SEATTLE – February is national “Adopt-A-Rescued-Rabbit Month” and the Seattle Animal Shelter is using the occasion to showcase the more than 30 wonderful rabbits currently available for adoption at the shelter.

“Rabbits are currently the third most common animals abandoned at shelters,” says Animal Shelter Director Don Jordan. “These small mammals make excellent pets. They are intelligent, social animals capable of forming lifelong bonds with humans. Whether housed in an apartment or a home, the quiet, well-mannered house rabbit can be a welcome addition to any family. By adopting a rabbit from a local animal shelter, you help reduce the suffering caused by the country’s tremendous pet overpopulation,” says Jordan.

Sponsored by Petfinder.com, “Adopt-A-Rescued-Rabbit Month” aims to educate the public about the positive benefits of adopting rabbits from the more than 10,000 animal shelters across the country.

Rabbits are capable of being litterbox-trained, and their playful antics will warm your heart for years to come. Before choosing to adopt a rabbit (or any companion animal for that matter), the Seattle Animal Shelter recommends asking yourself the following questions:

· Am I ready to make a long-term commitment of owning a rabbit for up to 10 years?

· Is the animal right for my household or living environment?

· Who will be the primary caretaker for the animal?

· Can I afford the cost of food, pet supplies and veterinary bills?

Adopting a rabbit from the Seattle Animal Shelter saves that animal’s life and reduces unnecessary euthanasia of companion animals, and it’s also a tremendous value. The adoption fee for a rabbit is $25 and includes a microchip and spaying or neutering at the Shelter’s Municipal Spay & Neuter Clinic.

When you adopt a rabbit from the Shelter, you will also get a free adoption kit which includes a 5-pound bag of pellets, a bag of hay, rabbit toys, water bottle, food dish, a litterbox with some starter litter, and a House Rabbit Handbook, all made possible by generous donations to the Shelter’s Help the Animals Fund.

For information on rabbit housing, please contact Animal Care Officer Mike Kokernak at michael.kokernak@seattle.gov or visit www.rabbit.org for additional information.

Persons who cannot adopt a rabbit at this time but would like to make a difference can consider making a donation to Help the Animals Fund or contact the shelter to learn more about foster care opportunities for rabbits.

To talk with an adoption counselor, or to preview rabbits available for adoption, visit the Seattle Animal Shelter at 2061 – 15th Ave. W., approximately one mile south of the Ballard Bridge. The shelter is open Tuesday thru Sunday, noon to 6 p.m. for adoptions, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for pet licensing. You may also view adoptable rabbits and other companion animals at www.seattleanimalshelter.org

For more information, call 386-PETS (7387).

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