Don't adopt a rabbit for Chinese New Year
He's cute, but it might be best to put this little guy down and grab a hongbao instead this Chinese New Year.One of the more cuddly animals of the Chinese zodiac, the Year of the Rabbit, is inspiring many in China to add “adopt a bunny" to their New Year’s shopping list. Not something we saw during the recent Years of the Tiger, Ox or Rat. Go figure.
"I believe raising a rabbit in the Year of the Rabbit will bring me good luck," said Jia Rui, 22, who just bought a new rabbit for RMB 400, to AsiaOne.
"So many people are buying rabbits that we have had to place orders in advance with our suppliers," one retailer told the City Evening News.
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International animal rights group PETA is weighing in on the trend, asking people to skip the good luck rabbit in the Year of the Rabbit, and stick to more traditional methods of promoting good luck, like wearing red underwear and giving yasuiqian (hongbao given during Chinese New Year).
The animal rights groups say the commercialization of the pets sends the wrong message and many owners often abandon new pets bought -- or given -- on a whim as the novelty wears off.
"There's no better time to help rabbits than during the Year of the Rabbit, and you can do so by refusing to support the pet trade that causes so many animals to suffer," said Beijing-based PETA campaigner Maggie Chen.
"Rabbits aren't just cute and fluffy, they are high-maintenance animals that require significant resources, equipment, attention and veterinary care," Chen said.
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PETA issued a statement pointing out that rabbits have fragile bones and require lots of exercise, and that they will gnaw on anything in sight -- so less than an ideal house pet.
"Rabbits are complex animals, and potential caretakers, who often purchase them on a whim, rarely understand the specific needs of their new companions," the statement said.
Rabbit rights have been in the Chinese press a lot lately as a group of “crush fetishists” sparked outrage online in November after uploading graphic videos showing young women crushing small rabbits.
