Articles, Stories, And Updates
The best way to share knowledge is by sharing stories. Celebrate rabbit guardianship, its highs and lows, and the experiences that help us grow with our fluffy companions.
Latest News and Updates
We will be closing early on July 4th. Hours for the holiday will be 11am to 3pm. Our HRS Monthly Pantry will still be held from 12pm to 3pm as usual. Thank you so much for your support!
Please note that we will be closed for appointments, shopping, and visitation for several days during the 2025 holiday season. Click to see more!
August 15th is National Check the Chip Day, and it’s a great opportunity to talk about the benefits of microchipping your rabbit (and other pets) and why it’s critical to keep your registration information up to date.
This August, we invite you to celebrate National Make-A-Will Month by reflecting on what matters most: protecting the people, pets, and causes that bring you joy. For so many rabbits, House Rabbit Society is that lifeline, and your thoughtful planning can ensure this vital work continues.
Check out our new tropical-themed Hop Shop picks! Whether you're celebrating a special day or just looking to add some sunshine to your rabbit's life, these treats and toys are perfect for celebrating the season.
House Rabbit Society will be closed on July 4th in observance. We will reopen July 5th for normal visitation and shopping! Have a HOPPY and safe holiday.
Observed annually on the last Saturday in April, World Veterinary Day recognizes the vital role veterinarians play in protecting the health of animals, people, and our shared environment.
February is Spay/Neuter Awareness Month, and the 25th is also World Spay Day. It’s a great opportunity to talk about the importance of spaying and neutering your rabbit!
March is National Pet Vaccination Month! Is it time for your rabbit’s annual RHDV2 vaccine? If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, get your rabbit vaccinated at House Rabbit Society!
The third week of March is always National Pet Pet Poison Prevention Week. While this most likely brings to mind dogs eating human medication off a countertop or consuming a dangerous amount of chocolate, there are several things rabbit guardians should be aware of that are toxic to rabbits.
We at House Rabbit Society are thrilled that PETCO has recommitted to an adoption-only policy for rabbits and has ceased the sale of rabbits at select locations. This decision is a positive step toward ensuring better outcomes for all rabbits. We are grateful for the dedicated work of so many rabbit rescue groups across the country to make this decision possible.
House Rabbit Society is hiring! Our team is looking to bring on a Volunteer and Guest Services Manager to help facilitate a world class guest and volunteer experience at our facility.
HRS In The Community
Fostering is one of the most meaningful ways you can help a rabbit in need. A foster home gives a shelter rabbit the opportunity to relax, build confidence, learn to trust people, and show their true personalities, making them more likely to find a loving forever home. Every rabbit who goes into foster care also frees up valuable space at our shelter, allowing us to rescue even more rabbits in need. It’s a simple act of kindness that creates a ripple effect, changing the lives of not just one rabbit, but several.
Calling all Californians! The fight is not over yet! Rabbits and other companion animals need your help in passing the Ethics of Aesthetics AB 1382. Although AB 1382 was doing very well in the legislature, the bill was recently sent to the "suspense" file in the Senate Appropriations Committee. This is where bills get killed by party leadership unless they hear from the community such as owners, veterinarians and shelter professionals alike. Make your voice heard for the voiceless.
I started fostering rescue bunnies nearly four years ago. In that time, I’ve had the privilege of fostering almost 30 bunnies! I share my fosters widely on social media, and with every single foster bun I’ve shared, I inevitably get asked why I don’t “just keep” them.
I know these comments are well-intentioned, and I love hearing from people who have noticed my fosters’ progress or have well wishes, but the question remains: why don’t I just keep them?
Your support of House Rabbit Society makes a real difference in the lives of so many rabbits and the people who love them. Thanks to your generosity, we accomplished so much in 2025. Every success you’ll read about here was made possible by donors, volunteers, adopters, and people like you.
After recently adopting my amazing Johnny Wohnny from House Rabbit Society (HRS), I’d love to share my experience fostering him, as well as how fostering some bunnies can benefit you, too!
Sometimes the best family decisions start with "NO WAY!" For the Salwen family, that's exactly how their rabbit adventure began, and spoiler alert: it didn't end with just one bunny.
Giving Tuesday is almost here, and you don’t have to wait to make a difference. Help us raise $60,000 for the rabbits!
Your gift to House Rabbit Society today will be counted toward our Giving Tuesday goal and will be matched, thanks to several generous donors. That means your support will go twice as far to help us reach our goal. Every gift, no matter the size, contributes to our mission.
As we reflect on this season of giving, we’re thankful for your kindness and support. Whether you’ve volunteered, fostered, donated, or simply shared our mission, you’ve helped give countless rabbits a second chance at a happy life as a supporter of House Rabbit Society.
We hope you’ll keep the rabbits in your heart and in your holiday giving plans as the year comes to a close. More than 60% of our funding comes from generous supporters like you, but rising costs for food, veterinary care, and supplies make our work more challenging every day.
In September, the “Let Bunnies Fly” campaign launched, urging airlines to allow pet rabbits to fly in-cabin. On September 8th, hundreds of rabbit guardians from across the nation joined our day of action, calling and emailing major airlines to ask them to reconsider their policies that exclude rabbits.
If you participated, thank you! If you missed it, don’t worry. You can still take action. Airlines are listening, and your voice truly matters.
House Rabbit Society welcomes its newest board member - Sondra Lewis!
It’s amazing how much the world of rabbit care has grown in just the last few years, and your support of House Rabbit Society helps make that growth possible.
Having a pet is one of life’s greatest joys, but the cost of pet care can often feel overwhelming, especially in these tough economic times. The good news is that providing your rabbit with a healthy, happy life doesn’t have to break the bank. With a little creativity, resourcefulness, and planning, you can save money while still meeting your rabbit’s essential needs.
Did you know that most major airlines don’t allow pet rabbits to fly in the cabin—even though dogs and cats are welcome?
It doesn’t have to be this way. Rabbits are quiet, clean, and travel well in carriers, just like cats. Airlines could change this policy tomorrow if they heard enough demand from customers. That’s where you come in.
House Rabbit Society is working every day to create a safer, more compassionate world for rabbits, thanks to kind and generous supporters like you.
From everyone at HRS, thank you for helping these rabbits, and so many others!
We’re thrilled to be participating in the 11th annual Clear the Shelters campaign, a nationwide effort to find loving homes for animals and support the organizations that care for them.
Education is one of the most powerful tools we have to change the lives of rabbits, and it's one of the pillars of House Rabbit Society. We believe that everyone deserves access to quality information about how to properly care for rabbits, no matter what language they speak.
Right now, thanks to a generous donor, all gifts to HRS are matched, up to $10,000, doubling your impact! Your kindness to the rabbits can go twice as far. Every gift, large or small, makes a difference and helps create a brighter future for our rabbit friends. Help us raise $20,000!
Make a difference in the life of a shelter rabbit—foster with House Rabbit Society this summer! Whether you're home from school, working remotely, or simply have a little more time these next few months, fostering is a short-term commitment that makes a long-term difference.
National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day is a perfect time to open your heart and home to a furry friend in need. If you’ve been thinking about adding a rabbit to your family, please start your search at your local rabbit rescue or shelter. There are so many rabbits waiting for a second chance and a loving home.
Mark your calendar! Join us for our spring open house on Saturday, May 17, from 11 am to 4 pm. If it's been some time since you've been by, come in to see what’s new and reconnect with the bunnies and the community!
Earth Day is celebrated every year on April 22nd, and it’s a great opportunity to reflect on our environmental impact and how we can be better stewards of the environment. Did you know rabbits are environmentally friendly pets? It’s true!
Please don't impulsively get a rabbit for Easter before you're ready for the commitment! This spring, House Rabbit Society is urging parents not to get their children a rabbit for Easter unless they’re willing to make a commitment to care for a rabbit for the rabbit’s lifetime.
Astrid arrived at HRS last year after being transferred from a local shelter in urgent need of medical care. She had two serious abscesses—one in her abdomen and another in her leg.
Simone arrived at HRS in December after being transferred from a local shelter. She’s a tiny but mighty bunny—under four pounds—with a big personality. Despite multiple pelvic fractures and a splay leg, she doesn’t let anything slow her down!
Your support makes a difference in the lives of so many rabbits and the people who love them. Thanks to your generosity, we accomplished so much in 2024, and with your help, we can do even more to help rabbits in 2025!
House Rabbit Society is hitting the road this summer! We’ll be visiting several of our local animal shelters, with the goal to help raise awareness about adopting from shelters as well as provide educational materials to people who may not otherwise have access to them.
Many things have changed for rabbits since House Rabbit Society’s incorporation as an animal welfare nonprofit in 1988. Back then, the entire concept of house rabbits was unusual: rabbits living indoors, side by side with their humans; some even daring not to live in cages? Amazing.
Come see celebrate how dynamic and diverse the citizens and business of Richmond California are! The second Annual Rich City Day is just around the corner and House Rabbit Society is happy to be part of the action. This event will be hosted at Armistice Brewing Company on Saturday, July 13.
Rabbit Care and Behavior Stories
You finally found a new addition to your fur family: your newly adopted little bun (or bunnies!). You are all having a blast, learning more about each other with each passing day. Then one day, you realize you’re ready to add another member to the ever-growing pet family: some guinea pigs!
Your trip is just around the corner–next week to be exact, and you’ve been anticipating this break for months. You’ve put in your PTO, booked your flight, and almost religiously checked the weather for your destination. Most importantly, you’ve done your due diligence to find a reliable caretaker for your pets (yay!), and you’re running through the final check-list to make sure your companions, and your peace of mind, are settled when you’re away.
Confusion exists in people’s minds when dealing with crippled, deformed, or less than “perfect” animals. Is the suffering on the part of the animal or is it in the eyes of the viewer?I am privileged to have the insight of a very dear human friend who has multiple sclerosis and can say in human language that disability does not automatically remove one’s reason to be alive. Having known Lyndy Alston, I was unwilling to conclude, when my rabbit Phoebe became paraplegic, that her life must be ended. Yet, I felt compelled to keep this wonderful animal from public view-the disapproving, long, sad faces and “Oooooh! Poor thing! Is it really worth it?”
Bumpers are a great addition to a senior and special needs rabbit space. These function as a way to pad your rabbit’s space to keep them safe from hard edges that could cause injury if your rabbit has balance, sight or mobility issues. They also function as a way to comfortably prop up and support rabbits who struggle standing on their own. Hop n’ Flops are a great way to support rabbits who need help standing or sitting in a static position but there are currently no pen bumpers available on the market for purchase to line the length of an entire pen or wall. Over the years we have tried several DIY options including using pool noodles or sewing braided bumpers that can be made to specific lengths needed.
As you rabbit ages, your experience level, rabbit toolkit, and creative problem solving will grow. Senior rabbits often develop special needs that will change the course of your daily routine and home set up. The biggest change MOST senior rabbit owners make as a result of aging is the introduction of a low entry litter box. Though there are several high quality ones on the market, those who are looking to save a bit of money to put more towards medical costs might consider the DIY route. Over the years, we have cultivated a few different methods for creating low entry litter boxes that don’t break the bank. There are pros and cons for each method. Take these into consideration when deciding which litter box to make!
Like any community, the world of rabbits has its own lingo! This can be confusing at first, so here’s a handy list to get you talking like a seasoned bunny owner in no time!
Cait Reizman and Matt Cummins
The concept of foraging has been gaining popularity and interest among pet parents, and for great reason. When supported in healthy and meaningful ways, foraging is a beneficial and instinctual activity for all small animals, including rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, rats, hamsters, and so on.
Research from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found interacting with house plants can help lower a person’s blood pressure, calm their nervous system, and promote a general feeling of well-being. Who doesn’t want that? In recent years, the popularity of growing plants at home has soared. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) in London has reported a 10-15% year-on-year increase across the industry in houseplants since 2013, driven largely due to the doubling of foliage plant sales. These are those decorative, colorful plants with funky, interesting leaves that you’ve no doubt seen when scrolling through your social media feeds.
As their human, I would do anything for my bunnies. This includes rabbit proofing anything remotely chewable … no matter how unattractive it may look to my friends and family. But just because something needs to be protected from a chew-happy bunny does not mean it has to be an ugly, bulky option; and I have learned sometimes all it takes is a good regimen of distraction techniques.
What do you know about rabbits?
I thought I knew a little something. Cute. Soft. Timid. Shy. Calm. Quiet. Cuddly. Hahaha! I look back and laugh about it now. Just like Jon Snow in Game of Thrones, I knew nothing!
“Please eat. Please … You need to eat.”
Humans who live with rabbits quickly learn the four most important signs of rabbit health – eating, pooping, drinking, and peeing.
While living in Miami for 10 years, the prospect of evacuating was omnipresent from June until September. After I moved from hurricane-prone Florida to the Northeast United States, my rabbit emergency kit became a travel kit.
I have a confession. I have a soft spot for “naughty” bunnies. I gravitate toward the bunnies whom others fear. At the local shelter where I volunteer, I was asked if I would foster a bunny who bites. Enter: Oreo.
Rabbit Medical Stories
We’re hard at work to help expand access to rabbit-savvy veterinary care nationwide. Through our veterinary training initiative, veterinary professionals and students from across the U.S. come to HRS to gain something they can rarely get elsewhere: hands-on experience caring for rabbits in a medical setting; skills that will directly expand access to quality care within their local communities. By sharing our expertise with the next generation of veterinarians, veterinary technicians and assistants, and students, we’re helping build a stronger foundation for rabbit medicine across the country. And your ongoing support makes this work possible!
With the busy months of travel and gatherings ahead, it’s the perfect time to make sure your rabbit’s vaccination status is up-to-date.
Staying current not only protects them, it’s also required to board your rabbit at House Rabbit Society (as well as most other boarding and pet sitting options for rabbits).
Confusion exists in people’s minds when dealing with crippled, deformed, or less than “perfect” animals. Is the suffering on the part of the animal or is it in the eyes of the viewer?I am privileged to have the insight of a very dear human friend who has multiple sclerosis and can say in human language that disability does not automatically remove one’s reason to be alive. Having known Lyndy Alston, I was unwilling to conclude, when my rabbit Phoebe became paraplegic, that her life must be ended. Yet, I felt compelled to keep this wonderful animal from public view-the disapproving, long, sad faces and “Oooooh! Poor thing! Is it really worth it?”
Striving to leverage our position as the only rabbit rescue in the U.S. with a staff veterinarian and on-site surgery suite, we’re working to fill the gap in rabbit-specific medical training.
Observed annually on the last Saturday in April, World Veterinary Day recognizes the vital role veterinarians play in protecting the health of animals, people, and our shared environment.
February is Spay/Neuter Awareness Month, and the 25th is also World Spay Day. It’s a great opportunity to talk about the importance of spaying and neutering your rabbit!
March is National Pet Vaccination Month! Is it time for your rabbit’s annual RHDV2 vaccine? If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, get your rabbit vaccinated at House Rabbit Society!
The third week of March is always National Pet Pet Poison Prevention Week. While this most likely brings to mind dogs eating human medication off a countertop or consuming a dangerous amount of chocolate, there are several things rabbit guardians should be aware of that are toxic to rabbits.
Humans who live with rabbits quickly learn the four most important signs of rabbit health – eating, pooping, drinking, and peeing. Despite being wise and resilient little beings, they are also fragile animals who hide illness far too well. Gastrointestinal distress is a symptom of one such illness. If the medical crisis is missed, it can even lead to death. It’s a heartbreaking circumstance that can take less than twelve hours to occur.
“When in doubt, go to the vet” is a bunny parent’s mantra. There’s no substitute for seeing a rabbit-savvy veterinarian* and getting your rabbit the professional instruction and care they need, especially in an emergency.
However, due to COVID-19 protocols, staffing shortages, and other challenges at veterinary offices, it may be difficult right now to get an immediate appointment with your vet, or even get to an emergency vet. It’s a good idea to have a first aid kit with emergency supplies on hand in case your rabbit isn’t able to see a vet right away.
Sludge is made of excess calcium. It’s normal for a rabbit to pass excess calcium from the body through the urinary tract, but in some rabbits, calcium salts build up and thicken in the bladder, forming bladder sludge.
Check out our backlog of articles and stories for more advice, medical updates and how you can support rabbits in your community!
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