A Compassionate Easter

Petunia reminds you that lambs are for snuggling!

The golden question: Which came first, the egg or the chicken? On a holiday like Easter, you might say the egg. But we like to think all animals come first!

Unfortunately, animals are often put last for this holiday. Bunnies and chicks, purchased for children, are abandoned at sanctuaries and shelters when they are no longer wanted. The demand for chicken eggs increases, which is bad news for hens on egg farms. And, sadly animals are the centerpiece for most holiday meals.

The Earth also takes a large toll due to Easter’s plastic waste. More than 250 million plastic eggs are sold every year.

If you’re looking for a sustainable and cruelty-free Easter, here are some easy alternatives for a compassionate holiday:

Try a vegan “ham” or veggie roast for the holiday. There are so many vegan recipes out there. A meat-based roast is just not necessary!
Replace chicken eggs with wooden eggs, paper eggs, or even rocks. Paint them, add stickers, and re-use them as Easter Decorations. Rocks can be fun because the rock hunt itself can be a pre-Easter activity for children. Rocks’ different shapes and sizes also give them so much more personality when painted!
An easy way to switch up the Easter Egg Hunt is with an Easter Bunny Hunt. Plant bunny foot prints instead of eggs to lead to a prize of your choosing: stuffed animals, presents, or even a person in a bunny costume!
If gift baskets are your calling, try a reusable and plastic-free basket. Scratch the plastic grass, shredded color paper will do the trick.
Instead of going out and buying a rabbit, sponsor an Animal Place resident. You can gift your family an adorable “adoption certificate” of the bunny you’re helping through sponsorship.
If you’re insistent on adding bunnies to your family, do your research and start with a foster-to-adopt program with a local rabbit rescue group. Rabbits are such commonly neglected animals. For starters, they absolutely need companionship and thrive in pairs or even trios. Rabbits are easily litter box trained and do best in a large indoor pen or even free range in your home! Rabbits do not thrive in cages or outdoor hutches. A rescue group can tell you everything you need to know about rabbit care. The foster program works as a “trial run”. If you decide rabbits just aren’t for your family, you’ll only have to host them until they find a loving home.