The Bunny Brigade provides care and enrichment for Ventura County Animal Services' rabbits, works to place VCAS rabbits in loving forever homes, educates the public about proper rabbit care, raises funds for supplies and medical treatments, and promotes rabbit welfare and spaying/neutering throughout the county. HOW TO ADOPT A BUNNY FROM VCAS:
Our adoption process has temporarily changed due to Covid and the RHDV virus. The following is how our current adoption process works:
1. Learn about rabbits and their care. Visit the Notes section of our page (www.facebook.com/VCASBunnyBrigade/notes) to read all about proper rabbit care, diet, housing, what to expect when bringing a bunny home, etc. Rabbits are an 8-12 year commitment and adding a pet to your family should not be taken lightly and should be researched thoroughly ahead of time.
2. Schedule an adoption appointment. Email us at [email protected] to correspond with one of our experienced volunteers to set up a time for you to visit the shelter to meet our adoptable bunnies.
2. Visit with the rabbits. Bring everyone in your family and plan to spend at least a couple hours meeting our shelter rabbits and going over important and helpful rabbit care info with one of our adoption counselors. Each bunny has a unique personality so we want to find the best fit for your whole family. If you are looking for a companion for your current bunny, we temporarily are not able to offer our bunny date services at the moment. But if you contact us either on our social media pages or through our email we can offer you helpful information and suggestions for rabbit rescues that are currently able to offer bunny dates.
3. Once you have determined a rabbit is a good fit for your home, are committed to providing daily love and care for the next 8-12 years, have purchased all of the necessary supplies, and selected the right bunny for your whole family, you are ready to adopt and pay the $50 adoption fee. Each rabbit is spayed/neutered prior to adoption and is eligible for a free wellness visit with a rabbit savvy veterinarian. Our adoptable rabbits are viewable at https://www.vcas.us/rabbits/. RABBIT CARE INFO:
The following is a quick overview of proper rabbit care information. As mentioned above, please visit our Notes page for more detailed information. Living arrangements: Due to MANY reasons, rabbits need to live inside the house as part of the family. As an indoor house rabbit they receive more attention from their families and bond more with them, health issues are more quickly discovered, and they are protected from numerous predators, extreme temperatures and the RHDV virus. Rabbits need spacious accommodations (in addition to at least 3-5 hours of daily indoor exercise outside of their living arrangements), so here are several great options for indoor housing: rabbit-proofing a whole room in your home, an x-pen or several x-pens connected to make a large living area, or a large home-made rabbit condo made out of “Neat Idea Cubes”. Some people even rabbit-proof their entire home so their bunny can be free-roam. Cages and hutches sold online and in pet stores do not provide nearly enough of the room that a rabbit needs and should be avoided. For more on rabbit housing and living arrangements, please see below:
http://rabbit.org/faq-housing/
http://www.thebunnyguy.com/livingarrangements.html
http://www.sandiegorabbits.org/housing/x-pen-living-can-improve-your-rabbits-life
Diet: 80% of a rabbit’s diet should be fresh grass hay, such as timothy or orchard. Hay is crucial for healthy digestive systems and teeth. Pile your rabbit’s litter box high with fresh hay at least once a day. Rabbits also need fresh leafy greens every day. Pellets should be limited. More diet information can be found by visiting the links below:
Bunny Food Pyramid -http://www.sandiegorabbits.org/sites/default/files/content/page/images/Rabbit_Food_Pyramid_July08.pdf
What Should I Feed My Bunny? - http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/diet.html
Diet Overview - http://rabbit.org/faq-diet/
Bonding: Rabbits are social animals and need plenty of attention from their humans, but nothing replaces the constant companionship of another bunny. Rabbits in pairs are generally healthier and happier than those living alone. They must be spayed/neutered before bonding can begin, and they must be introduced slowly in neutral territory. Bonding can be tricky and time-consuming; it is not safe to just put 2 rabbits together. Contact us for information on where you can take your bunny for a bunny date. Below are some great resources for information on bonding:
House Rabbit Network: http://www.rabbitnetwork.org/articles/bond.shtml
House Rabbit Society: http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/introductions.html
Bunny Bunch: http://bunnybunch.com/rabbitcare.htm
Spaying & Neutering: There are many great reasons for spaying and neutering rabbits. Even if your rabbit lives alone, this is very important as it can prevent serious health issues and extend life expectancy. Altering your rabbits can improve their overall behavior, making them better family companions. Spaying and neutering is essential for preventing overpopulation and, consequently, euthanasia. Rabbits & Children: Rabbits do not make the best pets for young children since rabbits are fragile and, being at the bottom of the food chain, do not like loud noises, fast movements, or being picked up. If you have children in your home, please read this excellent article! http://rabbit.org/faq-children-and-rabbits/
Additional Rabbit Resources:
House Rabbit Society: www.rabbit.org
House Rabbit Network: www.houserabbitnetwork.org
Bunny World Foundation: www.bunnyworlfoundation.org
Bunny Bunch: www.bunnybunch.org
Don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions!
