Easter Bunnies and Baby Chicks are TERRIBLE Easter gifts! 

Rancho Santa Fe, CA -- Cute little baby bunnies and fluffy chicks soon become fully grown rabbits and chickens. Most families who buy these animals for Easter forget that they are making a lifelong commitment (the same as they would with a puppy or kitten).  

Helen Woodward Animal Center spokesman John Van Zante says, “Once families discover that their rabbit or chicken will need daily care for the rest of its life, they often abandon the animals. In other cases the pets run away, or they are neglected until they’re too sick to survive. The best advice is not to buy them unless you plan to keep them and care for them for many years.”  

Alternatives include stuffed rabbits and chicks or taking the kids to an animal shelter and making a donation to help care for their animals.  
 

Curiosity…and Easter Lilies…can kill your cat! 

Rancho Santa Fe, CA -- Easter decorations can be deadly for your cat. Helen Woodward Animal Center warns cat owners about the hazards of Easter Lilies. 

“The Easter lily, Tiger lily, Japanese show lily, and some of the Day lilies can be dangerous for cats,” says Helen Woodward Animal Center spokesman John Van Zante. “If your cat eats any of these it could result in kidney failure.”  

Van Zante says that, with many poisonous plants, only certain parts of the plant or the flower can cause illness. But with these species of lilies the entire plant can be life- threatening for cats. “It’s still safe to decorate your home. Just use plants that won’t harm your pets.”  

Safe flowers include: Easter Orchids, Easter Lily Cactus, Easter Daisies and Violets.  

Van Zante reminds cat owners that these lilies are poisonous to cats year-round. “If you have a cat, it’s best to make sure you never have these plants in your house.”  

If your cat eats part of a potentially hazardous lily Helen Woodward Animal Center recommends that you immediately contact your veterinarian. If you have questions about keeping your pet safe visit Helen Woodward Animal Center at 6461 El Apajo Road in Rancho Santa Fe, call 858-756-4117.