(RALEIGH) -- For North Carolina children, finding a cuddly bunny or fuzzy duck in their basket is a part of Easter, but animal welfare experts are asking parents to buy from the toy store instead of the pet store.

Animal shelters around the state report an increase in the number of ducks and bunnies showing up at their doorsteps after the holiday. It's one reason why the Avery County Humane Society is building a room for animals like them in their new shelter opening later this year.

Shelter executive manager explains Charlene Calhoun explains, "A lot of times, people think, well, if it doesn't work out, I'll just set it out. It's a rabbit, it'll do ok. But they're domestic and they've been handled by people and they don't really know how to take care of themselves."

She says people often forget about neutering the bunny, and when rabbits reach puberty, they can get cranky. When ducks grow older, they run out of room and living inside a home doesn't meet their needs for space and a place to swim.