House Rabbit Society

House Rabbit Society (HRS) is a non-profit organization based in Richmond, California, United States (US), that rescues and adopts rabbits and educates the community with its curriculum on rabbit care. HRS promotes responsible rabbit guardianship, including spaying and neutering, regular veterinary care, diet, and exercise. HRS takes the stand that domestic rabbits should not live outdoors. HRS was granted nonprofit status in 1993.

Organization philosophy
HRS believes that all rabbits are valuable animals, regardless of breed purity, temperament, state of health, or whether a relationship exists with humans—the welfare of domesticated rabbits is the organization's primary consideration. HRS believes that all domestic rabbits should be spayed or neutered and should live in a human adult's home.

Adoption and education center
In the San Francisco Bay Area of the US, HRS runs an adoption and education center, the HRS Rabbit Center—also the location of the HRS home office. Prior to the existence of the HRS Rabbit Center, the daily work of the national organization was undertaken in various private homes throughout the country.

Adoption and fostering
The HRS Rabbit Center rescues rabbits in partnership with municipal shelters across Northern California, particularly in cases where rabbits would be at risk of euthanasia whether due to injury, illness, behavior, or the shelter just having too many rabbits at once. There are typically 80-100 rabbits available for adoption or fostering. The rabbits are transferred to HRS’ care from one of their 35 shelter transfer partners.

After rabbits arrive at the HRS Rabbit Center, their health is evaluated, they are spayed/neutered, provided with medical or surgical care, and then are placed up for adoption. Many rabbits spend a month or more in a foster home, with fosters providing additional information on rabbit’s personalities and behavior, taking photos and video, helping showcase them for adoption.

Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Services
In September 2019, the HRS Rabbit Center opened an in-house surgery suite and started performing surgeries for HRS rabbits after hiring a veterinarian and registered veterinary technician (RVT). House Rabbit Society is the first rabbit rescue in the U.S. to have a staff veterinarian.

In 2023, the HRS Rabbit Center began to offer low-cost spay/neuter services to both the public and other Bay Area rabbit rescues and shelters that have rabbits.

Low-Cost Vaccination Clinic
The HRS Rabbit Center offers a public monthly, low-cost vaccination clinic to vaccinate rabbits against Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus.

HRS’ education on RHDV2 has been featured in the New York Times.

Rabbit Essentials Pantry
In November 2022, House Rabbity Society started a monthly pet food pantry. Rabbit supply items are available free of charge to Bay Area residents in need.

HRS Hop Shop
The Hop Shop at the HRS Rabbit Center sells many rabbit supplies, such as food, toys, and treats, that can be purchased on site in-person or picked up curbside. Nationwide shipping is also available.

Other Public Services
HRS also offers grooming appointments and boarding by appointment.

Grantmaking
Since 2016, House Rabbit Society has awarded over $105,882 in grants to House Rabbit Society chapters and emergency grants to non-chapter 5013 nonprofits. In 2022, a separate HRS grant program awarded $28,825 in funding to 12 US-based HRS chapters that requested funding, to support RHDV2 vaccination programs for chapter foster rabbits. In 2023, HRS awarded over $16,000 in emergency grants to both HRS chapters and other nonprofits.

Magazine
House Rabbit Society publishes the House Rabbit Journal, an annual full-color magazine that includes information about rabbit care, heartwarming stories from members, and updates about the organization’s activities. The magazine is distributed free of charge to members and is also available to read online. The House Rabbit Journal has been continuously published since the organization was founded in 1988.