Local nonprofit works to rescue domestic rabbits

HUNTSVILLE – Huntsville House Rabbits rescues, fosters and adopts house rabbits who have been abandoned by owners.

“Huntsville House Rabbits is a nonprofit, volunteer-run and foster-based domestic rabbit rescue based in the Huntsville and Madison areas of Alabama,” said Huntsville House Rabbits Lead Rescue Organizer Ashley Hunt. “We rescue domestic rabbits in need, often from abandonment situations, offer adoptions for rehabilitated rabbits into good homes, support pet rabbit owners locally and help to educate and promote good care for domestic pet rabbits. While we do not have a building location, we have a network of wonderful fosters who are the backbone of our rescue.”

Hunt said that Huntsville House Rabbits operates from a team of volunteers who help with everything from rescuing rabbits to fostering them while organizers work to find them a permanent home.

“Our rescue has a small team of friends who serve as rescue organizers and help with planning, events, adoptions and foster support,” she said. “We have a larger group of community members who have adopted from us, foster for us or volunteer with us to help catch the rabbits in need or support rescue events and tasks.”

While some may think it is ok for pet rabbits to live outside or that if someone is no longer able to care for their pet rabbit, they can release it outside, Hunt said this is not true and that rabbits must live indoors.

“Domestic rabbits have very few resources nationally, especially in the southern states, and almost no legal protection,” she said. “Additionally, a lot of misinformation exists about their care. For example, many people do not realize how intelligent rabbits are, or that they live 10-12 years with good care. Many think that outdoor housing or a cage is fine, when in fact rabbits need an indoor living situation with enough space to move and exercise properly. They bond closely with their people. Our rescue hopes to reduce animal abandonment and mistreatment through education.” Hunt said there is an issue with people releasing domesticated rabbits outside, where they will not survive.

“Most of our rabbit intakes come from abandonment situations,” she said. “Sadly, due to carelessness, lack of research or the misconception that domestic rabbits can survive in the wild, many people illegally abandon pet rabbits outside, where they perish if they are not rescued. Many people do not realize rabbits are the third most abandoned pet in North America.”

While many see rabbits as an easy beginner pet for children, Hunt said that they require medical care as well as dedicated owners.

“Many people buy a rabbit from a breeder or pet store on impulse, believing that they are simple, easy pets or suitable starter pets for a child, not realizing the level of care they actually need,” she said. “We find that many people who have purchased a rabbit or want one, have incorrect or no education about rabbit care. Rabbits need an exotic veterinarian, and those wanting a rabbit should consider the expense, space needed and that they live 10-12 years. We hope that education and other opportunities, like fostering, will make an impact to reduce the level of abandonment.”

When a rabbit is found abandoned, community members can contact Huntsville House Rabbits, and rescuers will retrieve the rabbit, place it in a foster home and ensure it receives medical care.

“We make sure the fosters know what to look for, how to care for the bunny and that questions are very welcome,” she said. “We provide supplies and cover the veterinary costs. Each rabbit is spayed or neutered in our care and also vaccinated against RHDV2 (Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease – Variant #2). We also do regular health checkups and check-ins with our fosters and support our rabbits for life, even after adoption.”

Those interested in supporting Huntsville House Rabbits can donate, volunteer or foster rescued rabbits. Follow Huntsville House Rabbits on Facebook or visit www.huntsvillehouserabbits. com for more information.

“Do your research,” said Hunt. “Come by our monthly Bunny Basics and learn first. We’ll happily tell you what you need to know and help with any questions you have. We have a wonderful Bunny 101 writeup as well as a recommended supplies sheet and ‘What to Know Before Getting a Bunny’ sheet on our website.”