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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina's congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Mayorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Parents: Stick With Stuffed or Candy Bunnies and Chicks for Easter

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Monday, April 14, 2014   

BINGHAM FARMS, Mich. - Easter is almost upon us, and while some parents might be tempted to give their kids live bunnies or baby chicks, experts stress that bringing any animal into the home should be a well-thought-out decision and not just a holiday whim.

According to Ryan McTigue, public relations director for the Michigan Humane Society, with the right nutrition, housing, and exercise, rabbits can make great pets, but they need a long-term family commitment.

"They do require specialized care; they require trips to the vet and things like that," he said. "So, you want to take the time to really think about it before you bring any animal home."

McTigue said many people overlook the fact that fuzzy little chicks will eventually grow into chickens or roosters, which are not allowed as pets in many parts of the state. He suggested parents considering a rabbit give their kids a stuffed toy one for Easter, and then make an appointment with a local shelter to discuss the options after the holiday.

McTigue declared that it simply isn't fair to animals when people treat them like holiday decorations, instead of as new members of the family.

"Last year our cruelty investigators rescued 190 chicks in the city of Detroit that had been dyed various Easter-type colors, and that was difficult, to try to find placement for all those animals," he recalled.

He added that when it comes to rabbits, it's important to know they can live upwards of 10 years. He said it is not realistic to expect a child younger than 12 to be the primary caretaker of any animal, so parents need to accept that the responsibility may fall on them for many years.






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