Rabbit Rescue Sydney is a no-kill shelter, where every rabbit we take in gets a second chance at a loving home.
Which Rabbit Breeds Does Birdsville Rehome?
As we’re a small animal specialist based in the city rather than on a farm, we don’t rehome farm breed rabbits. We only rehome Mini Lop and Netherland Dwarf rabbits, as these are the breeds we deal with. These smaller breeds suit inner-city living best, and keeping our focus narrow means every rabbit that comes through our doors gets the space, attention and care they deserve.
How Many Rabbits Can Birdsville Rehome at Once?
We pride ourselves on the rabbits we rehome, but please bear in mind we have limited spaces available, as we need to find the right new home for every animal. Sometimes this can take time, and we may be unable to accept new rabbits for rehoming due to limited space. As a small, independent business, we can only have two rehoming rabbits with us at any one time.
If you need your rabbit rehomed, please give us a call to check space availability. We will not accept any rabbit without prior notice, as we won’t overcrowd our animals. If there’s no availability when you call, please stay in touch with us. When a space becomes available, we’ll let you know and arrangements can be made to rehome your rabbit.
How Much Does It Cost to Surrender a Rabbit?
Our rabbit surrender fee is $120 per rabbit.
We know this might raise a few questions, so we want to explain why. Finding a new home for a rehomed rabbit takes real time and effort. Most people looking for a pet rabbit want an adorable baby bunny, so an older or already-loved rabbit can wait weeks, sometimes months, for the right family to come along. During that time, we’re feeding, housing and caring for them, making sure they’re happy, healthy and ready for their new home when it arrives. The fee helps us cover that care, and keeps our rehoming service running so we can keep saying yes to rabbits who need us.
Is Rehoming the Right Option for You?
This is a big decision that affects not only you and your family, but a loving creature too. Before rehoming, have you considered all the alternatives, such as a bigger enclosure, a change in diet, giving them more attention, or talking it through with the whole family?
Rehoming is permanent, which is why we want you to weigh up all your options before making a final decision.
Owning a rabbit is a lovely and rewarding experience, but it comes with a great deal of responsibility. Some bunny owners find themselves in a position where they feel they need to give up their rabbit. This can be for a number of different reasons, although giving up a pet should always be a last resort.
Our Commitment to Every Rabbit
At Rabbit Rescue Sydney, based at Birdsville, we understand that in some circumstances giving up a rabbit is the right thing to do for both the rabbit and the family. It can be a distressing time for you and your bunny, so it’s important it’s done the right way. This is where we’ve helped thousands of unwanted animals find a home, and given rabbit owners peace of mind when facing this difficult decision.
We have never said no to a rabbit needing a new home, provided there is space available. The only animals we’re unable to accept are those that are sick, matted or injured, as we are not a vet clinic. These rabbits need to be treated by a vet before they can be brought in for rehoming.
How Rabbit Rescue Sydney Started
We never planned on rehoming animals in such a big way. It just happened, almost like a calling. We traditionally, back in the old days, were a pet shop that specialised in all things avian. As we grew, and through the team’s knowledge and interests, we diversified into small animals and products. Our goal was to offer customers a unique experience at Birdsville by becoming Australia’s leading small animal specialist.
While trying to achieve this, we noticed a lot of people with changing circumstances needing to find new homes for their beloved older pets. This was a turning point, as most places only sold baby animals, but we understood the need for older animals to go to the right home and receive proper care. So we started Rabbit Rescue Sydney, based at Birdsville. Any animal we sell can be brought back to us for rehoming if an owner’s circumstances ever change, and it all snowballed from there to where we are today.
We do not sell or rehome cats and dogs, and we don’t have the facility to do so.
How Rabbit Rehoming Works
We understand this isn’t an easy decision, so we offer a judgement-free rehoming service and try to make the process as simple as possible for you and your rabbit. There’s a car park out the front of our small animal facility to make drop-off easy.
Checking Availability
The first step is simply phoning ahead, since we can only take on a certain number of rehomed rabbits at once. Our small animal facility only holds two rehoming rabbits at a time, so whether there’s a spot free depends on how many are already waiting for new homes.
If there’s no availability when you call, we’ll let you know when to check back. This could be in a day, a week, a fortnight or a month, depending on interest in the rabbits already in our care.
Booking Your Surrender Appointment
Once you have approval to bring your rabbit in, a $120 surrender fee applies on arrival. We’ll ask you for a name, and the day and rough time you’ll arrive (within a couple of hours is fine), so we can have a team member ready to walk you through everything and set your rabbit up in a temporary enclosure.
Weekday Appointments
Our preferred rehoming hours are Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 2:30pm.
Weekend Appointments
We can also arrange weekend appointments from 10am to 11am, though please be aware there may be a bit of a wait. We’re open an hour before these times, which gives us time to set up and help your rabbit settle into its new surroundings before it’s time for the lights to go off.
What to Bring With You
Bring your rabbit in an enclosure or carrier. If you’re not sure what to do with your rabbit’s enclosure, accessories or food, these are often useful for other rescues, so you’re welcome to bring them in too.
It’s optional, but we also recommend bringing a sheet with information about your rabbit, such as their name, age, likes and dislikes, and suitability with kids. New owners appreciate knowing a bit of their history. If there are any toys or treats they’re particularly attached to, bring these along too, as they’ll help your rabbit settle in.
Settling In With Us
Your rabbit will be placed into an enclosure to make sure they’re in perfect physical and mental condition before rehoming. Here, they’ll be fed an excellent, specialised rabbit diet, and stay with us until we find them a home.
They’ll then be brought out into the store to socialise with the Birdsville team and our customers. If a rabbit has a particularly hard time adjusting, we’ll work with them one-on-one to make the transition as calm as possible.
We have a huge range of devoted supporters who open their hearts to rehomed animals, and we have never failed to find a bunny a new family.
Interested in Adopting a Rabbit?
Please feel free to come into Birdsville at 684 Botany Road, Alexandria NSW 2015, or give us a call. What we have available to rehome all depends on current availability. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to see photos of the rabbits currently available for adoption.
We’ll need to know you can provide the right environment, including a correctly sized enclosure, food, toys and any veterinary care they might need. If you don’t yet have all the right gear to keep a rabbit happy, you’re in the right place, as we stock everything a rabbit could possibly need, including enclosures at discounted prices. Please be prepared to show a team member photos of where your rehomed rabbit will be living. All rehomed rabbits come with an adoption fee, ranging from $25 to $60 depending on the rabbit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What breeds of rabbit does Birdsville rehome?
Birdsville only rehomes Mini Lop and Netherland Dwarf rabbits, as we are a small animal specialist rather than a farm-breed dealer. As we are based in the city, these smaller breeds are the ones we deal with and are best suited to being rehomed into inner-city homes and apartments.
How much does it cost to surrender a rabbit?
Rehoming a rabbit with us costs a $120 surrender fee, payable when you bring your rabbit in. This fee helps cover the feeding, housing and care your rabbit receives with us while we find them the right new home, which can sometimes take weeks or months.
Is there an adoption fee to take home a rehomed rabbit?
Yes, adoption fees range from $25 to $60 per rabbit, depending on the rabbit, to help cover the cost of their care while with us. Please call or come into Birdsville to check current availability and pricing for the rabbits ready for adoption.
Can I bring in a sick or injured rabbit for rehoming?
No, we’re not able to accept sick, matted or injured rabbits for rehoming, as Birdsville is not a veterinary clinic. If your rabbit needs medical attention, please have them treated by a vet first. Once they’re healthy again, we’re happy to help find them a new home.
Do I need to book an appointment to rehome my rabbit?
Yes, we ask that you phone ahead before bringing your rabbit in. Because we’re a small facility with room for only two rehoming rabbits at once, we can’t guarantee a spot on the day, so a quick call first saves you a wasted trip.
What should I bring when rehoming my rabbit?
Bring your rabbit in a secure carrier, along with any food, toys or accessories they’re used to, as these help other rehomed rabbits too. We also recommend an optional information sheet covering your rabbit’s name, age, likes and dislikes, which helps their new owner settle them in.
Get in Touch
If you’re considering rehoming your rabbit or adopting and have any more questions, feel free to email, call or pop in for a chat with the team. As an independent business rather than a chain, we’re often very busy looking after a lot of animals and people, so it can take us a little while to reply to emails. Please feel free to call us anytime.
You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with our rehoming rabbits and stories from the shelter.
Our address is 684 Botany Road, Alexandria NSW 2015.
