An open letter to the clergy
To whomever this may concern:
I am writing in regard to the plight of
rabbits that is the direct result of the Easter Bunny myth. Theirs is
a story of sadness, heartbreak, and ignorance. People get these
animals on a whim, believing they are celebrating a part of their
faith. The results are almost invariably miserable lives of neglected
animals once these people realize that a rabbit is a living being that
requires constant care.
Easter rabbits tend to live short,
miserable lives. They are a fun novelty for the family for the first
few days, but then the cleaning and care-taking and feeding and
everything else become too much of a problem for the family. As a
result, most rabbits tend to be neglected, sometimes they are
condemned to living in outdoor hutches, exposed to the elements and in
constant fear from predators who try to get at them. Time and time
again we see these animals brought into shelters after living with too
much neglect, and there is nothing we can do but euithanize these
wonderful animals, because someone else didn't care..
Private individuals have tried to educate the
public on this matter. Rabbit rescue groups and shelters have tried
to educate the public. Pet stores, such as PetCo, have tried to
educate the public. All to no avail. People still believe that
getting a baby rabbit for Easter is the thing to do, and in only a few
weeks, shelters begin overflowing with these poor animals who are no
longer wanted.
I truly believe that it has come time for the
clergy members to address this issue with their congregations. I feel
that only you can properly lead those people who would listen to you
to a better decision as to what to do to celebrate Easter, without
creating suffering in the process.
As I understand it, Easter is supposed to be a
happy holiday full of celebration. Unfortunately, this is not the
case for everyone. Those of us who rescue unwanted/abandoned rabbits
regard Easter as one of the most heart-breaking times of year. We
wind up cleaning up the awful mess left behind by well-meaning but
un-informed celebrants, and in many cases, this means putting animals
to sleep to end their suffering. Suffering that was the direct result
of a spur-of-the-moment choice to give a living being to someone as if
it was no more than a book or a picture frame or a piece of
chocolate.
When properly cared for, rabbits have a
lifespan of 8-10 years or more. When neglected, their lives usually
end within one year from improper nutrition, no veterinary care, and
exposure to the elements (for those kept outdoors). These are very
intelligent and emotional creatures; they are as good a pet as a dog
or cat and just as popular, and most of the information available
about them is out-dated. We have learned much about rabbits in the
last few years, enough to realize just how wonderful these animals
really are, and just how sad their stories are.
Among the campaigns currently instituted about
Easter Rabbits, the best suggestions to give those considering giving
a live animal is - give a chocolate bunny instead, or perhaps a
stuffed plush toy, or any number of inanimate objects with likenesses
of rabbits on them. These types of gifts tend to be more readily
accepted, they don't carry with them the responsibility of the
recipient that taking care of a living animal does, and people tend to
get more pleasure from them anyway (and if they get tired of the gift,
it doesn't mean that a living being suffers).
I am asking you, even pleading with you, as a
leader of a group of people, to talk to them about this situation. It
is truly heartbreaking for the humans involved, and it is even worse
for the animals that suffer and die as a result of celebrations gone
wrong. Any animal, great or small, is a living being that should be
afforded the courtesy of life. Almost all Easter Rabbits are
condemned to a death sentence, after suffering a (shortened) life of
horrible neglect. This simply can't be the intent of Easter. It is,
however, an all-too-common result.
Please help us help the rabbits. Please help
us reduce the suffering of these wonderful creatures. Please help the
public understand enough that they don't inadvertently create
suffering when their intentions are noble.
Sincerely,
(your name here)
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