| Bill Clinton had Socks the cat and Barack Obama had Bo the dog. Mayor Tessa Rudnick has Willow the rabbit. The "first bun" of El Cerrito, a small town near San Francisco, has learned how to "high five" with her nose and likes to flop down with the family to be petted. Willow is an anomaly. If you have a pet in the United States, chances are it meows or barks. Of the 129 million households with pets in the country, roughly 3 in 4 have a cat or dog, according to 2021 Census data. This dominant pet duo furnishes love and affection for millions of people, but there is an entire animal kingdom out there, largely overlooked but no less lovable, whose members tread lighter on the planet. Cats and dogs have an outsize carbon footprint, mostly because of their carnivorous diet. If the pet food industry, which mainly feeds dogs and cats, were a country, it would rank as the 60th-highest greenhouse gas emitter, equivalent to the Philippines. Rabbits, by contrast, leave a minimal pawprint. They eat small amounts of hay and otherwise discarded vegetables. Their waste can be used as fertilizer in gardens. "It's like having a vegan cat," says Anna Reynoso, the manager at a shelter run by the House Rabbit Society in Richmond, Calif. I ventured to the bunny rescue to see what's it like to adopt one of the most environmentally friendly pets out there. As Americans embrace pet ownership like never before — the number of households with pets has more than tripled since the 1970s — I discovered there may be more "rabbit people" than you might expect. What's it like to live with rabbits? Rabbits are a group of curious, social animals called lagomorphs. Domestic rabbits can live eight to 12 years, but rarely survive on their own outdoors where they lack the survival skills of their wild cousins. They can be easily trained to use litter boxes, answer by name and may affectionately "nose-bump" your ankles. Many also live cage-free indoors with a "home base" supplied with a litter box, hiding areas, blankets and toys. Rabbits' personalities range from shy to exuberant, and some can be as affectionate as any Labrador (in their own way). Why are bunnies better for the environment? It's their diet that gives them an environmental edge over cats or dogs. They eat mostly hay, which makes up about 80 percent of their diet, alongside a few vegetables and leafy greens And the parts of vegetables that humans don't eat from carrot tops to cilantro stems? Bunny favorites. In contrast, most cat and dog kibble is roughly 50 percent animal protein, accounting for around 1.5 percent of global agricultural emissions, according to a 2020 study in Global Environmental Change. Having a vegan pet may even improve your own diet. Rudnick, the mayor, says her family is eating healthier since adopting Willow. "It forces us to always have fresh food in the house," she laughs. "We're definitely eating a lot more kale." Do rabbits make good pets? For millennia, humanity's primary interaction with rabbits was as hunters and farmers. They are often portrayed as aloof, skittish and devoid of unique personalities since they're nervous when lifted and held (although many do love touch on the ground). But rabbits can be an ideal pet — for the right family. Bunnies need a few basic things: safe housing (a corner of a room or apartment will do); social interaction (with you or other bunnies); healthy food and regular veterinary care, including spaying or neutering. And they can be ideal for busy families, since they're crepuscular: They're most active in the early morning and twilight, when families are home, and nap during the day and evening. Budgeting about $50 per month for a pet bunny is typical, although much of the rabbits' greens can be free at grocery stores or farmers markets. Any parting advice? For Rudnick, Willow's arrival has gone smoothly. "Having this low-impact pet with which Shira can have that bond has been huge," she says of Willow's relationship with her 8-year-old daughter. The rabbit acrobatics called "binkies" — leaps, kicks, and twists in midair — are a joyful diversion. For anyone considering adopting a rabbit, Shira has some advice. "Bunnies, can come in different shapes and sizes, and they can have different needs," she says. "But no matter what, they can always be a good part of the family." Write me with your alternative pet stories (and photos!) at climatecoach@washpost.com. I read all your emails. | 
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