Adoption Policy and Procedure

The House Rabbit Network only adopts to good indoor homes that are willing to provide vet care. All animals in the home must be fixed, with some medical exceptions (let us know if this is the case).

If you are interested in adopting a rabbit or two, the normal procedure is as follows:

  1. Fill out an adoption application. Please allow 3 days for someone to call you about the application.
    (Note: You must be at least 21 years old to adopt. If you are applying to adopt because a person under the age of 21 in your household/family would like a rabbit, you agree to assume all financial, medical, and housing care responsibilities for the rabbit. The rabbit really needs to be a family pet in these circumstances.)
  2. A volunteer will send you an email with an info packet and to schedule a phone interview. This is nothing to be afraid of! Basically, we have a conversation where we discuss what it’s like to share your home with a bunny. We want to make sure you understand how to properly care for your bunny and all aspects of the commitment that you will be making. Let’s face it: If you adopt a rabbit and then decide a rabbit is not a good fit for you, it doesn’t do you, us, or the bunny any good. That’s why we want to discuss all the pros and cons of living with a house rabbit first!
  3. You will get your home set up: Rabbit-proof the bunny’s living area, acquire the pen/crate, litter box, water dish, food, hay, etc. Please check out our Bringing Bunny Home article to use as a check list. We then ask that you send us a photo of your setup once it’s completed. We do this so that a home visit is not necessary.
  4. You will check our website for the bunnies you’re most interested in. We’ll help you coordinate a visit to the shelter and/or a foster home. You can meet as many bunnies as you’d like so you can find the perfect fit for you. Rabbits have a wide variety of looks and personalities. The foster home or shelter adoption coordinator will also teach you about bunny body language, behaviors, and talk about what it’s like to live with a house rabbit.
  5. After meeting bunnies and choosing who you want to adopt, you will be sent a text/email with a link to sign the contract online. To summarize, the contract states that you will A) provide a good, safe home for the rabbit indoors, B) you will take them to the vet for medical care, C) you will provide enrichment, food/water, shelter, and socialization with you and your family, and D) importantly, if for any reason you can no longer care for your rabbit, you will return him/her to House Rabbit Network, and not to another shelter or attempt to rehome them yourself.
  6. We spay and neuter all of our rabbits. In order to offset that cost, we ask for an adoption donation:
    • One bunny: $120
    • Bonded pair: $220
    • Bonded trio: $300
      This works out to be quite a savings, as most vets charge significantly more to perform spays/neuters. You may make the donation via credit card ($3.99 credit card fee) when you sign the contract. We also take cash, checks, and PayPal payments.
  7. You bring your new bunny home! Please bring a carrier for the car ride. If you are picking up from the shelter we often have second hand carriers available for a small donation.
  8. HRN volunteers will always be available to answer any questions you may have, offer advice, or to help with any problems. They may occasionally reach out to you for updates on the bunny you adopted. Our volunteers adore all of our bunnies, and so we love to see our alumni happy with their new family. If you have any questions, please ask! We want to make this a pleasant and fun experience for you and your new companion. We’re looking forward to working with you!

Where Are We Located?

Even though our phone number is in Wellesley, we cover most of eastern Massachusetts. We are primarily a network of foster homes, but do have a small shelter north-west of Boston.

Bunnies Looking for Homes

This is only a small sample of the rabbits we have for adoption: View Rabbits for Adoption.

For information about other bunnies for adoption, please contact us.

*NOTE: All of the adult animals listed here have been spayed or neutered. Adoptions are marked within 24 hours, so if a rabbit is listed on the site they should still be available, however they could have someone scheduled to meet them. We don’t hold rabbits for people.