By then the novelty will have worn off. Johnson said rabbits make wonderful pets, if supervised. When left alone they tend to nibble on electrical cords and plants and mark their territory, quickly wearing out their welcome in the process. She added that the rabbits are nutered or spayed before they are adopted from the shelter. The nearest HRS outlet is in Tampa, she said.
Real rabbits require as much care as a cat or dog and the house has to be bunny-proofed.
Venice veterinarian Terry Garner has other outlets for rabbits and other unwanted animals. He takes small quiet ones to the Oak Park School for the handicapped in Sarasota where they become pets for children with physical, mental and emotional handicaps. A severely handicapped child who cannot physically play with a pet can derive great pleasure from an animal that has become a bore to an active youngster, Garner said. They have no way of taking care of them. Garner, who volunteers at Oak Park every Wednesday, also provides medical care for the school's pets such as annual shots.