The other day, my four-year-old was listing the things he is hoping to find in his Easter basket: some chocolate candy, a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toy, a book about Spiderman . . .

And a bunny rabbit.

"Remember when I had my picture taken with the bunny, at my school?" he said. "That bunny was soft. I would like a bunny."

It's really tempting, you know, to think about bringing a soft fluffy bunny home for Easter; bunnies don't bark or slobber (two things my children dislike about dogs) but a bunny is still a pet, and requires effort and care. Rabbits need to be fed and watered and brushed. They chew things. They mark their territory, and not with a trail of colorful eggs (if you get my drift). The Miami Herald points out that rabbits aren't the best choice for small children, who "want to grab and hold them like stuffed animals, which makes rabbits insecure and frightened. The rabbits can bite or scratch. And their bones are fragile and can break if a child drops them."

Talk about a sad end to Easter.

Judy LaRose, senior director of animal services at the Miami Wildlife Care Center, reminds parents that "rabbits are an eight- to 10-year commitment, not a one-time thing.'' Think twice before plunking a baby bunny in your baby's Easter basket. This is one time that the chocolate may be the right choice for your four-year-old.

Plus, you can eat the chocolate bunny when no one is looking.