With Easter fast approaching, please keep in mind that animals should not be given as gifts. It’s true that baby ducks, baby bunnies and baby geese are very cute, but they do grow up and the novelty wears off.

When a bunny is released into the wild after being a pet, it will not survive. When ducks and geese are raised by hand, they also have a very low chance of survival. On some of the coldest days of this winter, someone dropped off a duck to our ponds. This selfish act leaves the duck hungry, cold and in the line of predators, with no way to protect itself. It’s not fair to us and it’s not fair to the animals.

It’s hard to take care of animals that just show up. It’s heartbreaking to find the feathers of animal that you’re trying to save. Please keep this in mind as you fill your Easter baskets. If you want to give something cute, go with a stuffed animal, that way when everyone grows tired of it, it can be given to charity.

Crystal Stewart, Butler