How to Assist the Animal Shelter in Adopting Rabbits to Good Homes

I volunteer extensively at Contra Costa County Animal Services and work with the shelter, rescues, volunteers, fosters and the public to find good homes for the rabbits in the care of the shelter.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Good people skills
• Ability to say "no"
• Ability to ask numerous questions of potential adopters
• Willingness to understand the limitations of the shelter, rescues and fosters
• Ability to compromise, or find a workable solution.

1. Volunteer regularly at your local shelter and learn the practices of the shelter. Get to know the people who care for the rabbits and those who are "your boss" (volunteer coordinator, shelter manager, Rescue coordinator)

2. Talk with the local rescue, volunteers and employees of the shelter. Establish your credibility.. Follow the rules and guidelines of the shelter! realize that all shelters are under different constraints then rescues and often, there is a limit to the number of rabbits held.

3. Be consistent with your volunteering. Teach other staff and volunteers about house rabbits and the pros and cons of having them outside. Discuss the need to protect a rabbit, if they are to be an outside rabbit. They can then tell the public what they have learned. The fact is, people will put rabbits in an abusive hutch outside, "just because".

4. Set up a network of fosters, adopters and helpers. We have a network that can absorb many rabbits due for euthanization. Rescues are best contacted when all other resources are exhausted.

5. Typically, if the shelter knows you are doing all you can do to prevent euthanization and move rabbits out of the shelter AND you work at understanding the limitations of the shelter, the shelter will often work extra to hold rabbits for events or hold them longer if possible.

6. If this isn't already done, work with the shelter to:
   1. Increase the adoption fee, to avoid rabbits being used for food and torture.
   2. Convince the "powers that be" that all rabbits need to be spay or neutered prior to leaving the shelter, to avoid babies.

Tips & Warnings

• Set up mobile adoptions for every weekend.
• Get your local rescues involved, to assist you in working to implement changes.
• Use common sense and realize that often, not every rabbit can be saved, no mater how hard you try. Remember quality vs. quantity and get a second opinion.
• Exercise the rabbits on a regular basis to keep them social.
• Work within your limits and always take the assistance offered by others.
• Do not deviate from the practices and procedures of your shelter. The main important thing is to gain trust and credibility.

[martielownberry]

on 8/25/2009 great article. I was a foster parent for a couple of rabbits a few years ago and I love it!