Starting a bunny shelter; how to?

[Mikey]

There are no bunny rescues or shelters within 2 or 3 hours of where i live, but there are several breeders and pet shop owners who sell rabbits. Its getting close to Easter, and some flyers have been going around facebook about not getting rabbits for the holiday and what released rabbits look like if you see one outside. It makes me sad to think there are none in my area, and people are willing to release indoor bred and raised rabbits outside where they can be harmed. So ive been entertaining the idea of possibly starting up a shelter/rescue for people who dont want their rabbits. I dont have the space to now, but by the end of the year we plan to move into a house with 3+ rooms. I could easily make one of the rooms a rescue room. Does anyone have any idea how to go about this legally? I also wouldnt start it up until we had enough money to pay for spays/neuters, cages, food, ect, which i know might take a few months/years anyway. I just dont want happy little house bunnies to be “set free” and end up harmed or killed

[Azerane]

As far as I’m aware, if you want to start just saving rabbits from the streets or people who want to give them up you can just take them and help them out and then sell them on. As long as you’re not claiming to be an organisation or not for profit etc then in some areas I don’t think this matters. If you want to take donations however you need to register as a not for profit organisation, and potentially to get discounts on vet bills etc too. Then there’s also tax exemptions to consider that are possible when registered as a not for profit rescue etc.

Check out these articles that cover some of the basics: https://www.petfinder.com/animal-shelters-and-rescues/starting-a-pet-adoption-organization/setting-sanctuary/ and http://bestfriends.org/resources/how-start-animal-sanctuary

Starting a rescue is a huge undertaking, even just a small one. And you really have to be there 24/7 for the animals.

[Q8bunny]

In terms of the legalities involved, I think it would be helpful to mention where your shelter would be (because laws vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction).

[Mikey]

I am disabled due to mental health and some physical health, so being with them 24/7 wouldnt be too much of an issue. My mom and i, when i was younger, would rescue all sorts of animals (mostly rabbits and birds) in various conditions, rehab them, then release them, and i think this would be similar. But instead of releasing them, i would find them other/better homes In fantasy, i would take care of all of the homeless rabbits, but with my disabilities i think i would only be able to take a few at a time. Like i mentioned, a lot of this is still only in the thought process for me, but i think we really need a bunny rescue in the area and if no one else will do it, i want to try, if i can

I will read through the links, thank you! To start, the “shelter”/”rescue”** would have to be run from my home. If there are more bunnies than i could handle in a room together, in separate cages, then i would eventually look into possibly expanding and tking volunteers, but that wouldnt be for several years from now, where i would have to sign up as a non profit. It would all depend on money and when i start this. I likely wont until next year, and that would be at the absolute earliest, due to funds. But if i could help out, even a little bit, it would make me happy. And i know someone who would be willing to help me if i really need it: my boyfriends mom! She really loves rabbits and is thinking of getting one herself, but she wants to adopt one rather than getting one from a store. We all thought our local humane society housed rabbits, but they dont for whatever reasons and shes hesitant to drive a few hours out in case they dont have any rabbits she clicks with

I say “rescue” and “shelter” because it wouldnt be an organization at first, unless i found a lot of people in my area wanting to help out with the cause.

EDIT:

Hahah, im reading through the planning part of one of the links and “3. Be realistic.” made me laugh. Ugh, if only fantasy could be real!  I do still want to try this though, if i feel i can after drafting out a plan. I will start small, with only rescuing one or two bunnies, or an already bonded pair (there was a bonded pair at the petstore and i could not believe they split the pair up! the one who was left at the store was noticeably sad afterwards), at a time to test the waters and see what i will be able to do realistically and what i wont be able to do realistically. If it turns out that i cannot handle my bunny safe haven, i will atleast feel better knowing that i tried. I might also look into talking to cat/dog shelters in the area to see if they would consider looking at rabbits, then why and why not. Maybe i could talk an actual shelter into helping bunnies, too

[Q8bunny]

Sorry, Mikey. For a former lawyer I was unforgivably unclear. I meant that it might help future repliers to know if you’re in America, or Canada, or the UK, or Australia, etc. – laws governing animal care etc. vary from country to country and even among states/provinces/territories.

Legal ramifications aside, your “fantasy” sounds wonderful!

[Mikey]

Oh! I live in northern USA 

Thank you, i think it sounds wonderful too  Taking care of animals is one of the few things i can do and enjoy doing. But i also have to think about how much time will realistically go into each rabbit. Im not so sure my health would agree with me taking more than 2 or 3 (since i already have 3 at home i wouldnt want to neglect) at a time, which i wouldnt call much of a sanctuary. Im wondering if theres any way i could become a foster for rabbits, since its close to what i want to do anyway. But then i would still need to find a bunny rescue, and im not sure the one 2 to 3 hours away would be ok with me fostering buns so far from them…. Hmmmm

[Author]

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