We work with dogs and cats at our shelter, but we care about all animals – domestic and wildlife alike. With the warmth of spring and the Easter holiday coming up, you’ve likely seen ads for bunnies, chicks, ducklings, and other cute baby animals for sale. If you’re thinking about expanding your furry, scaled, and/or feathered family, please keep in mind that these pets are living beings and require appropriate food, water, shelter, enrichment, and veterinary care. Before bringing home any pet, you should ask yourself a questions like:
- Do I know what to feed and how much to feed this pet? Did you know that rabbits are considered grazers, because they eat continuously? They have very specific dietary needs, and feeding inappropriate foods can cause the rabbit to become sick and possibly die.
- Is there a veterinarian in my area who will see this kind of pet? Many areas do not have veterinarians who see exotic pets or farm pets, but these animals need veterinary care just like dogs and cats do.
- Should my pet be spayed or neutered? Veterinarians often recommend that pet rabbits be spayed or neutered to prevent unwanted litters, undesirable behaviors like aggression towards other rabbits or even humans, and serious health risks like certain cancers.
- Does my pet need vaccines, and if so, how often? Backyard chicken flocks are often recommended to be vaccinated for Marek’s disease and Fowl pox.
- Does my pet need certain vitamins and nutrients to maintain health? Proper nutrients are vital for every animal, but can vary widely between different species.
- What are common illnesses for this kind of pet? Am I comfortable with dealing with these should they arise? Ducks and geese are susceptible to foot issues like bumblefoot that can cause painful sores, infection, and even death.
- What kind of daily exercise and enrichment does my pet need and can I provide that for them? Birds like chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys all need time each day to graze and forage.
- What kind of shelter, kennel, or housing does my pet need and can I provide it for them? Ducks and geese are hearty animals, yet they still need adequate housing and protection from the elements. Their bare feet and any exposed skin (like the basal knob on some geese) are susceptible to frost bite.
- How long does this animal generally live? Am I prepared to care for them that long? Domestic ducks have an average lifespan of 8-12 years and domestic geese can live to be in their 20’s and even in their 30’s!
Too often our communities see former pets discarded to the wild after their novelty has worn off. Unfortunately, domestic animals often don’t survive in the wild for a number of reasons:
- they lack the camouflage of their wild counterparts and are easily spotted by predators
- they don’t have the skills to evade predators
- they don’t have the capacity to find or migrate to find food in the wild
- they may not fit in with their wild counterparts (wild ducks and geese sometimes pick on and can even kill domestics)
- they may not be adjusted to the weather outdoors and lack the ability to migrate and escape the cold
- they may be more susceptible to diseases
In addition, abandoned pets can actually spread disease to their wild counterparts, endangering wild populations of animals too!
Cute babies grow up to be adults and they need care too. Please consider the time and resources it takes to care for new members of the family. If you don’t know how to care for and/or don’t have the time and resources to care for this new pet, then please reconsider purchasing them. If you’ve done your research and you’re ready for a new pet, please consider adopting! Many municipal shelters have a variety of species looking for their new loving homes, and some areas even have species specific rescue groups you can adopt from. Thank you for joining us in caring for all animals!