Companion Rabbits: Cute, Cuddly, and Competitive in Agility

DULUTH - FOX 21 tracked down a surprising side of some animals that we know are soft and furry and hop a lot:  companion rabbits.  But did you know these rabbits run agility courses, have opinions about everything, and love to be petted?

FOX 21 turned our studio into a "rabbit run".  And we found out that Minnesota played a key role in convincing a national pet store chain to change the way they do business so more rabbits find homes.

Jack goes hopping through the course laid out in front of him.  He's a rescued rabbit who loves to run through a challenging agility course.

"Tire! Jump!" yells his owner.  "They learn to do left, right, hop, jump and sit on verbal commands."

"Let's go, jump, Violet," yells another proud rabbit coach.

The Minnesota Companion Rabbit Society paid a visit to Fox 21 to share their love of house rabbits. 

"Four of the five rabbits that came to Duluth came from a confiscation in Mahtomedi, Minnesota, in 2006. They were taken away from a home where they were all hungry, they were all sick and had bad fur," said Barb Kelley.  Kelley says now they're all spoiled and beloved members of the family.  Their owners say rabbits are a perfect alternative for someone who may have an allergy or adversity to dogs and cats.

"They don't bark, so they're not noisy but they have a lot of antics, they're a lot of fun..very very unique personalities," said Shelley Chirhart, another proud owner.  " Very opinionated.. (the rabbits) have opinions about everything."

"They don't need to be bathed," said Kelley.  "They go to the vet. They do have regular vet checks and stuff, but you don't have to do shots. You don't have that kind of stuff like you do with a dog or a cat."

The rabbits are in training to become therapy animals, and maybe better jumpers,

But many companion rabbits don't end up so lucky.  That's where one popular pet store comes in.

Rabbits are the third most surrendered animal behind cats and dogs in the U.S. Minnesota Companion Rabbit Society brought that to the awareness of Petco which has just changed its policy concerning rabbits. From now on, instead of buying and selling rabbits, Petco will now help humane societies find forever homes of surrendered rabbits.

"Adoption is a really big focus for us," said Kevin Whalen, Petco spokesman and Duluth native.  He said Petco has 950 stores across the country and has made relationships with thousands of animal rescue groups. Their goal in changing their policy is to lower the number of rabbits that end up at shelters and never come out.

"When they're relinquished to a shelter, depending on how old and how large they are in many cases they're not going to find another forever home and they're gonna be put to death and that's an outcome we'd like to avoid," said Whalen.

With the help of Petco, the Minnesota Companion Rabbit Society is hoping more people will find out, as they have, how much fun owning a rabbit can be.

"They're all litter–box trained like a cat," said Chirhart.  "They will come to you. They know their names, they know their names and they know when they're naughty!"

Experts recommend spaying or neutering rabbits.

If you'd like to know more about them or how you can adopt one, check out the Minnesota Companion Rabbit Society website at www.mn.companionrabbit.org or call them at 651–768–9755.