10/22/2026
Please share.
Yeah, I'm going to say it...
Why We Encourage Adoption Instead of Buying from Breeders
We frequently hear from families who purchase rabbits from breeders, only to discover that caring for them is more complicated and expensive than they expected.
Sometimes it's the cost of spaying and neutering. Sometimes it's behavioral changes as rabbits reach sexual maturity, bonding challenges, or simply realizing that rabbits require more time and attention than anticipated.
Recently, we heard from a family who purchased young rabbits from a small family breeder that initially got along well. As they matured, their relationship changed, and despite the family's efforts, they were unable to get them back together.
Now, overwhelmed by responsibility, and with the children having lost interest in the rabbits, the family is looking for someone else to take over their care. At the same time, they're considering getting different rabbits that might be an easier fit.
But what happens if the next rabbits don't work out either?
This is one of the many reasons we encourage adoption instead of purchasing rabbits from breeders.
And when we talk about breeders, we're not just referring to large breeding operations or breeders certified by an organization. We're also talking about backyard breeders, boutique breeders, and café-type businesses that breed or sell rabbits. Just because an operation is small, cute, or presents itself as responsible doesn't mean it isn't contributing to the problem.
And here's another frustration: Where are the breeders and café-type businesses when the families who purchased their rabbits can no longer care for them?
In our experience, breeders rarely step up to take back the rabbits they've sold. Instead, families turn to rescues and shelters, expecting us to take them in, provide veterinary care, spay or neuter them, work through behavioral and bonding challenges, and find them new homes. All while we're already overwhelmed with rabbits who desperately need our help.
Rescues and shelters are left to deal with the consequences of breeding, often without any support from those who profited from selling the rabbits in the first place.
When you adopt from a reputable rabbit rescue or shelter like SDHRS, the rabbits have been spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and examined by a veterinarian. Many are already bonded pairs! We also provide education and support to help families understand what they're committing to before bringing rabbits home.
Rabbits can live 10 years or longer. They require specialized veterinary care, proper housing, enrichment, and patience. Even rabbits raised together aren't guaranteed to remain bonded.
I'm not sharing this to shame anyone. I'm sharing it because this is a reality we deal with far too often, while so many wonderful rabbits are already waiting for homes.
Rabbits are living, feeling animals, not something that can simply be exchanged when things become difficult.
Please consider adoption instead of supporting breeding in any form.
Adopt. Don't Shop.
San Diego House Rabbit Society
