writing it properly. And then complained that not enough editing was done on muh part to make the English better… boo.
@BlindMaximus I totally agree at how ridiculous it is, but it is happening here. There are a lot of strange attitudes, superstitions and taboos about us animals here in Asia (have planned to write about that soon!) and a lot needs be changed.
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