When You Can No Longer Care for Your Pet Rabbit
"What should I do?" As the saying goes, life is full of unexpected changes—fortune and misfortune can come at any time. When unexpected circumstances make it impossible to continue caring for your rabbit, it's important to remember that this is not a terrible moral failing.
Instead of criticizing or blaming owners who face such situations, we should offer understanding, practical advice, and information about adoption or rehoming services. By doing so, at least the owner can help their furry friend find a safe, loving new home.
Take a moment to read this article carefully. Perhaps one day, when a friend of yours encounters a similar challenge, you'll be ready to share helpful information and support. Failing to continue pet care isn't a crime—but helping your pet find a kind new owner is the least we can do.
Animal Welfare Groups Are Not a Cure-All
Many people mistakenly believe that if they can no longer care for their pets, the best option is simply to send them to an animal welfare organization, such as a rabbit rescue group. However, this is a misconception.
Most animal welfare organizations focus on emergency rescues and urgent cases, such as helping abused or severely injured animals in critical condition. Their mission is primarily to provide immediate assistance in such emergencies, not to take in pets that owners no longer wish to keep.
Therefore, if a pet owner contacts an animal welfare group to surrender a healthy animal just because they no longer want it, the organization will often have to decline. Their resources and capacity are limited, and their work is centered on life-saving, urgent rescue missions rather than pet rehoming for the public.
In short, animal welfare groups exist to handle emergency cases, not to absorb the responsibility of unwanted pets. Responsible pet ownership includes planning ahead and finding an appropriate new home if rehoming becomes necessary.
How to Rehome Your Pet Responsibly
"One must first help oneself before others can help them."
So, what should you do when you truly can no longer keep your pet? Below are several ways that can help owners find a new home for their beloved pets. As long as you are willing to try, these methods will surely help your furry friend find a loving family.
Methods for Finding a New Home
- Reach out to local animal adoption organizations or shelters. Some offer temporary fostering programs.
- Post detailed adoption information on community forums and social media, including photos and your pet's personality traits.
- Ask friends, family, or coworkers if they or someone they know might be looking to adopt a pet.
- Work with verified pet adoption websites that specialize in matching pets with responsible new owners.
- Ensure that all potential adopters are screened and committed to providing long-term care.
Rehoming a pet is not easy, but doing it responsibly ensures their continued happiness and safety. Remember — when you put in honest effort, help will come, and your furry companion will find a wonderful new beginning.
1. Plan Early for Your Rabbit's Future
Many people find themselves unable to continue caring for their rabbits due to reasons like immigration, overseas job assignments, or relocation. However, these situations can usually be planned for in advance. Once you know such changes are coming, start arranging care for your rabbit early—this might mean finding a trustworthy caregiver, securing a long-term boarding option, or rehoming your pet responsibly.
Taking early action gives you plenty of time to make thoughtful decisions and ensure a smooth transition for your furry friend. Avoid waiting until just a few days before your departure to rush arrangements. Proper planning not only reduces stress for you, but also ensures your rabbit's continued well-being in your absence.
2. Take Your Rabbit for a Health Check Before Rehoming
Before finding a new home for your beloved pet, it's important to bring your rabbit for a health check. After all, no one would feel comfortable adopting a pet with an uncertain health condition. A pre-adoption health check not only ensures your rabbit's well-being but also helps build trust with the future owner.
During the visit, the veterinarian can issue a health certificate, which serves as proof of your pet's condition. If any minor illnesses are discovered, it's best to start treatment before rehoming or, at the very least, inform the new owner about necessary care and precautions.
These small but thoughtful actions show responsibility and compassion, helping your rabbit transition smoothly into a new, loving home. So, before rehoming, make sure to schedule a health check for your bunny—it's an essential step in responsible pet adoption.
3. Post a Printed Adoption Flyer
One effective way to help your furry friend find a loving home is by creating a printed adoption flyer. Prepare an A4-sized poster that includes your pet's photo, basic information, and your contact details.
You can take this flyer to nearby animal hospitals or clinics you're familiar with. Many veterinary clinics have window areas or bulletin boards that allow members of the public to post adoption or lost-and-found notices—usually free of charge.
Tip: Don't just stop at one location! The more places you post your flyer—such as several animal hospitals and pet supply stores—the greater your chances of helping your pet find a new forever home.
4. How to Post Pets for Adoption Online
If you're looking to find a loving home for a pet, the internet offers a wide range of convenient tools and communities to help you out. Many websites, discussion groups, Facebook communities, and LINE groups provide easy-to-use adoption listing services where you can post your pet's details directly online.
These platforms allow you to share photos, write a short description, and connect with potential adopters with just a few clicks. Whether through local forums or social media communities, you can complete your adoption post anytime, anywhere.
Popular Places to Post
- Dedicated pet adoption websites
- Local animal welfare Facebook groups
- LINE or WhatsApp adoption circles
- Online community forums
Using these online tools can make the process of finding a new home for your pet faster, safer, and more effective.
5. Registering Your Pet for an Adoption Fair
If you're worried that online listings might not give your pet much exposure, consider asking local animal welfare groups whether they are hosting any adoption fairs you can join. For example, organizations like the Rabbit Society often hold adoption events for rabbits and guinea pigs, and their venues are also open for members of the public to bring their pets for adoption.
Attending an adoption fair in person is not only more effective, but it also allows you to meet potential adopters face to face. This helps ensure your bunny finds a safe and loving home instead of being taken by someone unsuitable.
Bringing your rabbit personally to an adoption fair is one of the most ideal and responsible ways to help them find their new family.
6. Surrendering Pets to Public Shelters — Not Recommended
If you truly have no other option and do not wish to take any further action yourself, the last resort is to bring your pet directly to your local government-run animal shelter, animal protection office, or disease control unit. There, you can formally apply for pet relinquishment. The relinquishment fee is approximately NT$2,400 per animal, though the exact amount may vary by city or county.
Once the application is processed, the public facility will handle the animal's placement and any necessary follow-up procedures. However, surrendering pets to public shelters is generally not recommended. These facilities often face overcrowding, and the quality of the environment can be poor due to high population density.
Public shelters typically provide only the most basic feeding and care. Such an environment is rarely ideal for companion animals, who thrive on affection, attention, and a stable home environment.
7. When You Don't Want to Do Anything—But Can't Let Go
Sometimes, you reach a point where you feel completely stuck. You don't want to take care of your pet anymore, but the thought of sending them to a shelter feels unbearable. If every suggestion—rehoming, fostering, or asking for help—feels impossible, yet you still want your furry friend to be taken care of, there's one remaining option: hire an experienced pet caregiver.
However, this is not a cheap solution. Paying someone to care for a pet until the end of its life isn't a matter of a few hundred dollars. Considering food, medical bills, time, and eventual end-of-life arrangements, the full cost usually starts in the thousands. For sick or elderly animals, expenses rise even higher.
There's no such thing as a free lunch. If you can't afford professional care, putting in the effort to find a new home—through adoption listings or pet adoption events—is the more responsible path. Money may sound crude, but there's no denying that it's part of the problem—and sometimes, part of the solution. Still, remember to ask yourself: does the price you're willing to pay truly match what an experienced caretaker believes that care is worth?
8. Think Before You Abandon: Animal Protection in Taiwan
Some people might ask, "Can I just release or throw away my pet?" The answer is absolutely not!
According to Taiwan's Animal Protection Act, it is strictly prohibited for anyone to abandon a pet. What older generations might call "releasing" animals is, in fact, considered abandonment under the law. And yes — it comes with serious penalties.
In Taiwan, individuals who abandon their pets can be fined up to NT$75,000. If the act of abandonment causes injury or lasting harm to the animal, the penalty can increase to as much as NT$300,000, and may even result in imprisonment. In such cases, the offender's name and photo can also be publicly disclosed.
Remember, abandoning animals is not an act of kindness — it's a violation of the law. Take responsibility for your pets and give them the care and respect they deserve.
The Mistakes You Should Never Make
1. The Harm of Releasing Pet Rabbits into the Wild
Some people believe that taking their pet rabbits to the countryside or the mountains and setting them free allows the animals to live happily in nature. Unfortunately, this is a dangerous misconception.
Modern pet rabbits have already lost their ability to survive in the wild. Once released, they face serious risks such as being attacked and killed by stray cats, wild dogs, or birds of prey. Even if predators do not harm them, the sudden change in diet and environment can cause severe digestive problems, which may quickly lead to death.
Instead of releasing them, owners should look for proper adoption solutions or consult local animal welfare organizations. Responsible care is the best way to ensure that pet rabbits live healthy and safe lives.
2. Don't Abandon Your Rabbits
Leaving them under an arcade for others to pick up is not an act of kindness. In Taiwan's summer weather, just one or two hours of direct sunlight can cause a pet rabbit to die from heatstroke.
If you secretly place them in dark or hidden corners instead, the lack of care and fresh air can quickly cause illness, leading to lifelong and irreversible health problems.
Moreover, leaving any animal alone in a public space without its owner's presence violates Taiwan's Animal Protection Act. Please act responsibly—your pet's life depends on your choices.
3. The Truth About Animal Sanctuaries
Some religious groups have established places known as "animal sanctuaries" to take in abandoned animals. However, these sanctuaries often rely solely on followers to feed the animals, without professional care or supervision.
In some cases, these so-called shelters have become tragic "animal purgatories" — places where animals suffer instead of being protected. Reports of such conditions have surfaced frequently, drawing attention to the gap between good intentions and actual animal welfare.
When the act of taking in animals becomes more about collecting symbolic "charity redemption tickets" than about the animals themselves, no one can truly guarantee the living conditions of those creatures, whether it's a rabbit or any other life entrusted to humans.
True compassion requires more than good intentions — it demands responsibility, care, and understanding.
4. The Truth Behind Returning Pet Rabbits
Returning a rabbit to the original pet store may seem like a simple and responsible option, but the reality is far more troubling. In most cases, adult rabbits are almost impossible to sell again. Unfortunately, this stems from a cultural misconception—many people prefer baby rabbits over grown ones, believing they're cuter or easier to raise.
When a rabbit is sent back to the pet shop, the store typically contacts the breeder to take it back. What happens afterward is unclear, and few ever find out the fate of those animals. Inside breeding facilities, once an animal loses its commercial value, it's often considered expendable.
Do you really want your pet to end up like that?
Before deciding to return your rabbit, consider finding it a loving home or reaching out to rescue groups. Your rabbit deserves compassion and care beyond its market value.
