Rehoming Your Rabbit
If you adopted your rabbit from San Diego House Rabbit Society (SDHRS) originally, and can no longer keep him/her, please contact us at 858-565-2869 or email us at hrs@sandiegorabbits.org. We will schedule a return appointment with you. Let us know if there is a way we can help you problem-solve to keep your rabbit(s). Our adoption agreement requires rabbits to be returned to SDHRS if you cannot keep them.
SDHRS does not take owner-relinquished or "found" rabbits, but works with local shelters and humane societies to aid them in finding homes for rabbits in their care. There is an overwhelming number of abandoned rabbits, therefore SDHRS works closely with area shelters to prevent them from euthanizing rabbits due to overcrowding, or inability to care for special medical or behavioral issues. Our few foster homes are always full with rabbits coming from shelters.
With our help, the shelters have good adoption programs for rabbits and do find them homes. By turning the rabbit into your local shelter, SDHRS can then help it through our shelter-support programs.
If you do not want to take the rabbit to a shelter, your next option is to house the rabbit yourself (or board them) and advertise until you find the right home. There are groups like the San Diego Indoor Rabbit Community on Facebook, you can talk with friends, coworkers, and family to see if they want a rabbit or ask if they can help spread the word. It is possible to find good homes for rabbits, but it takes time, commitment and strategy.
There are two steps to finding homes for rabbits. The first is to prepare the rabbit for adoption. This includes spaying or neutering, litter box training, socializing, and learning bunny's health status and personality. The second step is to aggressively seek an ideal home by advertising and screening callers for suitability.
Spaying or neutering makes a rabbit calmer and easier to litter box train, and thus improves the chance of being adopted as an indoor companion. It also insures that no more unwanted rabbits will be produced after the rabbit leaves your home.
Litter box training is achieved by fastening a litter box to the side of the cage in the corner the rabbit uses as a bathroom. Once bunny is using the box, try him in a safe, bunny-proofed room with one or more litter boxes. ("Bunny-proofed” means a place where items that rabbits find tempting to chew, such as house plants and telephone and electrical cords, have been placed out of reach). In a matter of days, a neutered rabbit can be advertised as "house-trained."
The more attention you give your bunny, the more she will show off for prospective adopters. Petting the rabbit (most prefer the top of the head) will teach them to look for affection from humans. Follow up on any health problems with a trip to the vet, so you can tell the new owner what to expect.
When placing ads, state your rabbit's strong points: "neutered," "house-trained," "affectionate," friendly." Asking a minimum $25 fee in the ad excludes callers wanting a free meal for their pet reptiles. People willing to commit to owning a rabbit will gladly pay an adoption fee.
To screen people who answer your ad, imagine what kind of home you want for your rabbit, and then stick to your ideal. Engage the caller in a conversation about their past pets to find out what they're looking for in a pet. Explain that you are asking questions because you want the new owner and the rabbit to be happy. Present a realistic picture of what rabbits are like. If you feel the home is not suitable, make an excuse. Politely tell the caller that your rabbit doesn't do well with children, isn't used to hutch-living, is scared of dogs, or other reasons. Also, use our guideline "Before You Adopt" to formulate questions to ask prospective adopters, when screening for new homes for your rabbit.
At SDHRS, we look for indoor homes for our rabbits, so that they will enjoy lives that are both safe and social. The rabbit has an enclosed home (cage or x-pen) but is allowed some supervised freedom daily. How soon a rabbit becomes an un-penned roommate depends on how bunny-proofed the home is, and on the maturity and personality of the rabbit. The more involved the owner is, the more freedom the rabbit will be given. Another SDHRS criteria is that an adult, not a child, be the rabbit's primary care-giver.
NEVER release your rabbit into the “wild”.
We hope you have success in placing your rabbit.
If you are located in San Diego County, you can take your rabbit to one of the following shelters or humane societies who have rabbit adoption programs. Call ahead to be sure they have room.
However, as stated above, the best - and safest - place for your rabbit is is at home, with you.
Below is a list of the San Diego Shelters who have rabbit programs. You can also visit our directory to view shelter locations as well.
Humane Society of Imperial County
Coronado Animal Shelter (PAWS of Coronado)
County of San Diego, Department of Animal Services
Chula Vista Animal Care Facility
San Diego House Rabbit Society has a waitlist, however this does not guarantee that we will be able to take your rabbit. Our list is long and we prioritize those rabbits who are in the shelter system.
Other resources to use to rehome your rabbit:
