Adoption Process
San Diego House Rabbit Society (SDHRS) adopts to an individual who is 21 or older. Our guideline is that an adult must be the primary caretaker of the rabbit. We require our adopted rabbits to be housed inside as indoor family companions and with the emergence of RHDV2 the rabbits should have no outdoor playtime, even when vaccinated.
Due to restrictions with RHDV2 and the need for disease and parasite control for the health and safety of our staff, volunteers and customers, the SDHRS facility is closed to the public. All adoptions are done online.
Requirements: Potential adopters must be screened in advance of adopting in order to best match them with rabbits who are appropriate for their home and family. Due to challenges brought on by COVID-19 and the emergence of Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus 2 (RHDV2), adoptions are by appointment only and virtual.
How to Adopt
View our adoptable rabbits
Complete our online Adopter Application
Take the self-guided House Rabbit Fundamentals lesson.
Following the class, you will be asked to take a quiz with questions related to the material that was covered in the House Rabbit Fundamentals Seminar.
Once we receive your quiz, a SDHRS Counselor will reach out to you to schedule a zoom meeting/interview. Please do not purchase anything prior to your meeting with your counselor.
If you would like to visit a rabbit in the shelter, the visit will happen by appointment only and after your appointment with the adoption counselor and before you get your rabbit rabbit for adoption.
Get your home ready for a rabbit
You will finalize your adoption by completing our Adoption Agreement via text or email, and paying the adoption donation.
Schedule an appointment time with you to take your rabbit home!
**Please note, you will do a store-side pick up of your rabbit from our front window. Please bring a carrier, or you can purchase one from our SDHRS Bunny Store.
How SDHRS finds a friend for your rabbit
With RHDV2 precautions in place, we have developed a new system for bonding bunnies safely at our facility: First, your rabbits must be spayed or neutered for at least one month prior, must be vaccinated for RHDV2 at least 18 days prior, and must be kept indoors 100% of the time.
We will schedule a time for you to drop off your rabbit at SDHRS for the day, during which time our bonding specialists will do a series of bunny speed dates to work on socialization and to determine which of our adoptable bunnies your rabbit likes best (we can start with the bunnies of your choice). Day dates are 10:30am drop off and 5:00pm pick up.
We will continue with these day-dates (depending on the counselor’s availability) for as long as needed for your rabbit to become comfortable around another rabbit.
Once we have determined which pairing seems the most promising, we can schedule a time for your rabbit to stay at SDHRS for at least two weeks, to work on bonding dates with them each day and house them in side-by-side pens. During this time we will give you updates and we can do zoom meetings so that you can see their progress in real time.
At the end of the two weeks we will send the bunnies home with you to continue the bonding process, or you can opt to keep them at the shelter longer to further cement the bond. We will give you instructions for how to continue the bonding process at home, and will be available for guidance throughout the process.
The fee for boarding is $27/day.
Adoption Fees
Our adoption process requires all potential adopters to complete an adoption application, take a House Rabbit Fundamentals class that will include a quiz, meet with an Adoption Counselor and pay an adoption fee . Applications must have been received in order to get an adoption appointment with an adoption counselor.
Adoption Fees:
Single Rabbit - $85
Bonded Pair - $135
Adoption fees Include:
Spayed or neutered, litter box trained rabbit(s) (spay/neuter value up to $800.00)
Microchip - free lifetime registration
Vaccinated against Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV) (value up to $125.00)
Certificate for FREE "well bunny" vet checkup (with participating vets; approx value $60-$100)
A lifetime of support and education to help you care for your new rabbit companion
Adoption Articles
Whether you’re preparing for a rabbit, bringing a bunny home or considering a friend for your rabbit, these helpful articles will guide you along the way.
Welcoming Bunny Home
Welcoming Bunny Home: Rabbits usually prefer a safe area they can call their own, where they can go and not feel exposed or vulnerable.
Guidelines for Adoption
Guidelines for Adoption: Our minimum requirements for adopting a rabbit from SDHRS.
Before You Adopt a Rabbit, Consider This
Before you Adopt a Rabbit: Please make a list of questions you have regarding the care and handling of rabbits. Make sure all your questions are answered by knowledgeable rabbit care volunteers (shelter or rabbit rescue) prior to adopting your rabbit.
The Smart Way to Choose a Rabbit
The smart way to choose a rabbit: Are you considering adding a rabbit to your family? Here are a few things SDHRS recommends to help make adopting a new rabbit companion a breeze!
Adopt From a Rescue or Shelter
Adopt from a rescue or shelter: There are so many homeless bunnies in shelters and rescues waiting for their forever home.
Finding a Friend for Your Rabbit
Finding A Friend for Your Rabbit: Rabbits are naturally social animals, and usually do best with a rabbit friend. The process of finding a partner for your rabbit can take time and patience.
Rehoming Your Rabbit
Rehoming Your Rabbit: SDHRS will take back the rabbits we have adopted out. Outside of that, 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.
Are You Right For a Rabbit?
Are you right for a rabbit? Take closer look at rabbit behaviors and get to know why these quiet communicators do what they do.
I Adopted a Rabbit: Now What?
I adopted a rabbit: Now What? Set your rabbit up for success. Preparing your space for bunny ahead of time will help you navigate that transition.
JOIN THE SDHRS ONLINE LEARNING LIBRARY
The Online Learning Library of SDHRS is designed to meet the needs of rabbit owners and caregivers who look to SDHRS for the latest information on evidence-based rabbit care and services - including sessions on megacolon, bonding, up-to-date information on RHDV2, and liver lobe torsion. Click the button below to learn more about our free and subscription-based memberships.