Finding a New Home For Your Rabbit

Thank you for caring enough to make the effort to secure your rabbit's future and recognizing that when you acquire a pet as a member of your family it is a lifelong commitment. Before you give up your rabbit, please consider that we may be able to help you overcome the rabbit-related problems you may be having. The most common reasons for surrendering a pet bunny are often not difficult to overcome, including bunny's destructive behavior, a family member's allergies, and the guilt you may feel if your bunny isn't getting enough attention.

Time, resources, and financial support limit the number of rabbits we can realistically care for. Therefore, we confine our efforts to rabbits that are in the most imminent danger such as those who are abandoned, abused, neglected, or scheduled to be euthanized. For every rabbit we accept from the relative safety of a private home, another will die.

As you might expect, it is difficult to find a reliable home for an unwanted pet of any kind. Finding a home for a rabbit presents special challenges since many people see rabbits as toys, food, or worse. When looking for a home for your bunny, you are responsible for his future, whatever that might be. It is possible to find a good home, but it takes dedication, time, and strategy. The two major steps are 1.) Preparing your bunny for adoption and 2.) Finding a new home for your bunny. These steps may provide solutions to existing problems. Even if these steps don't solve the problem, they are still things the rabbit will need to accomplish before being adopted out.

PLEASE DO NOT SET YOUR BUNNY FREE OUTSIDE!

No matter how inviting a park, wooded lot, or back yard may seem to a human, a domestic rabbit will not survive outside by itself for more than a few days. They are completely dependent on humans for their care and safety. By "liberating" a domestic rabbit you are consigning them to a terrifying place where predators may eat them or starve. The rabbits we rescue from the outdoors are emaciated, dehydrated, and overwhelmed by parasites. We are sure that you do not want your bunny to end up like this. If you feel that this is your only choice, please know that humane euthanasia is better than this fate.

STEP 1: PREPARING YOUR BUNNY FOR ADOPTION

1.) Have your bunny spayed/neutered by an experienced rabbit veterinarian.

Spaying or neutering a rabbit reduces objectionable traits such as aggression, poor litter box habits, and destructive behavior. It is also important for the health of the rabbit and insures that no more unwanted rabbits will be produced. It is also advisable to have complete check-up so that you can inform potential adopters of your rabbit's health status.

2.) Litter box train your rabbit.

This is achieved by placing a litter box in the corner of the cage where your bunny goes to the bathroom. Line the litter box with newspaper or a non-clay litter and put a layer of hay on top. Once the bunny is using the box, try letting the bunny out in a safe, bunny-proofed room (electrical cords and plants out of reach) with several litter boxes.

3.) Socialize your bunny.

The more attention you give to your bunny, the more she will "show off" for potential adopters. Petting the bunny and sitting on the floor with it will teach it to look to humans for affection and caring. Knowing your rabbit's personality will also help you to describe her to potential new homes.

If you have a bonded pair, please do not separate them. Like humans, rabbits form extremely strong bonds with their companions. Rabbits often get sick and sometimes die of grief when separated from their companion.

STEP 2: FINDING A HOME FOR YOUR BUNNY

1.) Advertise.

Place an ad in the local papers. Create fliers with a color picture of your bunny and a description of your rabbit's finer qualities (litter box training, spayed/neutered, affectionate, friendly). Post these fliers in places that are frequented by the kind of people who you think will be responsible new parents for your bunny. Try veterinary offices, pet supply stores, the local civic group, or your church. Network with everyone you know including friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, and parents of the children that your children go to school with. If you send us a picture and a description of your bunny, we'll add your bunny to our Internet site.

DO NOT MENTION "FREE" - charging a nominal fee will discourage inquiries by people with less than good intentions. Don't assume that a person who intends to feed your bunny to a snake won't lie about his or her intentions! Anyone who is willing to commit to owning a rabbit will gladly pay a small adoption fee.

We don't recommend donating your bunny to a school or classroom. S/he is as intelligent, social, and sensitive as a dog or cat. S/he doesn't belong in a classroom where s/he will be all day with an ever-changing group of people, and then left to sit all night and weekend alone in a cage or taken form her "home" every weekend by a stranger. This is a stressful situation for a rabbit, which can result in health problems.

2.) Screening Potential Adopters

Ask callers about their current and past pets - what happened to these pets? Whatever it is, you can bet that your bunny will eventually meet the same fate. Ask why they want a rabbit and what they expect it to be like. Explain that you are asking questions because you want the new family and the rabbit to be compatible and happy.

Present a realistic picture of what it is like to live with a rabbit. We are happy to help your rabbit's new family learn how to care for the bunny. Donate or sell your rabbit's cage and supplies to speed adoption. Consider a home check to be sure that your bunny is going to a safe place, especially if any red flags go up as you ask questions. If you feel that the home is not suitable, politely explain that your rabbit doesn't do well with children, is afraid of dogs, is not used to living alone all the time in a hutch, or whatever.

We look for indoor homes where the rabbit will live as part of the family and an adult is the primary caretaker. Rabbits are intelligent, sensitive creatures that need companionship, love, and attention.

SOME FINAL CONSIDERATIONS

As unbelievable as it may seem, some people do unspeakable things to living, feeling, and intelligent animals.

* Some people eat rabbits or use them to feed their own pets. Beware if someone is unusually fixated on the size and weight of your bunny.

* Some people use rabbits to train dogs. as horrible as it sounds some people will see your bunny as a living toy for their training exercises. Always ask about other pets.

* People with young children may be too busy to supervise. interactions between the children and the rabbit, let alone maintain the rabbit. Most children want a pet they can pick up and cuddle - this does not describe a rabbit! The scratching or nipping of a terrified rabbit can seriously hurt young children. If you adopt your bunny to a home with children, take the time to counsel the family about the proper way to interact with a rabbit (e.g. on the floor) and how to pick up and hold a rabbit.

* Some rabbits and cats can co-exist well together. It is important to be very cautious about introducing them, especially if the cat is known to be an avid hunter or a rambunctious kitten.

* The serious problem of pet overpopulation, abandonment, abuse, and neglect is a tragic situation. Millions of companion animals will lose their lives this year simply because their human companions have grown tired of caring for them. All animal rescue organizations are trying their best, but the huge numbers of companion animals being abandoned by their families every day makes it impossible to keep up.