It has always amazed me that February is the shortest month, yet it has so many holidays packed into it. We have Groundhog’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Mardi Gras, President’s Day, and Black History Month. But, did you know that February is officially “Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month?”

I actual thought every month was "Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month." The way rabbits multiply, I think this should be reconsidered. However, it is officially recognized by the animal community as the month of February. If you have you been considering adopting a rabbit, but have some questions whether it would be the right fit for your family, I would love to meet you. I will be at the Pet Emporium with Great Lakes Rabbit Sanctuary today, Saturday, February 20th from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. We will be there to any questions you might have about rabbits and adopting.

Seriously all humor aside, I have no doubt that rabbits can make wonderful companions. However, there are some considerations to think about before adopting. As with any pet, this commitment shouldn’t be taken lightly. Sure, they can easily get along with the family dog, the cat, and even the guinea pig. But, what many people don’t realize is that they do require the same amount of care as these other pets. Many people categorize rabbits in the pocket pet category and don’t realize that can live long healthy lives. Most rabbits can live an average of 10 years. I have even known several rabbits that have lived to be 15 - 16 years old.

I would like to add that this is not an adoption event, although Cooper and Scarlett are available for adoption. Great Lakes Rabbit Sanctuary does not adopt rabbit’s offsite - on the spot. Impulsive adoptions usually don't work out for either parties. This is a Meet -n- Greet for you to come out to the Pet Emporium and meet us. We do hope that you can stop by.

The Pet Emporium is located at 4940 Ann Arbor-Saline Road. They host a different animal rescue, each Saturday, every month. We are so excited to be their guest this weekend!

I will be bringing Cooper and Scarlett, from GLRS. Cooper is a very friendly, extremely adorable New Zealand rabbit. New Zealand’s are known for being very friendly and loveable, and Cooper is definitely no exception. He was abandoned in his cage in someone's yard, so they brought him to us. Scarlett was part of a group of rabbits rescued from a breeder that was selling rabbits for meat. The rest of the group was sent to a shelter in Pennsylvania, but Scarlett was adopted before the transfer was made. Unfortunately, her adopter's son developed an allergy to her and she was kept in the garage and then had to be rescued again from cruel conditions. Scarlett is also extremely friendly, loves to be petted.

Cooper and Scarlett are bonded, which means they must be adopted together. They can’t be separated. To a new rabbit owner, it might seem overwhelming to have two rabbits. But, in reality, they will be living in the same space and sharing the same litter box. All rabbits should have their living quarters cleaned on a daily basis. They are very clean animals and will use their litter boxes if cleaned or changed regularly. I find that if you don’t keep it clean, they will dump it out.

I will also be traveling with my own rabbits Max (a brown Havana) and Anna (a black Rex). Anna is my little show rabbit. I usually travel with her to events, scout meetings, etc... However, in mid-January she was feeling under the weather and Max attended guest event at EMU in her place. He did quite well with the students. So, I am excited to see how he does tomorrow. He is usually takes a bit of time to warm up to people, but since he did so well last month I thought we should try this today.

We are also hosting an open house called MEET SOMEBUNNY SPECIAL tomorrow, Sunday, February 21st, from 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. at the sanctuary. Tickets can be purchased on-line or at the door. This is a great way to spend the afternoon with some friend or family! We will have live music, food, two chocolate fountains (one vegan), tours, and lots of fun!