WINSTON WEEKLY[1]

Vol. 2, No. 10

March 10, 2024

BOOKS OVER BUNNIES

In the month before Easter each year, there are many bunnies for adoption. But before you leap into adopting what appears to be a cuddly bunny, consider a book instead.

Sure, some bunnies are cuddly but many are not. Most bunnies do not like to be held.  People are also surprised about how loud they are when they thump. And some bunnies thump a lot. Bunnies thump when they are frustrated or angry, or when they are scared. And regardless of what you hear about bunnies being easy to litter train, they are not. We made the delightful and frustrating decision to have three bunnies as our children were growing up. None of them were easy to litter train. Even when they became litter-trained, they pooped constantly and often smelled. There was no good way to keep the smell away because their urine has a high ammonia content.

Bunnies can live for ten years or more. While they may look sweet, the novelty can soon wear off, especially when constantly cleaning up their poop and pee. Not to mention that they shed a lot and chew on nearly everything. Trying to rabbit-proof a house is even worse than trying to kid-proof a house! They can dig in the corners, tearing apart carpet. If you keep them in a cage, you need a LOT of space. Bunnies that are caged typically need a cage at least three to four times their size.

The next time you are tempted to adopt a bunny, choose a book instead. They do not smell, can be carried nearly everywhere, and are easy to keep clean.

THIS WEEK’S ACTIVITY

Write a poem or story using the words “bunny”, “rabbit”, and/or “bunnies”. If writing is not your thing, consider reading a book about bunnies. My first book, Winston, features a dog’s friendship with Bossy Bunny. There is also the classic, The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter, or the worldwide bestselling novel by Richard Adams, Watership Down. Richard’s book tells the story of rabbits trying to hold their place in the world. #booksoverbunnies

---

[1] Copyright March 10, 2024. Please feel free to share with the appropriate attribute. Winston Weekly is a weekly Sunday newsletter by Alysen Bayles, Founder of Bayles and Bruce. “Learn, live, love, read.” Alysen’s views are her own.