Adoption Procedures

To adopt a rabbit from the MD/DC/NoVA HRS:

Please review HRS Adoption Policies carefully.
All of our foster rabbits are spayed and neutered before adoption.
All rabbits are to be HOUSE RABBITS only–no exceptions!
Home visits are required.
$110 adoption fee for a single rabbit for members, $130 for nonmembers ($20 sent in for HRS membership).
$180 adoption fee for a pair of rabbits for members, $200 for nonmembers
The fee covers the daily care of our foster rabbits as well as the cost of spaying and neutering, microchipping, and the RHDV2 vaccine. You will also receive a year's membership to both the national House Rabbit Society organization and our chapter.
We do not adopt rabbits to schools or individuals who plan to keep them in school classrooms. Why? Please read this and this.
Other rabbits in your household must be spayed or neutered (see Matchmaking)–check vet referral list for a good rabbit vet near you or feel free to contact any of the fosterers below.
Adoptions to LOCAL area only (MD, DC, Northern VA). Ask us for info about an HRS chapter near you, or check HRS Chapters.
Do not have your children contact us. If you are interested in adopting a rabbit, an adult family member must be the person who calls or emails.

Please feel free to ask us for more information if you have any questions about adopting from the HRS.

You can contact us by email at rabbitinfo@rabbitsinthehouse.org. If you prefer to use the phone, the phone number is 410-889-4104

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. If a cage is used, it must be at least 2 feet by 3 feet in size and it is preferred that it be larger.

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.