Overview
- Shelters and animal groups warn against buying live rabbits or baby poultry for Easter and suggest chocolate or plush toys instead.
- Rescue groups report a surge in abandoned rabbits one to three months after the holiday, which pushes already crowded shelters past capacity.
- Domestic rabbits often live 8 to 12 years and need special diets, indoor space, and exotic‑animal veterinarians, so they are not low‑maintenance pets.
- Chicks and ducklings grow into full‑size birds that can be noisy and hard to house, and many cities restrict backyard poultry.
- In Los Angeles, a rescue group alleges year‑round live‑animal sales continue in Santee Alley despite a street‑sales ban, a claim not independently verified in these reports.