5 Reasons Why You Should Foster RabbitsRabbits are the third most popular companion animal in North America, and unfortunately that means high volumes of rabbits are surrendered to shelters or abandoned each year. Most rescue organizations have been struggling over the recent years to keep up with the high influx of homeless rabbits, leaving many rabbits without a safe place to go. Fostering is important, because it helps rescue organizations open up new spaces to intake homeless rabbits. This is especially important for rescues who take in stray rabbits, or pull rabbits out of high-kill animal shelters. Rabbit foster homes are frequently the difference between life and death for a rabbit. Foster homes also can help prepare rabbits for adoption by giving them a chance to live in a home where they can be free to be a house rabbit #5 Learn About Having Rabbits As Companions More people than ever have been considering adding a rabbit into their homes, opposed to dogs or cats. Rabbits promise a low-key lifestyle where they don't need to go on walks, and low-maintenance qualities like using a litter box. Too frequently however, people are not taking the time to properly research the needs of rabbits and quickly find themselves overwhelmed with the creature they live with. This only adds to the homeless rabbit problem. I strongly encourage those who have thought about adding a rabbit into their lives, to foster first. Most rescue organizations will provide you will all the supplies you need as well as cover all veterinary expenses. Rescues usually allow you to adopt the animal you foster as well, in case you fall in love. Fostering is a soft-trial into seeing what having a rabbit in your home is truly like, without the 12+ year commitment. I always tell people, rabbits are never what you expect them to be. It really allows you to see what a rabbit requires on a daily basis, and if they are the right fit for your home/lifestyle/budget. #4 Increases A Rabbit's Adoption Potential Foster families are key in the success of a rabbit being adopted. They are the ones that provide information to the rescue about their personalities, likes/dislikes, daily routine, and favorite treats/toys, which end up in the rabbit's adoption biography. This information also helps rescues match the right rabbit to the right family to ensure a successful adoption. Without foster families, rescues wouldn't have as much information to provide to potential adopters. Fostering also increases a rabbit's adoption potential by introducing them to the house rabbit life, and training the rabbit to become adjusted to different types of experiences such as other pets, vacuums, different flooring types, and a whole slew of new things to sample-chew. #3 Fostering Is Temporary Often times, people are too busy to commit to a rabbit full-time. Rabbit's require a lot of daily attention and have a life span of 12+ years. Fostering can be a very great opportunity for students who may have found themselves living away from family, and could really benefit from the short-term companionship of a rabbit. It is important to communicate with the rescue how long you can foster for, so that they can make arrangements for the rabbit when you're no longer able to care for them. #2 Keeping Rabbits Out of Shelters As wonderful as shelters are, they can be a very stressful place for a rabbit. The small cage space, barking dogs, and limited socialization can cause health and behavioral problems. Rabbits are naturally territorial, and can become aggressive or fearful when someone reaches into their cage. This quality would make them less adoptable in the shelter. Stress can also cause a variety of gastrointestinal problems that can potentially turn deadly if overlooked, adding higher veterinary expenses to a shelter that likely relies heavily on donations. Many shelters sadly are still kill-shelters, meaning that they would euthanize a rabbit if they didn't have space or if they were deemed less adoptable than a new rabbit. Keeping rabbits out of shelters is in the best interest of the rabbit, and foster homes provide that opportunity to drastically improve the life of a homeless rabbit. #1 You Are Saving a Life As mentioned in the opening section of this blog, fostering can be the difference between life and death for a rabbit. There are seemingly more homeless/abandoned/unwanted rabbits than there are rescues to help care for them. This results in people abandoning rabbits outside where they are subject to predators, injury, illness and death. Every new foster home that joins a rescue, is very likely saving the life of a rabbit. You will feel good knowing that you're helping a rescue save a rabbit, and they you are helping the rabbit to become happy, healthy and well-socialized.
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