by Suzyn Barron, President of Warwick Valley Humane Society
Did you know, it’s Easter Sunday and as I write this, I am pondering the ramifications of the commercial animal side to this Christian holiday which directly affects shelters like ours every year. When did bunnies, chicks and ducklings become synonymous with Easter? In doing my due diligence and googling the information, it started centuries ago. Rabbits and bunnies have been associated with Easter since the 17th or 18th century. Yet, it wasn’t until the rise of Victorian holiday cards that the Easter bunny became this holiday staple.
No doubt bunnies, chicks and ducklings are adorable little creatures, but like all young, human and animal, they grow up. And animals grow up more quickly than humans do. We are very fortunate that as of December 2024, pet stores in New York will no longer be permitted to sell dogs, cats and rabbits. This legislation is designed to stop the supply of animals from “puppy-kitten-bunny mills” which will ultimately clamp down on abusive, wholesale breeders and protect animal welfare. Last year a relatively local pet store closed its business. The inside of the store was littered with cages too small for its furry occupants. Rabbits and other small domestic animals were forced to live on wire bottoms with little to no enrichment. It was heartbreaking to see the way they were being forced to live with the For Sale signs displayed on their barren cages. This type of housing supports the selling of like cages to those who purchase pets from stores. Honestly, animal welfare does not exist in pet stores, large or small, maybe with a very few exceptions. Their interest lies in the sale of all the paraphernalia they can sell along with the pet.
Thankfully, pet retailers in New York are set to be banned from selling rabbits, along with cats and dogs. The law leaves the door open for pet stores to work with animal shelters to encourage adoptions. Sad for the guinea pigs, chinchillas, gerbils and others who are still part of the pet store mentality, suffering the same existence, but are not yet recognized as being worthy of legislation.
Along with eggs, baskets and bonnets, commercial Easter is associated with baby animals including those cute little fuzzy chicks and ducklings. Be forewarned, chickens and ducks are really messy and unless you plan on keeping these fowl when they are fully grown, consider a stuffed toy instead. Especially since New York State law states that “No person shall sell, offer for sale, barter or give away living baby chicks, ducklings or other fowl or baby rabbits under two months of age in any quantity less than six”. I guess if you buy six you can always break the law and abandon four in a box on the side of the road like what happened last year.
With Easter comes Spring, a time of rebirth and the time to rethink our commitment to all of the animals in our lives for their lifetime.
Pet of the week:
Adoption applications can be downloaded at wvhumane.org or call 845-986-2473 for more information.
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