Marlon Bundo — aka BOTUS — is an adorable black-and-white rabbit who is already a star in his own right. As the personal pet of Vice President Mike Pence and family, he’s the Bunny of the United States on his Instagram page, where he has 24,800 followers.
Just in time for Easter, the rabbit’s star is rising with the release this week of two new books for children.
The official book is “Marlon Bundo’s Day in the Life of the Vice President” written by Charlotte Pence, the vice president’s daughter, and illustrated by Karen Pence, his wife. It’s $11.69 at amazon.com, and part of the book’s proceeds go to A21, which fights human trafficking.
“Last Week Tonight With John Oliver presents ‘A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo’ ” is the name of the other book, and it’s no more official than anything else on that left-leaning HBO political commentary/comedy show.
In this book — written by show staff writer Jill Twiss — Marlon is a gay male bunny who falls in love with another male bunny. On Sunday’s show, Mr. Oliver freely admitted his book is meant to be a jab at Mr. Pence, who he said is no friend to the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender community. It’s $11.39 at amazon.com, and all proceeds benefit The Trevor Project for LGBT youth and AIDS United.
Marlon Bundo’s celebrity is undoubtedly raising awareness that rabbits are affectionate and charming pets. But neither book cautions animal lovers to look before they leap into acquiring a rabbit.
Sales of the furry mammals always go up before Easter. Weeks or months later, most of those Easter bunnies are taken to shelters or released into yards and woods, which is a death sentence.
So this column is a cautionary tale, with tips from three volunteers who do a lot to help rabbits. They know what it takes to be the happy owner of a happy rabbit.
Rabbits live 8 to 12 years and “are not easy pets,” said Mary Cvetan of Penn Hills.
Unless they are provided with cardboard boxes filled with papers, “they dig and they chew and can destroy your house,” she said.
They need supervision, attention, exercise and toys to prevent them from chewing electric cords, books and other household items. She said it is cruel to expect rabbits to live their lives in cages. They need an owner who has “the energy, the time and the space” to let them run about the house.
Improper nutrition can make them very sick. Carrots are not actually good for rabbits because they’re too high in sugar. Instead, rabbits need a lot of fresh timothy hay.
Ms. Cvetan is not trying to talk everyone out of adopting a rabbit. Since 2002, she has loved many of her own and provided a temporary foster home for many whose owners were unwilling or unable to keep them.
“They are funny and fun. They are affectionate. They do not have to be walked, and because they are vegans their litter boxes do not smell. That’s a huge plus,” she said.
Since 2005 she has operated the Pittsburgh House Rabbit Club, which has a Facebook page. She also volunteers with shelters, including Humane Animal Rescue, and with the Rabbit Wranglers rescue group, which specializes in rabbits that have health or behavioral problems.
Since 2014, Donna Mazza of Robinson has been operating Humphrey’s Hope Chest, collecting and delivering cast-off items that help rabbits and other animals. The effort is in honor of her bulldog, Humphrey, who was 10 years old when he died.
Flannel sheets can be cut into smaller squares for rabbits, Ms. Mazza said. Used towels and blankets are always in demand at shelters and rescues, along with carriers, pads, collars, leashes, food, treats and toys.
Humphrey’s Hope drop-off spots include Dog Stops at 1789 West Liberty Ave., Brookline; 1140 Washington Blvd., Homewood; and 2530 Smallman St., Strip District. Donations are delivered to Humane Animal Rescue, Rabbit Wranglers, Homeless Cat Management Team and Gladstone Kitties in Greenfield.
Ms. Mazza and Ms. Cvetan both volunteer at Rabbit Romps at Humane Animal Rescue. It’s a good way to learn about rabbits and see them in action as they hop around in a big room, supervised by staff and volunteers.
The romps are 2-4 p.m. every Saturday at the North Side shelter and 2-4 p.m on the first and third Sundays each month at the Homewood shelter.
Rachel Penney of Delmont, Westmoreland County, has been rescuing rabbits since 2000. She once had 24 but currently has just three. Most were improperly released, and one was attacked by a hawk. She traps the rabbits and brings them to her home, where they live the rest of their lives.
She has volunteered since 1999 with Action for Animals and formerly volunteered with Wildlife Works Inc. in Youngwood.
Kitty litter is not good for rabbits’ litter boxes, Ms. Penney said. Newspapers are much better, and she now makes monthly pickups at the Post-Gazette’s printing plant.
Ms. Penney and the other volunteers urge people NOT to buy baby rabbits from pet stores. Very young rabbits are not likely to thrive in the hands of inexperienced owners, and they often have not been spayed or neutered. That can cost as much as $200 at a private veterinarian.
Every year, hundreds of domestic rabbits are turned in to shelters, where they are cared for and trained by experienced staff and volunteers. All are spayed or neutered before they are available for adoption. Adoption fees vary at different shelters, costing $50 at Humane Animal Rescue and $60 at Animal Friends in Ohio Township.
Linda Wilson Fuoco: lfuoco@post-gazette.com or 412-263-3064 or on Facebook.
First Published: March 23, 2018, 12:00 p.m.
