San Antonian Joe Guerra has owned pet rabbits for two years and considers them part of his family.

“As a kid my grandparents had rabbits as pets,” he said. “I got used to being around rabbits.”

He adopted his female rabbit, A Bao A Qu, and then adopted two male rabbits from a family who was moving.

Guerra has successfully trained all three rabbits to respond to a clicking device.

“With the clicker training, I first got the device as a joke,” he said. “But rabbits are a lot smarter than I expected them to be. They respond to vocal commands as well, but respond best to a constant, loud clicking noise. I use it to get their attention or to make them stop a ruckus. If they’re doing something they’re not supposed to be doing, they immediately stop.”

While some might consider rabbits strictly outdoor animals, they are becoming a popular choice as indoor pets for people like Guerra.

Rabbits multiplying

According to the 2012 American Pet Products Association (APPA) Pet Owners Survey, 2.5 million households live with rabbits.

Cheyenne Hendricks of the Retired Rabbit Society, a nonprofit rabbit rescue located in east Bexar County, recommends that families thoroughly research the care and keeping of rabbits before taking one in as a pet.

Hendricks has been taking in abandoned, ill and disabled rabbits with her family-owned Retired Rabbit Society since 1998.

“Rabbits aren’t low maintenance pets as most people assume,” said Hendricks. “They need lots of attention, and they can be susceptible to disease and illness. They can be house-trained and litter-trained and are very intelligent, loving and loyal.”

So what does it take to keep a rabbit as an indoor pet, and what are the benefits of having a house bunny?

Having a pet rabbit can provide many health and emotional benefits.

“Petting an animal can decrease blood pressure and stress levels,” said Dr. Linda Porter-Wenzlaff of Therapy Animals of San Antonio. “Studies have shown that positive effects are more profound when people are more vulnerable.”

These vulnerabilities include recent surgery, disability or anxiety and stress.

“Animals also bring you back to the present,” said Dr. Porter-Wenzlaff. “They engage with you and can make you feel better emotionally. They remove you from those recursive issues.”

Daily maintenance

What may come as a surprise is how clean rabbits can be. Caring for house rabbits requires a routine, but daily maintenance keeps the area and animals tidy.

“Every morning and evening we sweep their areas, and we take out their litter boxes every three to four days,” said Guerra. “That part is a bit of work; you can’t open the door and let them out to do their business. A lot of people who come over to the house are amazed that it doesn’t smell, but they’re fairly clean animals. People recognize that the rabbits are sanitary and don’t have any problem with their children petting them.”

Unique traits

Like dogs and cats, rabbits have individual personalities.

“A Bao A Qu is accustomed to coming up to me and being petted,” Guerra said. “I can pet her all I want, but she doesn’t like being picked up. Anet is the alpha male and the largest rabbit; he is very loving and loves to run around. We can trust him the most to not chew on things and he responds best to the clicker. He also doesn’t stop eating and will try to eat just about anything. Abtu is a bit skittish, but he’ll come to you if you have food. He’s more cautious, but is the cleanest of the bunch.”

Kyle Goetz, who created a three-story indoor cage for his two rabbits, has noticed his pets’ unique traits as well.

“Pancakes will jump over metal cages and can find his way over anything,” he said. “If he doesn’t quite make it, he will grab on the cage and climb over. Cadbury is remarkably smart. I swear he understands some English because a few times I’ve said, ‘Cadbury, where’s mommy?’ and he went to look and find my wife. He’s also extremely affectionate and doesn’t mind being picked up.”

Goetz has had Cadbury for five years and has become an advocate for educating others about house rabbits.

“Rabbits are the third most abandoned pet, after dogs and cats,” he said. “People think they’ll survive if they let them loose, and domestic rabbits can’t survive in the wild. I always tell people, ‘Don’t get a rabbit for your kid because they live a long time and can be a lot of work.’ They’re definitely not a starter pet.”

Guerra also advises people to do their research before thinking about getting a house rabbit.

“People need to understand how high-maintenance rabbits are,” he said. “They can be very fragile, and you have to watch their health. You have to rabbit-proof your home, because rabbits will chew through almost anything.”

Rabbits can live up to 10-12 years, which is quite a commitment.

However, the joy of having a house rabbit makes the responsibilities worth it.

Goetz even grows organic vegetables in his backyard and would like to build an outside play area for the rabbits next to his deck.

“Rabbits are a bit like a 2-year-old kid,” he said. “You’re picking up poop, feeding them and giving them what they want. But like dogs and cats, you have to build your life around your pet.”

Building close bonds

Pets encourage movement and play, mitigate stress and can help people connect with strangers.

“People with pets have stronger connections to others,” said Dr. Porter-Wenzlaff. “Caring for animals teaches children empathy, which translates to their emotional growth and relationships with peers.”

Owning a pet can decrease loneliness, she said, and even serve as a mild form of physical therapy.

Caring for a pet can help those with scheduling issues; some individuals will schedule their meals or medicines around the times they feed their pets. These interactions can increase the bonds between the animal and its owner.

Special creatures

Considering the benefits of having a pet, it’s no wonder that approximately 62 percent of American households have a dog, cat or small animal, according to the Humane Society of the United States.

And according to the American Pet Products Manufacturing Association (APPMA) Pet Owners Survey, rabbits have surpassed hamsters as our favorite small pet in the past decade, making them the third most popular companion mammal, behind cats and dogs.

With the rise in popularity of rabbits as indoor pets, your neighbor just might be bringing a Peter Rabbit lookalike into their home.

Guerra and Goetz enjoy answering questions about rabbits and love to teach others about these special creatures.

“I tend to be very vocal about rabbits and and am sort of an advocate for their health and well-being and adoption practices,” said Guerra. “Most people have dogs, cats or birds. I just happen to favor rabbits.”

mhayashi@express-news.net