Reader asks parents not to give rabbits

Please don't give live chicks or rabbits as gifts for Easter. In the weeks following Easter animal shelters receive a surge of unwanted animals bought as pets for Easter. Many more are just abandoned and released into local parks or just dumped on the side of  the road. Domestic rabbits left in the wild at your local park do not survive for long. They are totally dependent on humans to feed them, make sure they have fresh water and a safe place to sleep. Without human help most of these animals will starve, freeze to death, be killed or injured by other animals or be run over by cars.

Think this isn't a problem here in Moses Lake? Think again. These past five days the employees at our office in Moses Lake as well as some other nearby business people have been trying to care for a domestic rabbit that either escaped or was released into a nearby park by its owner. The rabbit is now living in the gravel between two buildings, mostly hiding under a rarely driven car. We have been trying to provide food and water and at the same time trying to catch it. Once we catch the rabbit we will do what we can to find it a permanent home.

Many neighborhoods experience an explosion of feral kittens every spring, most won't make it through their first winter. And, multitude of puppies and kittens are abandoned on our county roads every spring, only to become prey to coyotes. Just because you can't see them doesn't mean they aren't there, struggling to survive and wondering why they were abandoned. What can you do to help? Remember that bringing any animal into your home should only done after assessing your families' ability to make a long term commitment to care for the animal. Always spay or neuter your pets. If you must give up your pet, leave it with a local shelter or animal rescue group. Don't have a pet? You can still help by donating money or supplies to Grant County Animal Outreach. Give them a call to see what items are needed.

Sheri Wilson

Ephrata