Frequently Asked Questions about Fostering

Why foster a bunny?

It’s amazing to watch a rescued rabbit blossom in your care. Foster providers learn a lot about bunny personalities, behavior, and health, and they join a community of rescue-minded people. It’s rewarding to save a life! Also, bunnies are really, really cute and fun and Rabbit Advocates tries very hard to find a good “foster fit” for each foster family.

How are foster home certifications being done in since the COVID-19 pandemic?

Rabbit Advocates continues to actively rescue new bunnies, certify new foster homes, and find fantastic adoptive homes for rabbits. “Home visits” are being conducted virtually using video chat platforms like Zoom and FaceTime.

What is the time commitment?

Once you become a foster parent, we ask that you foster for at least 6 months. We try to minimize the amount of transition rescued rabbits experience. Foster rabbit stays range a from a few weeks, months to more, depending on the situation. We try to match our foster rabbits with foster parents based on the individual needs of the rabbit and the experience, preference and availability of our foster parents. Depending on the age, size, and health status of a particular rabbit, the length of time between a foster bunny’s spay/neuter and adoption ranges from 1 -12 months on average.

What if I’ve never cared for an indoor pet rabbit before?

If you are new to rabbit care, you still can be a foster provider. Our Foster Team will be happy to help you! We will help you connect with experienced rabbit foster homes and other Rabbit Advocates volunteers to help you become more confident.

Who pays for the foster bunny’s medical care?

Foster bunnies at Rabbit Advocates are effectively enrolled in a “Bunny HMO” managed by our Medical Team Lead who schedules all medical appointments and procedures, and assures that approved veterinary expenditures are paid for by the organization. Most new bunnies entering foster care are not yet spayed/neutered and need to be stabilized before and after surgery as part of their rehabilitation.

Can foster providers adopt their own foster bunnies?

Many Rabbit Advocates adopters started out as foster providers! Foster providers are welcome to apply to adopt their own foster rabbits. Like all adopters, foster providers must complete all the steps of the adoption process, including submitting an adoption application and paying the adoption fee. There is no such thing as “foster failure” when a rescued rabbit finds a fantastic forever home.

Are foster providers involved in the adoption process?

Yes! Foster providers play an integral role in finding the right adoptive fit for their foster bunnies. Foster providers review the applications for approved applicants, reach out to applicants, schedule virtual and in-person meetups, and work closely with the Adoption Team to find the best forever fit for their foster bunny.

Can I be a short-term foster?

Rabbit Advocates requests that all new foster providers commit to at least 6 months of fostering with the organization. There are limited opportunities for volunteers to offer foster bunny-sitting on an ongoing basis to provide short-term care for bunnies whose foster providers are out of town or have an emergency. We also need “garage quarantine” locations for new rescues for 1+ month stays. If you’re interested in becoming a certified bunny-sitter for foster bunnies or providing “garage quarantine” spaces for newly-rescued rabbits, please submit a foster application and indicate your preference.

What kind of housing do you recommend?

Single rabbits need to have access to minimum of 16 square feet of space at all times, plus at least 3 hours per day of free-roam time indoors in a bunny-proofed space. Bonded pairs need to have access to at least 20 square feet of space at all times, plus at least 3 hours per day of free-roam time indoors in a bunny-proofed space. There is a lot of inspiration for indoor bunny “habitats” on sites like Pinterest. Most cages, crates, condos, and indoor hutches are too small. Many people use an exercise pen that is at least 4ft by 4ft and a minimum of 30 inches high.

Do you have supplies for foster providers?

Certified foster providers with foster rabbits receive a voucher for one free 10-pound box of Bunny’s Best Bites Hay per foster bunny per month. Vouchers are redeemable through the organization’s network of volunteer home hay sellers. Rabbit Advocates can provide loaner supplies to certified foster providers including exercise pens, pet carriers, and litter boxes. All borrowed items must be returned to Rabbit Advocates when the foster provider is no longer caring for a foster bunny. Rabbit Advocates provides an initial '“starter pack” of recommended pellets and bedding, but cannot supply these items on an ongoing basis.

Can I foster if I have other pets?

Yes, though it is best to keep your foster rabbits physically separated from your own pets (preferably in a different room), at least initially. Many rabbits are afraid of cats and/or dogs. A foster provider’s own rabbits, cats, and dogs must be spayed/neutered prior to fostering with Rabbit Advocates to decrease the likelihood of dangerous aggression and, in the case of rabbits, to avoid accidental litters. We will transfer foster rabbits to new foster homes if they appear to be fearful of the pets in their foster home.

How many rabbits may I foster at the same time?

To fully enjoy your fostering experience and ensure your foster rabbits enjoy it as well, we recommend that you foster no more than 3 rabbits at a time, even if you have significant rabbit experience. Mama bunnies with young litters are an exception since they must be kept together for the first 8 weeks. We encourage everyone to start with a modest commitment, especially if their time, space, or financial resources are limited. To promote the highest quality of care, protect the rabbits’ health, and prevent safety issues from occurring, homes with Rabbit Advocates foster bunnies in their care may not foster rabbits with other organizations at the same time.

Can I rehome my own bunny through Rabbit Advocates?

Rabbit Advocates has an Adoption Assistance program that can help a limited number of owners seeking to re-home their own spayed/neutered rabbits and find them new adoptive homes. Because Rabbit Advocates is an all-volunteer organization and screening prospective applicants is a resource-intensive process, there is a limit on the number of “Adoption Assistance” bunnies we can accept into our program.

Where do your bunnies come from?

Many of our bunnies were found in parks, neighborhoods, schoolyards, or shopping areas in the greater Portland, Oregon area and reported to the Rescue & Foster Teams at Rabbit Advocates. As domesticated animals, they are not safe living outdoors. Some of our bunnies were born into our care after their mothers were rescued. Other bunnies are surrendered by their owners who were facing difficult or emergency situations. Abandoning pets is a crime, but a sadly common phenomenon. Rabbit Advocates partners with county shelters and other animal rescues to find safe indoor homes for as many bunnies as we can.