Think twice before gifting a bunny this Easter, animal advocates urge [Video]

While some kids will enjoy searching for treats from the Easter Bunny on Sunday morning, others may be receiving actual live rabbits as a holiday surprise.

And while not all animal welfare advocates are totally against giving pets as gifts, they are wary of bunny buyers who don’t realize the commitment they are taking on and may release their rabbit into the wild in the coming months — a pattern that has resulted in invasive populations in several parts of B.C.

Kahlee Demers, the B.C. SPCA’s manager of companion animal welfare and policy, said animals aren’t always a bad gift idea, but they are never good as a surprise. 

“It is a big responsibility,” she said, noting there’s a lot to learn about rabbit care. 

Instead, she said, opt for the chocolate option this Easter. 

“I encourage parents and guardians to stick to the chocolate bunnies, the chocolate Easter eggs …