March is Adopt-A-Rescued-Guinea Pig Month. To celebrate, we're holding a live Q&A about small mammal adoption and care on our Facebook page Wednesday, March 28, from 12-2 p.m. ET! Lisa Hutcheon, director of Canada's Small Animal Rescue Society of BC, is joining us to answer your questions.

How to participate:

• "Like" Petfinder on Facebook
• Visit our Facebook page Wednesday, March 28, from 12-2 p.m. ET
• Ask your questions about adopting guinea pigs, caring for hamsters or gerbils and more!

About Lisa Hutcheon:
Lisa has been in rescue for 12 years and co-founded Small Animal Rescue Society of BC in Burnaby with two other volunteers in 2004. The organization is 100% volunteer-run and has rehomed more than 1,630 small animals to date. Small Animal Rescue's main purpose is to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome any small animal in need, with priority given to sick, injured, neglected or abandoned animals. None of it could be done without the help of the group's vets, donors, volunteers and supporters.

Bringing a new bunny home is fun and exciting, but it's important to realize that this time can be quite intimidating for a rabbit. In order to keep stress to a minimum, prepare by gathering necessary items, arranging a living space and rabbit-proofing the house. Here are a few key steps to help you prepare for your new friend:

1. Gather the necessities
Before bringing a rabbit home, purchase all necessary items and have everything set up in time for your rabbit's arrival. The first shopping trip is not inexpensive, but once you have the basics, only items such as litter, hay and food need to be purchased regularly.

The New-Bunny Shopping List:

• Puppy exercise pen or dog crate (If you do purchase a rabbit cage, make sure it is roomy and has a flat bottom.)
• A cat litter box or large plastic bin
• Sturdy ceramic bowls for food and water
• Toys, which can be as simple as a cardboard roll or phone book or as complex as a bird toy or cat tunnel
• Rabbit-safe litter (Go for a recycled-paper product such as Yesterday's News or Carefresh.)
• Rabbit pellets (Look for a Timothy hay-based pellet for adult rabbits.)
• Cat nail clippers
• Green, leafy vegetables
• Timothy or other quality grass hays

Of the above items, Timothy hay is the most important. A rabbit's diet should be composed of approximately 70% grass hays to ensure sufficient fiber intake. Hay is important not just for proper digestion, but for dental health too, as chewing on the stalks wears down their continuously growing teeth and even has social and psychological benefits. Because hay is so essential for rabbit health, make extra efforts to ensure the hay you purchase is fresh, dust-free and high quality.

Mary Lempert is the founder of The Rabbit Advocate, where this post originally appeared. She has served as a rabbit behavior and rehabilitation consultant for the House Rabbit Society, House Rabbit Network and the MSPCA in Massachusetts and, most recently, for the Almost Home Humane Society in Lafayette, IN. She lives in West Lafayette, IN, with her rabbits Graysie and Willoughby and any number of foster bunnies.

Rabbits are remarkably affectionate, interactive, and intelligent (check out 10 Reasons Rescue Rabbits Rule). But they are by no means low-maintenance pets. Rabbits can live 12 years or more, so they are long-term, though thoroughly rewarding, commitments. Before you adopt a rabbit for Adopt-A-Rescued Rabbit Month, here are a few things to consider:

Do you have the indoor space for a dog crate or exercise pen? Are you rabbit-proofed? You'll need to hide or cover electrical wires, telephone cords and poisonous plants in at least one room of the house.

Do you have enough time for a rabbit? Rabbits don't require long walks, but they should be let out of their cage for at least an hour a day. Playtime doesn't have to mean dedicated rabbit-watching; it can be incorporated with your everyday activities: Bunnies love lounging on the couch while you read and are happy zooming around your feet as you cook dinner.

Mary Lempert is the founder and manager of The Rabbit Advocate, where this blog post originally appeared. She has served as a rabbit behavior and rehabilitation consultant for the House Rabbit Society, House Rabbit Network and the MSPCA in Massachusetts and, most recently, for the Almost Home Humane Society in Lafayette, IN. She lives in West Lafayette, IN, with her rabbits Graysie and Willoughby and any number of foster bunnies.

Most rabbit-parents know that rabbits are not cheap pets -- their medical care as exotic animals can add up, and they seem to love chewing on your most expensive items (clothes, furniture, equipment, etc.). However, there are several easy ways to reduce the costs of their daily care and manage your rabbit expenses more effectively. Here are just a few:

Hay: Buy in bulk from the farm
Buying small bags of hay from pet stores can get expensive fast! Buying hay directly from a farmer can cut costs way down. Ordering hay in 50-lb. boxes online from farms is already a bargain compared to the small bags from pet stores, but taking a trip to a local farmer to buy a bale is really the way to go. A bale of Timothy hay, which can last several months, typically costs about $10. (Learn more about the types of hay that are good for rabbits.)

Sandie Dawley wanted to adopt a pet. The Pawtucket, RI, woman has permanent inner ear nerve damage, making her balance unsteady, and the resulting vertigo keeps her from driving.

"It's an invisible disability, but I'm no longer able to work," she says, which means she spends most of her time at home alone.

But what kind of pet? She is allergic to cats and thought a dog would be too much work. "My boyfriend thought of a bunny and started looking online."

She adopted Puddin' through Sweet Binks Rabbit Rescue in Foster, RI. Sandy soon learned that life with a rabbit can also keep a person hopping.

Puddin's cage is in the bedroom, but she likes to spend time with the family in the living room. The uncarpeted floors between the two frightened her, so Sandie made a path with throw rugs.

Tara Jernigan's middle son had wanted a rabbit for years, but his mom told him he would have to wait until he was old enough for 4-H Rabbit Club to get one. 

Finally adoption day came. Tara had spotted a bonded pair of bunnies on Petfinder, so the family, who live in Sewickley, PA, trekked to the Animal Rescue League of Western Pennsylvania in Pittsburgh to get acquainted with them. They adopted both bunnies.
   
Nebula, a Holland Lop, is shy, but is a good lap bunny who "goes along with the 4-H for bunny therapy sessions, visiting elderly residents in nursing homes and spending time just being a lap-warmer," Tara says. "When she's on a lap, she's like a stuffed animal with a heartbeat!"
   
Eclipse, a Mini Rex, is more social. "She's curious, doesn't like to be held long, and is always up to something," Tara says. "She's been nicknamed Magellan because she likes to explore."

Read more about these bunny BFFs after the jump.

Mary Lempert is the founder and manager of The Rabbit Advocate. She has served as a rabbit behavior and rehabilitation consultant for the House Rabbit Society, House Rabbit Network and the MSPCA in Massachusetts and, most recently, for the Almost Home Humane Society in Lafayette, IN. She lives in West Lafayette, IN, with her rabbits Graysie and Willoughby and any number of foster bunnies.

In honor of Adopt-A-Rescued Rabbit Month, these are my top 10 reasons rescued rabbits make great pets:

1. Rabbits are the perfect pets for those who may not have time for daily walks, but still seek the social quality of a dog-like companion. And, like cats, rabbits can be litter box trained very easily. Best of both worlds!


2. Many people who are allergic to dogs and cats are not allergic to rabbits.

Can a bunny and a dog be buddies? 

In 2008, Linda Parendier and her kids, of Essington, PA, were looking for a pet to complete their family. They already had a 15-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier, Jasmine, and a 9-year-old Chihuahua, Harley. But they wanted something small and furry because their guinea pig had recently passed away.

Carol at Luv-N-Bunns in Broomall, PA, who had posted a cute little bunny named Nadia on Petfinder, was a little hesitant about introducing a bunny into the doggie mix, but Linda assured her that the dogs would be cool with it.