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Article for my works newsletter

rebeccaemms

Warren Scout
Hi everyone

I was asked to write a short article on rabbits for my quarterly works newsletter which I was pleased about. I've done the main body of the article which I've posted below but I'd really like a funny opening paragraph to start it off with - can anyone help me and give me a clue about what to put to get peoples attention and encourage them to read the whole article? I also need a conclusion (my worst bits are intros and conclusions - especially funny ones!) I also need some paragraph/ section titles for the different bits of the article just to break it up and would ahve liked some funny titles too but I'm getting nowhere thinking of them. Is anyone gifted at writing and have any suggestions?




Amusing opener….


Rabbits are the third most popular pet in the UK next to cats and dogs. It is estimated that 1.5 million are kept as pets. People who expect rabbits to be like dogs often find the most important difference in the relationships they form with humans is that dogs give unconditional love and trust, but rabbits don't. Rabbits are adaptable creatures and they can become tame and trusting but human companions must work hard to earn this trust.



Rabbits enjoy human company but nothing compares to the companionship of another rabbit - they are social creatures in the wild and keeping a lone rabbit happy in a domestic situation can be hard as they have a natural instinct to live in groups. The best pairing of pet rabbits is one neutered male and one spayed female - it is very important to neuter both parties to give them the best chance of getting on (Neutering any rabbit will also improve his or her behaviour. The rabbit will be easier to train, less destructive, more friendly and less likely to succumb to fatal rabbit cancers). Rabbit pairings must be introduced slowly and there may be some jostling for dominance in the early stages but once rabbits have sorted out a hierarchy they should live together nicely providing that they are not split up for long periods as the introductions would have to be performed again! The work you put in to bond your two rabbits together is well worth it however, for me, seeing two rabbits grooming one another and sharing a cabbage leaf and knowing I have helped them find their soul mate is one of life’s greatest pleasures.



After begging my parents for months, at the age of 9 I finally chose my first rabbit- Rambo. He survived two house-moves and lived throughout my formative teenage years finally passing away when I was 16. My passion for rabbits grew through the years and I currently keep two rabbits - Benjamin and Roxy in their own palatial pad in the garden.

Despite getting Rambo at the age of 9 I would not recommend rabbits as a good pet for children. Rabbits require lots of work, gentle but firm handling and do not react very happily to being chased and picked up - if you do chase a feisty rabbit you might find yourself at the receiving end of a nip, scratch and a menacing grunt! Even at the age of 9 I needed lots of help from my parents to care for Rambo. That is not to say, however, that rabbits make bad pets - if adults are prepared to put the time in cleaning, handling and socialising them they can be loving and extremely amusing to watch. In fact the rabbit is growing in popularity as a pet for adults and many rabbits are now living the life of riley as ‘house rabbits’ enjoying all the creature comforts bestowed upon our much-cherished cats and dogs.

Whether kept indoors or out, rabbits share the same basic needs as a cat or dog. However, many people continue to keep their rabbit in a small hutch, perhaps sited at the bottom of the garden, which gives the rabbit very little quality of life. In fact poor housing is one of the main reasons for illness in rabbits. If a pet rabbit is being kept outside it is essential to provide it with a large hutch. As a rough guide, the hutch should allow an adult rabbit to sit up on its hind legs and to stretch out. Whatever the size of the hutch, rabbits need exercise and the safest way to give them this is by using a run. However, the run must be escape- and predator- proof and provide shelter.

It is estimated that … rabbits in the UK are currently living in re-homing shelters - just waiting for a special home to call their own. I have had two rabbits from animal rescue shelters and would never buy a rabbit from a pet shop again. Most rabbits who end up in shelters have been surrendered by their owners as ‘unwanted’, they have been found running loose because their owners have ‘set them free’ or they may have escaped from inadequate housing - far too many people view rabbits as a ‘disposable pet’ to throw out when their kids get bored. Many rabbits in shelters are fully grown and therefore are already socialised so will not be as frightened of human contact and handling, some may already be litter trained (Yes, it is possible to litter train a rabbit - in fact it’s very easy!). If you are ever thinking of getting a couple of rabbits please consider rabbit rescues as your first point of contact - I defy anyone not to give in to those fluffy faces waiting to find their forever home. Many of the rescues will even help you to bond two rabbits together and will have already have arranged for the rabbits to be neutered and vaccinated.

How you can help….

Don’t buy rabbits as a pet for children unless you are willing to take over the extra care and responsibility for the animal when the child gets bored - don’t take the decision to get any pet lightly.
Report animal neglect to the RSPCA giving as much information as you can. Neglect can be anything from an animal without adequate food, water and bedding to inadequate housing or lack of exercise and socialisation.

Finally…
 
I'm sorry to bump this up again but can anyone help me with this? Sinec my post I've been re-working for over a week and am still no further on. I changed loads, added loads and took some out and then when I came back to this post and re-read the article the original one sounded loads better. I'm afraid that I might not be the correct person to write an article about bunnies for my work - I'm too self-critical and still can't think of anything funny to put in!!!!! My deadline is two weeks tomorrow!
 
Hello! :wave:

See if you can find any funny stories on RU which you could use as an opener. PM the person who posted the story to see if it's alright to use it.

Also you could have an emotional story for the end, something to make people think about how special rabbits are.

Sorry, I couldn't be of more help!

Theax
 
I agree - some funny stories/anecdotes to dilute the facts? I just wrote an article about my rabbit for a website - the link is:

http://www.cottontails-rescue.org.uk/

if you click on 'the story of wobbles' on the left index you can see it - i tried to write it so that people woulld stay interested even if they didn't know Wobbles or me.

If I was writing one for my work I would write a list of the main points I want ot get across (not too many so that they take them in which is why I would do a list so you can cut it down to the key ones) and some interesting facts (again not too many so it isn't just like an encyclopedia) then add in some funny stories and stuff to lighten it up and hold people's interest.

Hope this helps - it is really hard I know - especially for work as you are trying to get people's interest in something that maybe they are not really interested in - unless you work at a bunny hotel then you are laughing!!:D
 
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