the non-easter bunnies

Texas bunny expert says: Rabbits do not make good Easter gifts

Rabbits from House Rabbit Resource Network in Austin.

House Rabbit Resource Network

As cute as it would be to have a real-life Easter bunny in a basket on Sunday, one expert rescuer says to skip it and opt for a candy rabbit or plush toy.

Kyle Golden, a board member of Pflugerville's House Rabbit Resource Network, says that the rescue always receives an influx of rescue requests during Easter-time.

It's usually either people surrendering rabbits they got for the holiday, or else finding a rabbit set loose in their neighborhood by unwitting owners trying to "return it to nature."

But domesticated rabbits are different from wild rabbits, and do not survive in the Texas heat or around predators.

"We recommend that people not get the rabbits during the Easter time holiday, or basically for any gift, during any holiday season," says Golden. "They should learn more about what it takes to have a rabbit as a pet and part of the family."

Bunny at House Rabbit Resource Network Pancake the rabbit.House Rabbit Resource Network

One of the most common reasons for surrenders, Golden says, is allergies, whether to the rabbit itself or the hay required to create a rabbit home. Even if someone is not allergic to dogs or cats, these fluffy friends may trigger a different allergic reaction.

It's easy to forget that rabbits are wildlife, not domesticated pets, and can take a long time to get comfortable with human socialization.

"Rabbits are prey animals as opposed to predator animals like a dog or cat," Golden says. "Many times, people don't understand the psychology behind how a rabbit is going to interact with them. More than likely a rabbit is going to take a much longer period of time to warm up and to gain that trust [with] their human, so they know they're not going to be eaten, or abused, or whatever other danger might come their way."

Other issues include introducing the rabbit to other pets, as well as rabbits' inclination to chew furniture, cables, or anything else close to the ground.

Rabbits are also more costly: What may cost $100 for a dog or cat could cost $800 for a rabbit, Golden says, because they are considered an "exotic" pet, which requires specific training many vets do not have.

San Antonians who still want a rabbit at home — with ample prep work — can check out Alamo City House Rabbits for adoption and fostering opportunities.

Rabbits are intelligent, living beings, Golden says. "Each rabbit has a completely different temperament and personality," he says.

holidays pets families kids animals

schools with high achievers

These 7 San Antonio K-8 schools rank among Texas' best for 2025

Basis San Antonio - Shavano Campus

Congratulations are in order for the Dragons.

Several San Antonio elementary and middle schools are at the top of the class when it comes to educating and preparing the next generation for a successful life and career, according to U.S. News & World Report's list of 2025 Elementary and Middle Schools Rankings.

One such school – Basis San Antonio - Shavano Campus – is the No. 17 best middle school in Texas for 2025.

This November, U.S. News ranked over 79,000 public schools on the state and district level using data from the U.S. Department of Education. Schools were analyzed based on their students' proficiencies in mathematics and reading/language arts on state assessments, and tie-breakers were decided based on student-teacher ratios.

"The 2025 Best Elementary and Middle Schools rankings offer parents a way to evaluate how schools are providing a high-quality education and preparing students for future success," said LaMont Jones, Ed.D., the managing editor for Education at U.S. News. "The data empowers families and communities to advocate for their children’s education. Research continues to indicate that how students perform academically at these early grade levels is a big factor in their success in high school and beyond."

Texas' best middle schools for 2025
In all, five San Antonio middle schools achieved spots among the top 100 best Texas middle schools for 2025, according to U.S. News.

The Shavano Campus of the Basis San Antonio charter school has a total enrollment of 1,018 students, with 84 percent of the student population scoring "at or above the proficient level" in mathematics, and 90 percent scoring at that level of proficiency in reading. The school has a student-teacher ratio of 16:1, with 63 full-time teachers.

Students at this charter school performed far better with its test scores than the rest of Texas, U.S. News said.

Four additional San Antonio schools ranked among the top 100 best middle schools in Texas, including:

No. 53 – Eleanor Kolitz Hebrew Language Academy
No. 62 – Lopez Middle School, North East ISD
No. 80 – Idea Carver College Preparatory
No. 97 – Young Women's Leadership Academy, San Antonio ISD

The best elementary schools in Texas
Jesus A. Kawas Elementary school in Laredo was crowned the No. 1 elementary school in Texas for 2025, while two San Antonio schools made it into the top 100.

Basis San Antonio Primary Medical Center is the No. 75 best elementary school statewide, boasting 787 students, 48 full-time teachers, and a 16:1 student-teacher ratio. Students at this school scored 80 percent efficiency in math and 85 percent efficiency in reading.

Landing at No. 90 in Texas is San Antonio's Hardy Oak Elementary in North East ISD. Hardy Oak has a student population of 683 with 37 full-time teachers, and one full-time counselor. The school's student-teacher ratio is 18:1, and 77 percent of students are proficient in math, and 85 percent are proficient in reading.

U.S. News says student success at Hardy Oak is significantly higher than the rest of North East ISD.

"In North East Independent School District, 56 percent of students tested at or above the proficient level for reading, and 46 percent tested at or above that level for math," U.S. News said in Hardy Oak's profile. "Hardy Oak Elementary [also] did better in math and better in reading in this metric compared with students across the state."

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