Adoption Process

What is the Adoption Process?

Rabbit Advocates is committed to rescuing homeless and abandoned domestic rabbits, and helping them find excellent forever homes. Because these rabbits live with foster providers as members of the family, foster providers can offer helpful information about the rabbit’s personality, favorite foods, housing needs, bunny-proofing tips, and any other questions applicants may have. All Rabbit Advocates bunnies are spayed/neutered prior to adoption.

Step 1: Submit an Adoption Application. Let us know if you have a specific bunny or bonded pair in mind, or the Adoption Team can help you find a good match from our pool of current and soon-to-be adoptable bunnies. We aim to reply to all adoption applications within 72 hours of receipt. If you have questions, please email the Adoption Team at adoptions@rabbitadvocates.org. *** Please check your email’s spam folder if you have not received a reply.***

Step 2: Speak with the Adoption Team. Once our Adoption Team receives your application, an Adoption Counselor will reach out to schedule a 30-minute phone conversation to learn more about you and what you are looking for in a pet rabbit. Everyone at Rabbit Advocates is a volunteer and we do our best to respond to applications within 72 hours.

Step 3: Get ready to meet bunnies. If your application is approved, the Adoption Team will share your application with the rabbit’s foster providers. Some rabbit may not be able to do meetups or “dates” until their hormones have fully subsided following their spay/neuter. Foster Providers will contact you to set up a time to visit the foster rabbit(s) in their care.

Step 4: Meet bunnies and their foster providers. First meetups may be done virtually via video chat. In-person meetups must be held in keeping with the latest COVID-19 guidelines, including any Adoption Outreach Events as listed on our Events Calendar. It is important to meet bunnies prior to making a 10+ year commitment!

Step 5: Adopt! Once you find the perfect rabbit(s) for your home, the Adoption Team will send you information on how to complete the adoption contract adoption. Adoption fee: $50 for a single rabbit, and $75 for a bonded pair.

Step 6: Adore your new rabbit(s) and keep in touch. We love to hear how former Rabbit Advocates rabbits are doing. We invite adopters to follow and tag Rabbit Advocates on social media, send in updates via email, and write articles for our newsletter!

Adoption Standards

All prospective adopters, including active Foster Providers, must submit an official adoption application and receive approval to adopt from Rabbit Advocates.

All adoption applicants are screened by our Adoption Counselors, who contact the applicants to discuss house rabbit care and the Rabbit Advocates adoption process. The Adoption Counselor will then send approved applications to the Foster Providers.

All rabbits are adopted to indoor homes ONLY.

All bunnies must be spayed/neutered for at least one month prior to initiating the dating and bonding process. Bunnies looking for a bond-mate must be vaccinated against RHDV2 at least 2 weeks prior to going on dates and attending adoption events.

To bring a bunny to date foster bunnies at our Adoption Outreach Events, prospective adopters must have an approved application on file and sign up in advance with their Adoption Counselor.

All adopters must complete a home visit prior to adoption which can be completed virtually via video chat to confirm that the applicant’s bunny housing plan is well-suited for a particular rabbit or pair. Prior to COVID-19, home visits were conducted in-person.

All adopters must complete a Rabbit Advocates Adoption Contract and pay an adoption fee of $50 for a single rabbit or $75 for a bonded pair. Adoption fees are non-refundable.

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