A Purdue University veterinarian urges parents to say no to live rabbits and chicks as Easter gifts. Lorraine Corriveau, a pet wellness veterinarian, says the live chicks and rabbits found in many pet stores around Easter are not the low-maintenance pets people think they are. "Often many folks think rabbits require only a small cage and don't need much attention," Corriveau says. "The truth is that they have dietary requirements that include a balanced diet of pellets, fresh lettuce and other vegetables and grass hays. They also require daily exercise and space enough to perform three consecutive hops in a cage." Young children tend to be rough and don't understand that they can easily break a rabbit's back. And, rabbits have long toenails that leave deep scratches, especially if held improperly. When handling chicks, people need to be aware that they can carry salmonella and E. coli, which can cause diarrhea and illness to young children. And, cuddly chicks grow into scratching chickens. After Easter, many animal shelters are overwhelmed by the number of rabbits admitted and may have to euthanize several of them. Rabbits are the third most relinquished pets to shelters, which are usually equipped to handle only a few rabbits and rodents at a time. Rabbits also are often released to the wild to fend for themselves, and those that don't starve become easy prey for predators. Before you give into the temptation of that cute, long-eared, soft, twitching-nose baby bunny or that soft, yellow bundle of chick, remember that a rabbit or a chick is not a toy and owning one carries big responsibilities. 
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