However, the U.S.D.A. found the number of pet rabbits was estimated at 5.28 million, and discovered some further facts:

· 40% of American households that own small animals have rabbits.
· The average rabbit owner has 2.4 of them.
· Pet stores commonly want rabbits about four weeks old.
· Their average price was $20 to $35.
· Some people – know as “bunny runners” make a career out of transporting rabbits from breeders to pet stores.
· A small number of people raise rabbits for their wool (Angora). One rabbit can produce up to 2.4 pounds a year.
· The House Rabbit Society recommends having your rabbit spayed or neutered and keeping it indoors.
· Rabbit shows are held across the U.S. each year.
· Some people breed herds of rabbits especially for shows. Average herd size may be 30 rabbits or more.
· Rabbits from these herds who aren’t show material are often sold as pets.
· There are no professional rabbit handlers – if you enter your rabbit in a show, you have to handle it yourself.
· On average, a rabbit owner spends $116 a year on food, toys, supplies, and vet visits (apart from surgery).
· A breeding herd usually contains about one male (buck) for every 10 females (does).
· Rabbits are often tattooed in the ear, like dogs or cats, for identification.

The world of pet rabbits, though maybe not well-known, is a large and busy place.

• Rabbits are speedy little creatures, as they can run up to 35 miles per hour.
• Rabbits used to be classified in the rodent family, but now they are classified in the lagomorphs family along with hares.
• Even though they are rather quiet, rabbits can be social animals. A group of rabbits is called a warren.
• Rabbits cannot survive in high heat conditions. If they end up in such a situation, they start to pant and can develop heat stroke.
• Domesticated rabbits won’t breed with wild ones.
• Like cats, rabbits actually groom themselves. They also purr on occasion.
• Rabbits need exercise to ward off diseases such as osteoporosis.
• You most definitely will know when your rabbit is happy, as they like to jump and twist to express their joy.
• It’s true that rabbits pro-create frequently. A female rabbit can give birth up to 8 times a year.
• Rabbits also breed early, sometimes as early as 4 months of age.
• Rabbits have big ears, and they can hear very well.
• There are about 150 different rabbit fur coat colors, whereas there are only 5 different eye colors.
• Rabbits can live up to 10 years. The oldest recorded age was 19.
• Male rabbits are bucks, female rabbits are does, and bunnies are sometimes called kittens or kits.

Did you know that more than three million cats and dogs are euthanized every year?  That’s right, three million a year! This can be prevented by spaying or neutering your cat or dog to prevent her from having offspring that may roam the street or other life circumstances that will cause her to be euthanized.  Also, spaying or neutering will prevent the animal from developing prostate, testicular, or ovarian cancer.

Now, you may say that the animal will suffer from discomfort.  Well, that’s true, the animal is having his/her testicles and scrotum or ovaries removed.  But the relatively short period of discomfort is worth avoiding the long periods of pain followed by death from testicular, prostate, or ovarian cancer.

Also, it has been claimed dogs will become overweight and lazy from neutering or spaying.  That is not true.  Over-feeding and lack of exercise causes dogs to gain weight and be lazy.  In some cases a thyroid problem or genetics is to blame, but the neuter surgery is not to blame for a fat dog or cat.

Having a pet spayed or neutered is best between the ages of four and six months.  This is important because animals may have kids sooner than expected.  If you decide to breed your dog or cat, consider neutering or spaying later (after you are through breeding), by doing so your pet will not be able to develop testicular or ovarian cancer.

The procedure is preformed under general anesthesia.  The stay may be several hours to several days, depending on the pet.  After a while, the pet will return to get the stitches removed.  The procedure is a one-time cost that is relatively small when you consider the benefits.  For pets living in homes with limited income, reduced cost procedures may be available.  Also, some places may hold free or very low cost clinics for people with lower incomes.

Also, rabbits can be spayed or neutered, which is helpful because they breed very rapidly.  Spaying or neutering rabbits can reduce hormone-driven behavior, such as lunging, mounting, spraying and boxing.

Spaying and neutering are very important and can save the lives of  millions of animals a year.

If you are thinking of buying a rabbit, read this first.

Once you decide that you want a pet rabbit, do your research on how to purchase one wisely and how to take care of them. It also would be a good idea to identify the breeds, as different breeds exhibit different sizes and personalities. Some rabbits fully grow to about nine pounds (such as Giant Angora  or Giant Chinchilla) while others are rather tiny at two to four pounds (such as Britannia Petite or Lionhead). If you don’t have a lot of space for a large cage, then smaller is the way to go.

Before you buy your rabbit (hopefully you know by now which one you want), you should buy the supplies, food, and toys.  You’ll need a cage, litter box, and a food/water tray. It is important to know that you must clean these supplies on a regular basis so your rabbit remains in optimal health. Like everything else, finding good food for your pet rabbit is easy- all rabbits are vegetarians. You need to feed them pellet food, but you can feed them low carbohydrate vegetables, fruits, grains, and even hay.

It’s probably best to buy a young adult rabbit- since baby rabbits tend to be much more fragile. Look for a new pet rabbit that is at least four months old. Don’t forget to take him or her to the vet for a general health checkup and a spay/neuter operation (if they’re old enough).

Rabbits make great pets.