Why It's Illegal To Sell Baby Bunnies As Pets In Alabama

Wow! That's a long title isn't it?!  It was so long I started falling asleep reading it! See, here I am, taking a snooze!

Everyone should have leopard print sheets!

We've been asked why it's illegal to sell baby bunnies as pets in the State of Alabama, so I'm interrupting my nap time to tell you! In case you missed it here is the actual law:

Code of Alabama, Title 3; Section 3-1-15: It is unlawful to display, sell, offer for sale, barter or give away any baby rabbits, or baby chicks, ducklings or other fowl, but not including parrots, parakeets, and canaries, as pets or novelties, regardless of whether or not such rabbits or fowl are dyed, colored or otherwise artificially treated.

Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished as prescribed by law.

(Acts 1959, No. 104, p. 590.)

I made the background color pink so it would stand out!

There are several reasons why this law was passed way back in 1959. It was partly because people used to dye the bunnies (and chicks) and obviously this was cruel. That usually doesn't happen anymore, but the other reasons for the law are still with us. 

Every year, starting as early as the day after Easter (or the day a carnival that gives away bunnies as prizes leaves town) the shelters get flooded with discarded rabbits. Did you know rabbits are the third most often surrendered pets at shelters across the country? Right behind cats and dogs!

Too many people buy them on a whim and then they realize how much care bunnies need...and then Little Brandon or Brittany gets tired of the bunny...but Mom and Dad still need to clean the litter box. Uh oh! In addition, they quickly find that those adorable baby bunnies grow up fast...and get hormonal....and they aren't cute anymore when they are spraying, biting and mounting your feet.

It's also hard to sex baby bunnies (because male baby bunnies' testicles don't descend until they're older) so every year we hear of situations where someone has gotten two "girls" and surprise! Soon after there is a litter of babies and a month after that, another one (because people don't realize rabbits can get pregnant the day they give birth!) If the bunnies can't be sold until they're older it's so much easier to tell the boys from the girls, so these mistakes don't happen.

Many of these poor bunnies wind up in the shelter or worse, get dumped in the wild.** This  is not only bad for the bunnies but causes problems for the shelters and people who rescue rabbits - problems that cost the taxpayers quite a bit of money.

Another issue is that often babies are sold too young to be away from their mother, especially at Easter. Some sellers want them to be as tiny and cute as possible so people are more tempted into an impulse buy. Not all sellers do this of course, but there are enough that it is a problem. We've had quite a few fosters come in who were bought at four to five weeks old. Many of them have had gut flora problems from being taken away from their moms too early. If a bunny's gut flora isn't well developed they can have ongoing intestinal issues and even die!

I hope this explains some of the reasons for this law. Remember, think carefully before you get a bunny! In my next few blog posts I'll be going over some things to think about before you get an adorable bundle of cuteness like me!

Byeeeeeee!

Love from your roving lagomorphic reporter,

Mrs. Kitty Brighton

**(If you have a chance check out the horrible problems Las Vagas is having with released domestic rabbits!)