How to Find a Home for a Rabbit

There may come a time when you find an abandoned rabbit that used to belong to someone. And since domestic rabbits have a hard time surviving out on their own—the rabbit will need to be rescued. Let’s say you decide to do a good deed and rescue the rabbit—then what? Here are ways to find a home for a rescued rabbit.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Search Petfinder.com, your local Craigslist and local newspaper to see if anyone has placed an ad for a lost rabbit in your vicinity. Sometimes, pet rabbits just get away.

2. Put signs up in your neighborhood titled “Found Rabbit” in visible letters. If there is a response, make sure to verify that they are, indeed, the owners. Ask them to describe the rabbit.

3. Place a free ad in the “lost and found” sections of Petfinder and Craigslist describing the rabbit, just in case his family is looking for him.

4. If there is no response, place free ads (including a photo of the rabbit) on Craigslist, Petfinder.com and AdoptaPet.com. They all require that you charge an adoption fee to deter unscrupulous adopters. Petfinder will allow you to list an ad in their classified section and Adopt a Pet won’t let an individual list a pet up for adoption, so you will need to contact a local shelter or rescue group and see if they will list your rabbit under their name. Most will be glad to. There are also rescues specifically for rabbits. If there is a rabbit rescue in your area, contact them first.

5. Place an ad in your local newspaper’s pet section. Be sure to charge an adoption fee and make sure to screen any potential adopters to ensure the rabbit is going to a safe home.

6. Place flyers with the rabbit's picture at veterinarian’s offices, pet supply stores and on other community bulletin boards that feature pets up for adoption.

7. If you have no luck finding a home for the rabbit, contact a local rabbit rescue and see if they have any suggestions. Rescues are normally too full to take on more pets, but you never know what type of advice they'll be able to offer. Also contact any no-kill shelters in your area and see if they can take your rabbit or have another alternative. As a last resort, take the rabbit to a city or county shelter, but keep in mind they will euthanize the rabbit if the rabbit isn't adopted within a certain amount of time. A shelter, however, is safer than the streets, and at least the rabbit will have somewhat of a chance.

Tips & Warnings

• Petfinder and Craigslist are becoming increasingly popular websites to search for lost pets, as well as look for pets to adopt. Both websites are national, but you can search for pets, as well as list a pet within your own area.
• Domestic rabbits normally don’t run very far from wherever they got loose.
• Never place an ad that says “free to a good home.” There are unscrupulous people who might want a free pet to use as prey for another animal, sell to a lab for experiments or subject to some other kind of danger.
• Certain city and county shelters will euthanize a rabbit immediately if they lack space or resources.

Resources

• Craigslist
• Petfinder.com
• AdoptaPet.com

[lastgunslinger]

on 2/12/2009 Found an abandoned rabbit once, wasn't too hard to find a home for it. Actually, my neighbor wanted one, so it was really easy. Thanks for posting the advice! This could come in handy for someone who isn't quite as lucky. 5*