Somewhere out there, there’s some bunny waiting to be rescued from a bad situation or adopted from a local animal shelter. February celebrates Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month with the hope that folks like you will consider welcoming these furry balls of love into your home. This month’s pet focus is to increase awareness by spreading the word on the advantages of bunny adoption instead of buying from a pet store.

With so many animals needing to be adopted, many people don’t realize just how wonderful rabbits can be as companions. Companion rabbits are incredibly sweet, social animals. If they could write an “adopt me” ad, it would read: Great listener who enjoys cuddling, entertaining and long pet-pets while you relax with a movie after work. All it takes is a little bit of your couch time to research what you need to know before making a bunny a part of your life, which should include general care like rabbit housing, food and diet, exercise and cost.

Unfortunately, shelters everywhere are overcrowded with small animals like rabbits, and after dogs and cats, they are the third most surrendered pet to animal shelters. In honor of this hopeful month for rabbits, here are five good reasons to adopt a rescued rabbit.

1. Rabbits are easy to please with simple foods.

Are you vegan or vegetarian? Then, rabbits will immediately fit in with your plant-based lifestyle! As herbivores, rabbits eat fresh fruits and vegetables and will help consume those veggie odds and ends from dinner preparations. Since your bunny eats mostly like you do, shopping with be super easy and they will enjoy sharing that summer home vegetable garden with you. Watch this adorable rabbit eating greens in slow motion and be prepared to smile!

2. Rabbits are both personable and eco-friendly companions.

It’s very easy to please a bunny with clean compostable bedding and a variety of recycled toys. Keeping in mind that a rabbit might chew on litter materials, provide a natural bedding like straw, hay, aspen shavings, or recycled shredded paper. Add all bedding and bunny pellets to your garden’s compost. For toys that are earth-friendly and good for maintaining healthy teeth, stuff empty toilet paper rolls with hay and give them plain cardboard boxes to play with.

3. Rabbits can help reduce stress.

Petting a bunny reduces stress. If you have pets in the home, then you know that just watching them play or do something cute can be calming. In fact, having animals like rabbits around can improve your overall mood and health! Simply petting a bunny on your lap can reduce the stress hormone cortisol and increase your happiness by releasing serotonin. Snuggling up and cuddling with a bunny can even lower blood pressure. It’s almost like they suck the bad energy from you, then convert it into fluffy hugs — and how wouldn’t want to get in on some of that?

4. Rabbits are natural comedians.

Bunnies provide plenty of funnies and entertainment! Have you ever just sat back and observed a rabbit’s actions? They communicate with humans through body language and use adorable powers to make us give positive comments about their dancing. From the funny way they play with objects and the motion their mouths make while eating a treat to running around curiously and grooming themselves, rabbits are natural-born comedians and don’t even know it.

5. Rabbits will offer you love and lasting companionship to thank you for adopting them.

By adopting a rabbit, you will be saving an animal’s life. There is an overcrowding of small animals in shelters, making them just as likely as larger animals to be euthanatized if they do not get adopted; and there are many recused rabbits needing forever families. If you are ready to welcome a new animal, be that life-saving family by adopting a homeless bunny or two. The experience can be very rewarding in of itself, plus you’ll have a wonderful, loving companion by your side for many years to come.

Green Monsters: Do you have an adopted rabbit? Share your bunny stories with us!

Image source: Robobobobo / Flickr