Think live rabbits, chicks and ducklings make great Easter presents?.

Sunday, March 24, 2002

Think live rabbits, chicks and ducklings make great Easter presents?

Think again.

Kimberly Rowley, a veterinarian at the Austin Veterinary Clinic, says "I don’t ever think it’s a very good idea to get a new pet at a holiday."

"You’re busy and don’t have time to take care of a new pet and, especially around the holidays, there are hazards," Rowley explains. "There are new people which can put stress on a new pet, there’s usually chocolate and Easter grass lying around. I worry about that because if you’re not watching a new pet, it can get into those things which can cause serious health problems."

Nini Johnson, of the Mower County Humane Society, says one of the biggest problems of giving animals as Easter gifts is that people don’t know how much care an animal requires.

"A lot of people think, ‘oh, it’s so cute, let’s get one as an Easter present,’ but then they do not know what to do with it or how to take care of it," she says.

She explains chicks, rabbits, and ducklings "aren’t bad pets, but you have to know what you are getting into."

If you insist on getting a new pet for Easter, make sure you’re prepared, Johnson advises. "If you get a chick and don’t have room for it yourself, make sure you know of a farmer in the country who is willing to take it when it gets bigger," she says.

Rowley says though "people usually aren’t forthcoming with the information that they got an animal as a holiday present. Every once in awhile, someone will admit they have a rabbit or a chick that grew up and they don’t know what to do with it."

In those situations, Rowley says, "we try to assist them if we know of someone who can take the animal or we refer them to the Humane Society if necessary. We don’t give them a lecture, we just try to be helpful."

If you are planning on getting a pet, Rowley says the best time to do it is after the holidays, when you’re not as preoccupied. However, she cautions, "Some pets can carry diseases that people can get. Be sure you buy from a reputable source, and make sure your child washes well after handling the animal and before eating, especially."

If your child insists on an animal for Easter, the Humane Society of the United States (www.hsus.org) advises parents to "consider giving a stuffed animal-they’re cuddly, cute, and require no care.

"Children can have short attention spans, and ‘Easter animals’ may live 10 years or longer. When children are no longer interested in their new animal ‘toy,’ it is the animal who pays the price."

Call Amanda Rohde at 434-2214 or e-mail her at amanda.rohde@austindailyherald.com.