I WANT A BUNNY!!! Wait... How do I get one?

POV: You have officially decided you want a pet bunny but quickly realize you have no clue how to purchase. Luckily, you have found this post!

Where to Purchase a Bunny

The first rule of thumb for purchasing a rabbit is DO NOT BUY YOUR RABBIT FROM A PET STORE. Regardless of which options are displayed through this post, avoid pet stores. Many pet stores obtain their rabbits from mass-breeding organizations that are violent and cruel to the rabbits. 

Image of rabbits from breeder being held in terrible living conditions

Rabbits are left mistreated by pet stores where dead rabbits are regularly found inside the cages with other living rabbits. Most of these rabbits live on metal mesh flooring which can cut through the bottoms of a rabbit's feet. Many rabbits suffer serious injuries and illnesses but are left to die. If you choose to purchase a rabbit, please do not fund pet stores to further this abuse. 

Photo of rabbits all crammed into one cage. 

My own rabbit that I rescued, Zolie, was in a situation similar to these conditions before being saved. Zolie was involved in a hoarding case of 75+ rabbits all forced into one cage. She suffered from the other starving rabbits in the cage who chewed chunks out of her ears that are unrepairable. (This is a trigger warning; the following text may upset some viewers) She also suffered two forced pregnancies before the age of one where her first litter was born dead and the second only produced two rabbits that later died within days of their birth. It had taken me over 9 months to turn Zolie's traumatized state into the loving rabbit she is now. Thousands of rabbits just like Zolie go through this kind of trauma. 

My bunny, Zolie. 

The following two methods of adoption are the most humane and provide healthy rabbits.

Rescuing

Rabbit rescues and shelters are located all over the United States. By rescuing a rabbit from a shelter, you are saving that bunny's life. After the rabbit's abandonment, and sometimes abuse, you are changing that animal's life forever. Here is a link to locate a shelter local to you. 

Private adoption agencies with knowledgeable owners are also available. It is crucial to do research before adopting from a private rescue group. This ensures that you are aware of any policies and the level of care provided for the rabbits from this agency.

For those living in the Gainesville, Florida area, the Gainesville Rabbit Rescue is phenomenal. I have personally adopted both of my bunnies from the agency and have nothing but positive experiences. They show true care for their rabbits and provide the best possible level of care for the rabbits that they save. I discovered Gainesville Rabbit Rescue through Petfinder.com which is also a great tool to find bunnies up for adoption in the local area. 

Gainesville Rabbit Rescue is a non-profit organization with a mission to save rabbits no matter what illness or situation they may be in. Kathy Finelli is the director of Gainesville Rabbit Rescue and in an interview, she mentioned that despite their rescue's name, their mission is to save any rabbit across the state of Florida. 

Pictured above is Kathy Finelli, owner of Gainesville Rabbit Rescue. Photo by Elise Giordano from WUFT News article about Gainesville Rabbit Rescue.