Beatrix Potter鈥檚 Peter Rabbit has been beloved by generations of children ever since she published the tales of his mischievous romps through the garden in 1901. She based her drawings on her own pet rabbit.
Now that Sony Pictures has released a , the Small Animal Rescue Society of B.C. is worried that people will give into the temptation to have a pet rabbit. And since owning a rabbit requires much more work than people expect, there will be a big spike in abandoned rabbits six months after the movie鈥檚 release when those cute, cuddly rabbits hit puberty.
The society鈥檚 advice: enjoy the rabbits on the screen only.
鈥淲e鈥檙e just bracing for [a surge in rescue calls],鈥� says Lisa Hutcheon, the group鈥檚 volunteer executive director who was on her way to pick up three rabbits no longer wanted by their owners.
The release of films featuring cute animals typically results in a spike in pet sales, the group says. 鈥淭his has been seen with the release of such films as Snow Dogs, Snow Buddies, Legally Blonde and 101 Dalmatians. In turn, this results in volunteer-run, non-profit rescues being inundated with requests to take unwanted animals once consumers discover how much work they are.鈥�
What鈥檚 especially concerning about Peter Rabbit is that Easter is approaching, the .
鈥淭he fall is usually a big problem for us because that鈥檚 six months after Easter when the rabbits hit puberty,鈥� Hutcheon says. A female rabbit can get pregnant every 28 to 30 days; she can even get pregnant immediately after giving birth. 鈥淚t gets really out of control quickly.鈥�
Few places accept unwanted rabbits and 鈥渞eleasing them is a death sentence,鈥� Hutcheon says.
You might think a rabbit does nothing but nibble on carrots and sleep. But the society says rabbits are high-maintenance pets that require specialized vet care and daily exercise. They need a specific diet and their enclosures need to be cleaned daily.
With a lifespan of 10 to 12 years, that鈥檚 a serious commitment to their wellbeing.
In December 2017, the City of 麻豆传媒映画 of rabbits in pet stores.
