What are one of the main ways you can help out any shelter? Be a Foster Parent! Whether taking in a bunny/guinea pig that is already here at the rescue (especially when there are more bunnies/guinea pigs than we have cages and pens!) or just hanging on to your own bunny/guinea pig that you'd like to find another home for, fostering is a major help to both the rescue and pet in foster care. It helps ease the load of caring for multiple rabbits at the main house, and the foster pet gets more one-on-one attention and care. Also, the pet’s personality blossoms and helps us get to know him better so that we can better match him or her to a new adopting family. It's a win-win for all!
If you're looking to foster with the intent of hopeful adoption, read more about fostering to adopt.
* You provide shelter, feeding, and general care in your home for as long as you are able OR until the pet find a permanent home. * The rabbit will need at least an hour of exercise time (out of the cage) each day in a rabbit-proofed area of your home (ex: a kitchen or hallway with blocked-off exits that has no electrical cords or other dangers that the rabbit can reach). * Keep MHRR updated with any personality, behavior, or health changes. A quick e-mail or phone call once a week with an update is sufficient. * Be available to bring the fostered rabbit/guinea pig to adoption days when requested or back to the main house to meet with potential adopters (unless you are fostering as a test-run to adopt). This is done by appointment and will be arranged with your schedule in mind.
You do not have to do other types of volunteering, we accept all types of help! You do not have to live in a specific area, but you MUST be able to bring the rabbit to either Baton Rouge when needed.
Absolutely nothing unless you want to help - MHRR will supply any items that you do not already have or are able to provide, including a cage, litterbox, food bowls & water bottles, litter, hay, and pellets. If you choose to provide your own food, please make sure it is a quality food, such as Oxbow or Timothy Complete, with a minimum of 18% fiber.
We'll make sure you take home an "easy keeper" that doesn't have personality issues like cage aggression or special medications. We are here for you no matter what questions you have. We were all beginners once also, and we help beginners all the time to get set up for their first pet rabbit. It's what we do!
Yes! As long as the rabbit you want is not already in a foster home or not yet spayed or neutered, you can take whichever rabbit you prefer. If you aren't sure which one you might like, you may come to the main house and meet them before you choose. Of course we can help you decide based on your schedule and space available, as well as previous rabbit-keeping experience and personality-type desired. Be aware that if you choose a particularly cute or very sweet rabbit, it may not be long before it finds a potential home, and you may be asked to bring it to adoption day often. :)
Probably not. Many rabbits get along great with cats and gentle dogs. Rabbits and cats typically do not bother one another, though sometimes the rabbit will chase the cat or ask it to groom him or her! If your dog is fine with a cat, he or she will likely be fine with a rabbit that is not afraid of dogs. You will need to use your best judgment about introducing two animals, and be able to keep the rabbit in a room isolated and safe from taunting or attack by other household pets if need be. If you have another pet rabbit, we recommend not housing them together as we wouldn't want to separate a bonded pair as well as prevent any injury due to fights.
Absolutely! Providing foster care is a significant service. * Fostering allows the rabbit more exercise time than it would receive at the main house. * Being under the supervision of the same individual or family long-term allows a bunny/guinea pig's personality to truly be observed, which helps when posting it's profile online and finding it the best matching home. * For our waiting list pets, it helps rabbits get out of their situation faster so they can be spayed/neutered and into a new home sooner! Fostering allows you to do a wonderful deed for an abandoned animal without a long-term commitment.
If you'd like to welcome an adoptable bunny/guinea pig (or another one of our foster pets) into your home, we have our foster parent application available to fill out online or you can download it here and bring it with you in person or email it as an attachment. You can reach us at 225-341-2866 or wendy@magichappensrescue.com.