Rules for Adoption

Please read the following rules before contacting us regarding adopting. We will not "bend" on the rules, and we are frequently asked. We can not waive an adoption fee -  please remember that we have a fully operational shelter that relies on adoption fees and donations to keep it open. We also have to cover the cost of spaying/neutering every animal in our care, feeding them on a daily basis and medical costs. While the adoption fee ($75 for a single, $110 for a pair, $150 for a trio) may seem high initially, consider that the cost of spaying or neutering a rabbit alone is usually more than that if you were to contact any local vet. And the #1 reason rabbits are dumped at shelters is relating to the behavior and health problems caused by them not being spayed or neutered.

 -Adoptive persons must be over 18 years old, and not living in a dormitory. If you do not own your home, you may be asked for proof that your landlord / housing location allows for pets.

-All rabbits adopted from LMRR must be returned to LMRR in ANY event that they can not be kept by the adoptive family. It is our #1 priority to keep the rabbits safe who have already been in danger once - if for ANY reason you can not keep your adopted rabbit, they must be returned to us.

-All rabbits are adopted to indoor homes ONLY. We do not make allowances for "hutches in nice weather" or any similar housing arrangement, no matter how nice you believe your yard is - it is not a safe location for a domestic rabbit. Predators, weather, unpredictable conditions, parasites and thieves who are a significantly lower risk to rabbits kept indoors are a VERY REAL threat to the life of a domestic rabbit. We do not believe a pet can be a part of your family or properly cared for if kept out in your yard.

-We do not adopt to schools, day cares, churches, nursing homes, etc. Adoptions are to individuals who will be responsible for the pet for it's lifetime. These environments are too high stress and often detrimental to the pets kept there. Even in ideal situations, an expensive vet bill often turns these pets into a case of "who's problem is this"?

The Adoption Process

1. First things first - Please do your homework. We will do everything possible to educate you about all the specifics of bunny care, and we're more than happy to point you in the directions of a few good websites where you can learn all about proper rabbit care. Keep in mind there is a lot of BAD info out there as well, so it's important that you visit the right sites and read the right articles.
   
   We recommend:  www.Qrabbit.com   www.rabbit.org and the book "The House Rabbit Handbook" for quality information.
   A pet should NEVER be an impulse buy, and we are going to want to be sure you know what you're getting into, and how to care for your new pet BEFORE we allow you to take our bunnies home. You should always research and learn about any new pet before you bring one home! We get many calls each day from people who are looking to surrender bunnies because they were unprepared when they got their pet, and it is our intention for every rabbit adopted from us to move to their forever home - they have already been homeless once and we never want that to be the case again, so finding the right family for each rabbit is imperative!
   
   
2. When you have done some reading and feel confident that you are prepared to adopt, please email us at LittleMiraclesRR@aol.com or call Pam, our adoption counselor at 856 685 4061 so we can set up an appointment for you to come meet the bunny or bunnies you are interested in. It helps if you have looked at our website and have a few in mind (we suggest 3-5) or that you can tell us details that will help us match you with a bunny's personality (such as, it's very important the bunny be okay with your dog, that the bunny be good with children, that you'd prefer a more active & playful rabbit, that you already have a bunny you are looking to bond or that you're interested in a pair or trio)
   
   NOTE: Please do not leave Pam multiple messages - one voicemail is sufficient and she will return your call. Also, if you are calling from a cell phone, feel free to send her a text message with your name, phone number, email address and she'll get back to you ASAP. If you have had any trouble reaching her, and it's been more than 24 hours, please leave a message at the shelter: 856 210 6028 or email us!

Your Adoption Appointment

Once you have spoken to our adoption counselor via phone or email, we will promptly set up a time when you can come see the bunnies at the shelter. While we can't always accommodate same day adoptions (most of the time, the time between first contacting us, and actually taking home a bunny is 3-5 days) - we try to be as prompt as possible because we know you are excited to get your new family member home.

If you have recently incurred the death of a pet and are looking to bond a rabbit who has lost it's mate, please be sure to mention this. We understand the urgency of assisting a rabbit who is currently mourning a loss, and we will do everything possible to expedite the process for you.

If you are coming from a distance (we have many families who drive for several hours, from various nearby states to adopt) we will always make sure we are 100% prepared to send the bunny home with you the same day as your appointment or will have pre-determined arrangements to assist you with transport. If you are local, and wish to meet with the rabbits, discuss and decide, and then return to adopt, we are happy to accommodate you.

The following are NOT reasons we will rush to complete and adoption:  A holiday, your child's birthday or urgent demands for a new pet, a surprise or gift for anyone (please surprise them with an appointment to the rescue!) or simply impatience.
It typically takes 3-5 days to do some homework, contact us, choose a bunny prepare your home and come actually pick a rabbit or rabbits. Understand that the few days spent making the RIGHT choice for the next 10-12 years of your life is totally worth it.

For your appointment, you'll need to bring:

• A list of questions you may have before taking the bunny home.
• The name of the vet you intend to use, or we'll help you with suggestions.
• A cat carrier to safely transport your new pet(s) home.
• Cash, check or charge for the adoption fee.

Once you have your supplies and choose your rabbit, you fill out and sign the adoption contract. It basically states that you agree to provide a good home for the rabbit, you will provide food, water, an indoor home, a safe environment, play time, and take them to the vet for medical care. It also states that if for any reason you can no longer care for the rabbit, that you will return him/her to us.

Bringing Your Bunny Home

We are FREQUENTLY asked about a "shopping list" for new bunny parents. With that in mind, please understand we have everything you will need for your rabbit at our store here. We sell at competitive or lower than pet store prices and every dollar you spend here helps the bunnies in our care.

Please check with us about specifics that you'd like or need, so that you don't spend money on items that are unnecessary or even dangerous for your new pet (you'd be surprised by how much BAD ADVICE and BAD PRODUCTS there are on the market for rabbits).

You will need:  

• A cat carrier to take your new pet home in! Just like you can't take a baby home from the hospital without a car seat, we will not let you leave the rescue with the bunny in a box or on someone's lap. We usually have used ones available for $20.
• Pelleted food & timothy hay (these are included with the price of your adoption fee!)
• Litter (such as wood stove pellets, yesterday's news, carefresh, etc - NO wood shavings!)
• A large square cat litter pan.
• A water bottle or heavy crock for water.
• A food dish (also heavy or the screw-on type)
• Toys to entertain your rabbit
• Some sort of housing arrangement; Most often a very large commercial cage (MOST cages sold in pet stores are too small to house even the smallest bunny), a dog crate (the bigger the better) or a puppy play pen or similarly bunny-proofed and blocked off area to your home, such as a baby-gated bathroom, or a home made cage like these: Neat Ideas Cube Condos for Bunnies

Things NOT to Buy:

• Salt or mineral licks
• Vitamin drops
• Bunny shampoo
• Pine or cedar shavings, any sort of "bedding" or straw
• Commercial cages with wire floors or any sort of "starter kit"
• Harnesses/leashes

The Adoption Fee

Our adoption fee is $75 for a single, $110 for a pair, $150 for a trio. This fee covers the cost of spay and neuter for our rabbits - This works out to be quite a savings, as most vets charge significantly more. If you will be away for long hours during the day, we strongly suggest that you adopt a pair of rabbits. They are social creatures, and will be much happier with a companion to groom and snuggle with.

Within 2 weeks, you can expect at least one follow up phone call from our volunteers to get updates on how everything is going.  

See our Adoptable Bunnies