According to Beth Ward, director of animal care at the Humane Society of Santa Clara Valley, each year the Humane Society sees a significant increase--about 10 percent--in the number of incoming rabbits in the eight to 12 weeks after the Easter holiday.

"Many people buy cute young bunnies for their children around Easter time," Ward says. "But many are not educated about rabbits or aware of the work required to take care of them, so they get tired of them after the bunnies pass the cute stage, and they turn them over to the Humane Society. Other people give the bunnies away or leave them in the backyard like they are disposable pets."

According to the House Rabbit Society, an international nonprofit rescue and education organization, contrary to Easter-time hype, rabbits and small children are not a good match, as the exuberance of even the gentlest toddler is stressful for the sensitive rabbit.

In addition, rabbits are not "low-maintenance" pets, as they have a life span of about 10 years and require as much work as a dog or cat.

"It takes a lot of work," says Dianne Whitfield, a bunny-lover and owner of The Bunny Hay Loft, a bunny babysitting service in San Jose. "For example, your home must be bunny-proofed because they chew cords and furniture."

Furthermore, rabbit owners should spay and neuter their cuddly friends to prevent unwanted litters and eliminate certain health risks, such as hormonally induced infections and uterine cancer, which has a risk of occurring in 80 percent of unspayed 5-year-old females.

"It's very important to educate people, because bunnies are not just for visual enjoyment in cages," Ward says. "They should be out and about and interacting with people as much as possible."

"Since they are prey animals, many things that are harmless to humans can be very scary for them," Ward continues. "So it's important that they develop a comfort level in a new environment. It takes a lot of patience and awareness. For people who are not truly serious about getting a rabbit as a family companion, they should just stick with the chocolate bunnies this Easter."

The rewards for a responsible bunny owner, on the other hand, are priceless, according to those who own them.

Dianne Whitfield, who owns five rabbits, says, "They are intelligent and affectionate. And if you do it right, they can be the sweetest and most cuddly companions you'll ever have."

To encourage responsible ownership, The Bunny Hay Loft is partnering up with the Humane Society of Santa Clara Valley and For Other Living Things—a pet supplies store in Sunnyvale—to host BunnyFest 2003.

According to Anita Ledtje, owner of For Other Living Things, BunnyFest 2003 will be an educational event for current and prospective bunny guardians, a fundraiser for the Humane Society, an adoption opportunity, and an outing rabbit owners can attend with their furry little friends.

"Bunnies are welcome to the event," Ledtje says. "There will be plenty of fresh carrots, timothy hay and water for them. And if they get tired, we have a quiet lounging area for the bunnies to rest."

According to Leslie Baikie-Khavari, public relations specialist for the Humane Society, the agency looks after 15 to 30 rabbits at any given time.

"We find new homes for 92 percent of our rabbits, and very few are put down," she says. "We hope this event will help us find loving homes for our rabbits."

The adoption fee for a rabbit is $55, which covers the spay or neuter procedure as well as a health exam.

BunnyFest 2003 will take place on April 6, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at For Other Living Things, 1261 S. Mary Ave. in Sunnyvale. Registration is $15 on the day of the event.

For more information about BunnyFest 2003, contact The Bunny Hay Loft at 408.433.0101 or For Other Living Things at 408.739.6785. For more information about the Humane Society of Santa Clara Valley, visit www.scvhumane.org.