Rehoming a rabbit

[Cinnabunn the bunny]

I rescued two bunns a week ago and am getting them fixed on tuesday. After they heal I plan on finding them a forever home. I would like to know if any of you have any experience adopting out rabbits and if so what I should look for in applicants. Right now I am planning on interviewing each applicant to ask them questions about bunny health, behavior, grooming, housing, diet, etc. After i’m satisfied I plan on having them show me where they will be keeping the rabbits. Is this too much? I just want to find them the right home.

[Muchelle]

Not an expert but I’d go for families that will not keep the bun stuck in a cage or in the yard (so at least one room bunny-proofed) and with no young kids or dogs that are small-animal hunting breeds (basset hounds, hounds in general, beagles, etc)

[tobyluv]

It’s a very good idea to make sure any applicants know all about bunny care and their behavior. It’s not just the proper care that they need, but people need to be aware of their nature – the chewing, which requires bunny proofing, the fact that most hate to be held, so they are not the pet to have if someone is looking for a cuddler, etc.  So many people don’t realize this, which is why so many rabbits get discarded. Ideally, the applicants would have had rabbits in the past and know about them, but anyone else should be willing to learn and be prepared to give them the care that they deserve. If people have never had rabbits before, make sure that they or other family members aren’t allergic to hay or to the rabbits themselves. I volunteer at a rabbit sanctuary and one of the reasons given for people that want us to take their rabbit is that they realized someone in their family is allergic. Make sure that they are aware that rabbits are considered exotics and that they need a rabbit savvy vet and that they are prepared for any vet costs that may occur.

I think it’s a good idea to visit an applicant’s house and see how and where the rabbit will be housed.  The applicant may not have the equipment yet, if they have never had rabbits, such as an x-pen, cage, dog crate, but you can still hopefully get an idea of how they will live and you can tell them about the various ways to house  rabbit.

Many rescue groups make the adoptive parents sign a form saying if it doesn’t work out, that they will bring the rabbit(s) back, instead of taking them to a shelter or giving them away. I don’t know if you would be prepared to take them back, but if so, you may want to let it be known that the people should do that.

[Cinnabunn the bunny]

I know! bunnys are such sassy jerks!!! I get bit by my bunns so many times because they get upset at me when I groom them or when they don’t have their way. Also, in just two years my bunns have racked up over $2000 in property damage from replaces cordes and electronics, carpet, walls, and other things they’ve destroyed even though im pretty good at bunny proofing and watching them. most recently they have found it amusing to chew on the cord protectors so even those only temporarily distract my bunns from biting my cords!

Yes, I would be willing to take them back as I care for them and have invested so much into having them find a good home (over $700 in just a week!!!).

How much do you think I should charge? most organizations in my area do $45.

[Author]

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