HOUSE RABBIT SOCIETY ---- Maryland,
Washington DC, and Northern Virginia Chapter
HRS ADOPTION POLICIES
Primary Caregiver.
When a rabbit is adopted from HRS, the primary caregiver
must be a responsible adult. The rabbit should be treated as an integral
part of the family, i.e., no group ownership (such as a classroom pet). We
do NOT
adopt rabbits as pets for children. The rabbit must be wanted by the entire
family.
Indoor Housing. Adopters of HRS
rabbits must understand that our rabbits are to live as household companions.
This means that they must have
their primary
living space indoors, and must spend every night indoors. During
the daytime, adopters can allow their rabbits outdoor daytime exercise.
If this is the case,
the rabbit must be provided with an area with secure fencing, and
adequate supervision. Fosterers may require additional safety precautions
appropriate
to their locale.
Social Requirements.
If the rabbit is going to be alone (i.e. without
the company of people, a cat or other
household pets) for the majority of the time, then
we recommend that the adopter adopt a
second rabbit as a companion to the first.
Neutering.
Sexually immature
rabbits of mixed sexes can be adopted together as long as
the adopter agrees to separate them when the
males are 3 1/2 months
old and to neuter them as soon as the
testicles have descended (usually around 4 months). Except for medical
reasons, females are to be spayed
within 30 days
of reaching 6 months old. These same
requirements exist
even when an adopter has only adopted
a single immature rabbit. Even when the
rabbit will live alone,
spaying and neutering after sexual
maturity is still required.
Returns.
If there are such problems
with the adopted rabbit
that the adopter needs
to return
the rabbit,
we ask that you
give
the chapter some advance
notice. Some common sense
and courtesy is expected. Once an animal is adopted
from HRS, the space
vacated is usually
filled
within
a week. A return requires
two preparations: a space
must be opened by a new adoption, and another rabbit
must be "bumped" from
the rescue list at the
animal shelter. Nevertheless,
all
rabbits adopted
from
this chapter must
be returned to this chapter
in case of insurmountable
problems.
Exchanges.
HRS does not exchange
animals. Exceptions
may be made when:
The fosterer and adopter
are working together
on making
a match between
an adoptee and a pre-residing
rabbit AND
In the fosterer's judgment,
a different match
would be less stressful to
the
animals.
Adoption
fees.
HRS
adoption fees are donations
that cannot
be refunded.
We are a federally
recognized tax-exempt,
non-profit organization.
Donations made
to us are no more refundable than they are to any other public
charity.
