The Smart Way to Choose a Rabbit
Are you considering adding a rabbit to your family? San Diego House Rabbit Society (SDHRS) recommends the following to help make adopting a new rabbit companion a breeze!
Examine Your Lifestyle and Expectations
Are you a quiet single or a busy family with children? How you live your life will affect the kind of home you offer to a new animal companion.
If you are very busy, with many children's activities or you work long hours, you should consider adopting a bonded pair of bunnies. Also keep in mind that the activity level of your rabbit will make a difference based on the amount of time you have to give. More active bunnies will tend to get into trouble more quickly if you do not pay enough attention to them or give them enough time outside of their cage or pen. Remember - sometimes opposites attract. Quieter and calmer rabbits are likely to do better around a more busy or "active" family with children. Those individuals or families with more time on their hands will have more interaction to give to a more active rabbit.
Are you hoping to be able to hold your bunny a lot? Most bunnies are not comfortable being held but we can point you toward bunnies who are more tolerant of holding and cuddling.
If your family is very busy, you should consider adopting a bonded pair of bunnies as they can keep each other company during those times you are not at home.
Personality is the key to a happy adoption. Let our adoption counselors help you find the bunny(s) with the right personality to match your family.
Get the Whole Family Involved
Choosing a new family companion is exciting! Start the process at home by polling all family members on their preferences, including physical characteristics that appeal to you, and what personality will best suit your home environment and family. Our Adoption Counselors will help you translate that information into a great match! If you have other pets at home, be sure to tell your counselor about them and how they live.
If you are looking for a companion for an existing bunny, it's best to set an appointment ahead of time so we can assist you in the selection and bonding process. Learn more about bonding bunnies at A Companion for Your Rabbit.
Learn All You Can Ahead of Time
Here at SDHRS, we've been rescuing rabbits and educating our community since 1992. We offer weekly House Rabbit Fundamental seminars where you can learn about basic bunny care, diet, litter box training, handling, and more. Learning more at these classes can help you anticipate and manage potential behavior issues by learning what's normal and how to work with bunny's behaviors.
The internet is also a great source of information on rabbit care. . Our website, contains a wealth of information for those thinking of adding a rabbit companion to their family.
At your local library, look for the book "House Rabbit Handbook: How to Live with an Urban Rabbit," by Marinell Harriman. Other good books about "house rabbits" are:
"A House Rabbit Primer: Understanding and Caring for Your Companion Rabbit," by Lucille C. Moore
"Living with a House Rabbit," by Linda Dykes and Helen Flack
"Rabbits for Dummies," by Connie Isbell
"Why Does My House Rabbit...?" by Anne McBride
When interacting with your potential rabbit companion, ask our Adoption Counselor about his/her personality, past life experiences (if known), and behavior. You'll need to know if the rabbit you would like to adopt is comfortable with dogs, cats, or small children. Personality is key to an successful adoption and we can help you choose wisely. Adoption counselors are happy to answer all of your questions. You can learn more on our website at Rabbit Care.
Be Prepared for Your New Rabbit's Arrival
Being prepared ahead of time is great; our adoption counselors can help you find everything you need for your new rabbit companion, at our online SDHRS Bunny Store. We have x-pens for housing, and everything your bunny needs to live in comfort. We stock the best and healthiest pelleted foods, litter box bedding, food & water bowls, litter boxes, toys, and more. You can be sure that you're setting up your bunny's new home with his/her comfort and health in mind. Before your adoption, you can pick up the basics for your bunny, with final items (food, litter box size) chosen after you adopt. Prices at our store are very competitive with pet stores, and isn't it great to support a store that helps abandoned bunnies? See more at SDHRS Bunny Supply Store.
