Foster a Rescued Rabbit (San Diego County)

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San Diego House Rabbit Society has a need for foster homes for rescued domestic rabbits. Rabbits are taken in from local shelters, to prevent them from euthanizing healthy, adoptable rabbits..

Here are our fostering guidelines:

Foster homes are people generally experienced in caring for rabbits, who have room in their home to house, exercise, socialize, and care for a foster rabbit until it becomes adopted. This is done in accordance with HRS guidelines for care, diet, and handling.

Requested minimum commitment is 6 months, but can last longer if the rabbit does not get adopted within that timeframe. It can also be less, if the rabbit is adopted sooner and the foster family wants to take a break or stop fostering.

Foster rabbits are required to be housed in a separate pen or cage from a fosterer's own rabbits. Each foster rabbit must get adequate run time every day, in a safe, bunny proofed environment. At least a few hours each day.

Foster rabbits are to live indoors, only. Preferably in an area of the home where they will get a lot of attention. This serves to socialize them in preparation for a new home.

All foster homes are evaluated in advance, for their suitability to caring for foster rabbits, based on the environment. For example, if you had an Akita dog, it would not be safe for a rabbit. Or, if you have young children, it might not be a good fit as you might not have enough time (rabbits are like 2 year olds themselves).

Homes are evaluated for suitability on a case by case basis, by working with the interested volunteer to get an idea of their experience and room for housing, and environment (safe from overactive dogs, predators, etc.), and ability to handle the work load. For example, if someone is disabled and cannot lift a litterbox, or pen, it might not be a good match for their abilities.

Foster homes must be able to transport their rabbits to and from the vet (using HRS' contracted vets for care) and to adoption days (only those days the bunny is needed) which usually take place on Saturdays and Sundays. HRS is able to work with you on transportation, often with another volunteer helping, if needed, but generally you are asked to provide transporation and having your own car or a friend to drive you is best in this case.

HRS provides the cage or pen for the rabbit, along with basic supplies (litterbox, water bowls, etc.) and boxed hay. Foster homes provide fresh greens and pellets (usually Oxbow Bunny Basics T, unless the rabbit is younger, then a high quality alfalfa pellet). We also provide vet care, at our contracted vets (only). HRS chapter manager follows all rabbit medical cases and makes decisions on level of care provided, in concert with the foster home. Unless a life and death emergency, foster homes must contact chapter manager before making any vet appointments for foster rabbits.

Foster homes are required to bring bunny to adoption days, as needed so they can have a chance at being adopted. We can help with transportation on these days, if needed. The adoptions director does all adoption screenings and determines which rabbits are needed at adoption days. Foster homes will advise the adoptions director on the temperament of their rabbit and suitability for particular home types (i.e., good with children, cats, etc.) It is also helpful if foster homes can provide photographs of their foster rabbits, for the website, but another volunteer can come by to do that if needed.

Rabbits are placed with foster homes, usually based on their capabilities or willingness to take certain types of rabbits. Some foster homes are good at medical issues, some need easier 'first time' bunnies, and some are great with behavioral issues. The chapter manager is responsible for taking rabbits from shelters and assigning them to foster homes. Any rabbit taken out by the foster home, without prior written permission of the chapter manager, becomes personal property of that individual - not HRS (that's an important one to know).

Foster homes begin with only one or two rabbits. Later, if they have become comfortable with the process and have room to take more, additional rabbits may be allotted to them for care.

If you can foster a rabbit -- or two -- please contact us for more information at hrs@sandiegorabbits.org .

This opportunity is for residents throughout San Diego County.