rescue centres: a brief outline of how they operate

There are rabbit rescue centres up and down the country full of unwanted, neglected, abandoned or mistreated rabbits desperate for a new, loving home.

These rabbits have had a bad start to life, and the centres need to be certain that the rabbits will be happy in their new home. After establishing that you know the responsibility you are taking on, and what is required to raise a happy healthy bunny, most will ask to visit your home to check everything is in order before releasing a rabbit.

The rabbits will normally be neutered or spayed and will have had a full health check, and therefore be ready to be toilet trained and integrated into your home.

Not all rescue rabbits are older bunnies, they also often receive pregnant does, and end up with lots of babies should your heart be set on one.

bonding

Rabbits are far happier in pairs, but bonding rabbits is often far from easy. It is very rare for two rabbits to instantly accept each other, it usually takes a lot of time and patience, with them living in separate hutches, next to each other. Quite often they will not bond and you are left with two lonely rabbits.

Fortunately many of the rabbits in rescue centres are already bonded. Should you have a rabbit and want a friend for them, they will try to bond your rabbit with one of theirs. They may do this at your home or at the rescue centre.