Chinese New Year is just round the corner.  The Chinese zodiac for the year is Rabbit.  

In Singapore, there is a trend to purchase rabbits as pets during Rabbit Year.  Some folks believe that the bunnies are auspicious to have at home since it is their zodiac year.

 In view of this, a few major pet shops have been employing marketing gimmicks to promote sales of rabbits.  Some members of public have received unsolicited mobile phone message advertising pet sales.  The sales gimmicks also include organising best dressed rabbit contest and racing rabbit competition.

 The House Rabbit Society of Singapore (HRSS) and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) are very concerned over such activities.  Besides causing unnecessary extreme stress to the gentle creatures, dressing up and racing may ended up with the bunnies suffering injuries or even death.

 Concerned members of the public have also given feedback to SPCA regarding welfare issues at rabbit exhibitions.  However, on the other hand, pet exhibition organisers and some other people believe otherwise; some saying the bunnies on display did not look stressed and seemed to be happy, eating and sleeping well.

 SPCA and HRSS are urging the public not to buy pet rabbits on impulse, as gifts or to bring luck during Year of the Rabbit.  They will be organising a rabbit awareness event at the National Geographic Store at VivoCity on the afternoon of  29 January 2011.