Discuss. Educate. Volunteer.
The Dayton Area Rabbit Network, or DARN, is a not for profit organization, founded in 2008, by a group of rabbit lovers living in the Miami Valley. We work to ensure that all house rabbits live happy, healthy lives through discussion, education and volunteer work.
Our group was founded under the following purposes and principles:
- to support existing and prospective house rabbit owners by way of verbal and written discourse, print materials and educational programs with the goal of improving the quality of life for both the rabbit and it’s human guardian(s).
- to both raise awareness of house rabbits as domestic pets and promote their adoption to responsible individuals and families.
- to provide support and services to homeless and rescued house rabbits under the care of like-minded rescue groups and organizations.
- to work with similar groups at the local, state, national and international level (where applicable) in order to promote the same educational goals.
Although we are not affiliated with the House Rabbit Society, it should be noted that we agree with and follow closely the guidelines for rabbit care that have been set forth by the HRS. We see ourselves as a complement to, rather than in competition with, the HRS and it’s regional chapters. We believe that our existence is important to the local rabbit community as Dayton Rabbit is the only organization of it’s type in the area.
If our purpose sounds like something of interest to you or if perhaps you have an abiding love for bunnies, we’re always looking for others with whom to share the joys of being a bunny’s human. Getting started is as simple as joining our mailing list or if you would like more information, you can contact us via the form on this page or by sending an email to welovebunnies@daytonrabbit.org.
Whether you decide to stick to the mailing list or volunteer at the shelter, you’re sure to make new friends with like-minded people who share a passion for all things bunny.
Thinking of adopting a bunny?
If you’re thinking of adopting a bunny, we cannot stress enough how important it is for you to educate yourself before you do the adoption. Bunnies are not like cats or dogs and therefore, most of your cat or dog skills do not apply. They have special needs and certain considerations that must be taken for the happiness of both yourself and your bunny.
Please remember:
- bunnies belong inside with their families
- bunnies generally are not a good match for children
- bunnies need to be spayed and/or neutered, just like dogs or cats
- bunnies like to chew and special precautions must be taken to avoid injury
- bunnies generally are not cuddly and most do not like to be held
- bunnies require a special diet
- bunnies require time to exercise
- bunnies are not inexpensive pets
- bunnies are social creatures that become lonely when left for long periods of time
All of that being said, we’re here to say that house rabbits make wonderful and rewarding companions if you’re willing to make a few adjustments to your lifestyle.
Dayton Rabbit provides a list of places that you can visit to learn more about the care and feeding of bunnies.
The Bunny/Kid Conundrum
One of the downsides to being a bunny fanatic is that whenever someone discovers my particular affliction, they’ll often respond with, “When I was a kid, I had a bunny and…”. They’ll then launch into a narrative of breeding, show bunnies and backyard hutches. Upon completion of the story, I’ll smile and nod my head, thankful in the knowledge that now-a-days most of those practices are, or are becoming, obsolete. However, hearing such tales always leads me to consider the relationship between bunnies and children.
Bunnies, unfortunately, are cursed with cuteness. They’re fuzzy, mostly harmless and resemble stuffed animals. I understand their appeal to children. Who, after all, can resist those long ears and twitching noses? None of this is helped when you toss in the myth that bunnies make great “starter” pets, a premise that myself and the other bunny volunteers have been working diligently to change.
I’ve mentioned in previous articles that bunnies, being prey animals, have a mentality differing from more familiar pets like cats and dogs. Their trust isn’t granted, but rather, has to be earned. They easily stress, which is a source of aggression, behavioral or health issues. They have strong muscles and weak skeletal structures that are prone to fracture if handled incorrectly. They usually dislike being being held, squeezed, poked or prodded, things that children might do out of love or curiosity. In addition, kids can accidentally kick, step or sit on the bunny.
I do my best to not sound like some old curmudgeon when I make such statements to people questioning me about bunnies, because I do believe that there is a way for children and bunnies to co-exist peacefully. Simply, bunnies should be family pets, with the adults acting as primary care givers while supervising any bunny/kid play time. I think that this is also a sentiment that one could reasonably apply to any four legged member of the family.
So, before bringing a bunny into a home, one should consider laying out sensible ground rules for the children’s interactions with the new family member. In doing so, I believe that the quality of life will soar for our fuzzy wards.