Animal Advocates Urge: Skip Live Animals This Easter

As Easter approaches, animal advocates are reminding the public that live animals may be cute—but they don’t make great gifts.

A duck sanctuary in Anza, California, is home to around 600 animals, including ducks, geese, roosters, and even a very pregnant pig. And with Easter coming up, the sanctuary is bracing for a familiar post-holiday trend: a sudden increase in abandoned animals.

Each year, well-meaning families purchase baby ducks or chicks from feed stores as festive gifts, unaware of how much care and responsibility these animals require. What starts as a fun surprise often turns into an overwhelming commitment. As the animals grow, many are surrendered or abandoned.

The sanctuary expects to receive more animals in the weeks following the holiday, as people realize the reality of raising farm animals in backyards or homes not suited for them.

Advocates suggest that if you’re looking to give a cute Easter-themed gift, opt for plush stuffed animals instead of real ones. They’re just as festive and far more manageable.

For more on local animal advocacy efforts, visit NBCPalmSprings.com.
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