Why Adopt?
The Problems of Purchasing from a Pet Store or Breeder
Buying from a breeder is contributing to the overpopulation problem and giving money to people who care more about profit than the well-being of animals. The females are only valuable if they're producing large litters often and have good maternal instincts. It's not uncommon for mothers to reject their babies, especially if they're too young or being kept in a place where they're anxious and feel like they're in danger. When this happens, the mothers are rendered useless and will either be destroyed, dumped outside or surrendered to a shelter. The females that are kept for breeding are only used for the sole purpose of producing litter after litter, which is hard on their little bodies. And when they can no longer produce healthy litters, you can assume where they end up.
There are two reasons bunnies end up in a rescue: they were a stray or an owner surrender. Domestic rabbits don’t naturally live outside - the only reason they’d end up there is if they’re dumped by a human who didn’t want them anymore. And many owner surrenders happen when people don’t understand how much work goes into caring for bunnies. They weren’t educated before adopting and can’t care for them properly. Most breeders don’t have great screening processes, if any at all, so it’s common for the bunnies to end up in the hands of people who don’t know what they’re getting into. Then they end up neglected, dumped or brought to a shelter. There are already SO many bunnies that need homes and breeders add so much to that.
Buying from a breeder means there’s one more rescue rabbit without a home.
Advantages of Adopting
You save a life.
Adopting an animal from a shelter or rescue is giving them a second chance at a life. Most animals who end up at a shelter or rescue were either abandoned, neglected or found as a stray. Their whole world has been turned upside down due to no fault of their own.
You’re helping curb the pet overpopulation problem by not supporting breeders.
Shelters and rescue organizations are full of unwanted pets and breeders are only contributing to the pet overpopulation problem. Some of the animals who end up being surrendered were adopted from breeders in the first place. Buying from a breeder is supporting the cycle and giving animals in shelters a smaller chance at finding a home.
Spaying and neutering is done prior to adoption.
When you adopt an animal, usually the cost of the spay/neuter is included in the adoption price. However this is a bit different for rabbits. Not all veterinary clinics have rabbit savvy vets who can perform the surgery so not every shelter fixes their rabbits before they’re adopted. Female rabbits who aren’t spayed have an extremely high chance (upwards of 80%) of developing some form of reproductive cancer, and both intact females and males can display signs of aggression and territorial behavior if they are not fixed. The cost of a spay or neuter in Ontario is usually a minimum of $200 for neuters and even higher for spays (due to the surgery being more invasive). Adopting from a rescue means the rabbits are already fixed and you can spend that extra money on supplies and toys to keep your new friend happy!
The animals are already socialized from being in foster care.
Most small animal rescues rely on foster homes for their furry friends which means the animals are already in a healthy environment and being socialized regularly. This especially helps when the adoptable animals are nervous around people and haven’t had much socializing in the past.
You can learn about each animal’s personality before adopting so you can choose the best fit.
When animals are bought from breeders, they’re usually quite young and you don’t know what kind of personality you’re getting. Baby bunnies are cute and all, but once they mature their personalities can be something totally different than what you expected. Rescues provide detailed descriptions of each animal’s personality and demeanor so you know exactly what you’re getting.
Adopting helps more than just one animal.
Not only does adopting a shelter or rescue animal save that one animal’s life, but it frees up space for another animal in need to be brought in.