Personal Rabbit Foster: "Foster" or "Final Stop"?

The First Foster Journey: A Tale of a Pregnant Rabbit

During my second year of raising rabbits, an unexpected encounter set me on the path to becoming a rabbit foster. It all began with a gray adult female rabbit abandoned by her owner and left at a pet shop. She had a round little face and a plump figure, and the shopkeeper was just hanging up a sign that read "Up for Adoption."

As I was browsing nearby, my eyes were immediately drawn to her. Several families with children stood around, and the kids were pleading with their parents to let them take her home. Seeing one parent about to give in, I made a split-second decision. Without much hesitation—and driven by a burst of courage from who knows where—I told the shopkeeper that I would adopt her. And just like that, a strange new rabbit suddenly became part of my household.

Although she had been heartlessly abandoned, she was anything but timid. First, she bit me to assert her dominance, then confidently stuffed herself with food, and finally sprawled out on her back as if she owned the place. Back then, I had little experience—not just with fostering, but even with basic rabbit care. That night, I sat across from this proud little "queen," staring into her big eyes, wondering anxiously what on earth I should do next.

As I pondered, a sudden thought struck me: "Wait—she's from an unknown source, she's female, and she's quite plump... Could she be pregnant?" My very first foster rabbit turned out to be a major test—a pregnant rabbit!

The next day at the vet, my suspicion was confirmed. She really was pregnant! The realization hit me like a thunderclap. In a panic, I scrambled to do research: how to set up a nesting area, how to recognize signs of labor, what to expect during birth. But less than three days later, she gave birth—with absolutely no warning signs! According to the books, rabbits build nests before delivery. Not her—she built hers afterward. And her appetite? Never faltered for a second. The fabled "loss of appetite before birth" simply didn't apply. She even ignored her placentas entirely, contrary to every guide that said mother rabbits consume them.

Fortunately, despite my nervous fumbling as a foster beginner, both the mother and her two kits thrived. They grew up healthy, weaned smoothly, and were all successfully adopted into new homes.

"That first fostering experience left me sweating with anxiety, but it also taught me a vital truth: knowledge is one thing, life is another."

Indeed, the first foster rabbit brought both chaos and wonder. Even though I was unprepared, the experience opened my heart to the profound responsibility and joy of caring for living beings.

The Challenges of Adoption Screening

Finding the right adopters is never easy. Perhaps encouraged by the success of my first rescue placement, I continued to foster more rabbits over the following years, and occasionally took in cats and guinea pigs as well. Altogether, the number of animals I have fostered has reached nearly a hundred. Among all the challenges along the way, the most difficult one, without a doubt, has been screening potential adopters.

In the process of talking with many different adopters, I've certainly had some unpleasant experiences. Each encounter has taught me something new, reminding me that choosing adopters is truly an art. The greatest fear of any foster caretaker is "meeting the wrong person." But the truth is, people's hearts change. Even the most well-intentioned adopters cannot guarantee how they will feel years later. After all, even human marriages may end in divorce—so how can we expect lifelong certainty in pet adoption? Someone may be wholeheartedly devoted today, but three or five years later, that commitment could fade.

I once encountered two cases where fostered rabbits were returned after adoption. Both adopters had once been praised as model owners. One of them even returned the rabbit after more than seven years—the rabbit was already ten years old. His reasons were simply that his wife no longer wanted to keep it, their new home had limited space, and his mother-in-law disliked rabbits. Yet when I asked about the cats they had at home, he admitted easily that the cats could stay because his mother-in-law liked them. Moments like this are hard to swallow.

Many new foster carers often ask me, "How can I be sure the adopter is a good one?" All I can do is sigh and say—it's impossible to know for sure. Life changes so easily; what's true today may not be tomorrow. All we can do is try our best to think through every possibility and observe as carefully as we can during the adoption process. In the end, every adoption is a gamble. We choose the opportunity, but fate decides the outcome. Since we cannot foresee the future, all we can do is cherish and do our best in the present moment.

Balancing Time and Money: The Reality of Fostering Rabbits

When it comes to fostering rabbits, striking a balance between time, money, and compassion is crucial. Most rescued rabbits end up in one of two situations: either abandoned outdoors or poorly cared for. As a result, foster homes inevitably face cases involving illness, aging, or even death. Unless one receives support from an animal welfare organization, the emotional and financial cost of fostering can be overwhelming, often without any tangible compensation.

While human compassion can feel limitless, one's abilities and resources are not. This is a very real and important truth that is too often overlooked. Many people assume that once someone "takes over" a case, the problem is resolved—when in fact, that's only the beginning of the real challenge. For example, a ten-year-old rabbit who was adopted for over seven years and then returned to foster care must now undergo an extensive health checkup, demanding both time and funds.

Most fosterers begin this journey out of love for their own pet rabbits, extending that same unconditional care to others. Yet under this noble intention, one must always prioritize their own pets. Those who foster under animal protection groups often receive some oversight and guidance. However, independent fosterers need to be especially cautious: unchecked sympathy can easily become a trap. If every sad case triggers another impulsive rescue, it will eventually compromise the quality of life and attention given to the fosterer's own rabbits, undoing the very principle of love and compassion that began the journey.

In the end, true kindness means knowing your limits—so that each life in your care can be properly respected and well-lived.

Turn Blame into Strength

When we witness a rabbit being mistreated—whether the perpetrator is a stranger or even someone we personally chose as an adopter—it's only natural for us, as rabbit lovers, to feel angry and heartbroken. The pain is even sharper when the rabbit in question was once in our care. Alongside anger, we often feel guilt and regret.

But please remember that frustration, blame, or online condemnation cannot solve the problem. In fact, such actions may worsen the situation. Since what's done cannot be undone, blaming ourselves or others accomplishes nothing. At this moment, our focus should be on one thing: how to make the rabbit's life better from now on.

Let every step and every decision be guided by that purpose. Stay calm and composed; ensure the rabbit's safety and well-being first. There will be time later to reflect and learn from what happened.

Sometimes, like how a rescued rabbit might jump onto a newly delivered box of feed and turn it into its own playful stage, life offers small reminders that action matters more than words. Venting anger might feel satisfying for a moment, but it brings no benefit to the rabbit. Blaming yourself only wastes time—you cannot turn back the clock.

Instead, channel that emotional energy into positive action. Transform the pain of blame into a force for compassion, learning, and change. That is how we truly make a difference.

"Let your love speak through calm action."

Put Yourself in Others' Shoes: Practicing Mutual Respect

Since becoming a foster caregiver, I've often needed to interact with strangers. To my surprise, this experience has greatly improved my interpersonal skills, helping me reflect on and correct many of my own shortcomings. Along the way, I've also gained lasting friendships with many wonderful people through the adoption and fostering process.

One lesson I've learned through this journey is simple but invaluable: be strict in screening, yet stay approachable when communicating.

However, based on my own experiences and stories I've heard from others, too many fosters tend to hold themselves above others — treating adopters as if they were suspects to be interrogated. Some go so far as to excessively interfere after the adoption, turning what should be a permanent handover into a form of continuing "temporary care." And when dissatisfaction arises, it sometimes leads to one-sided posts online, rallying netizens to judge and expose the adopter publicly. Each time I see such cases, I can't help but worry how many people will further misunderstand or fear adopting because of these incidents.

I really wish I could tell everyone: it takes all kinds of people—please believe that not every foster is like that!

Apart from the few adopters with truly problematic attitudes, there are actually plenty of good-hearted adopters out there. Sadly, some of them have had unpleasant experiences simply because they weren't treated respectfully during the process, leaving them with bad impressions of fosters—or even being pressured to give up the adoption altogether. That's truly a pity.

No matter how much we love rabbits, we must remember that mutual understanding and respect between people are just as important. These two values don't conflict at all. Otherwise, such negative behavior only worsens public perception, discouraging more potential adopters, and indirectly encouraging more people to buy rather than adopt—something none of us wish to see.

Small Efforts, Big Impact: The True Meaning of Helping Foster Rabbits

Even the smallest act of kindness can make a tremendous difference. For animal fosterers, what matters most isn't material goods or money—it's finding a loving adopter who will never abandon their rabbit.

So even if you know you're not suited to be a foster, you can still offer meaningful help by making donations, spreading awareness, or choosing to adopt a foster rabbit yourself. Each adoption eases the burden on foster caregivers more than you might imagine.

Every foster dreams of the day they'll no longer need to foster—because that would mean a world without abuse or abandonment. It may sound like a fantasy, but one sentence continually reminds me:

"To change the world, it doesn't take one person doing a lot—it takes many people each doing a little."

Let's each "do a little." Every small effort adds up, creating a ripple of change across the world. For the small life in front of you, that simple action could mean the difference between despair and a brand-new beginning.

Take Baobao (formerly known as Jinlong), adopted through the Rabbit Lovers Association, as an example—adopting a foster rabbit like Baobao is one of the greatest helps you can give to those who foster.

Bunny Care Insights from Experienced Owners

In this piece, we've invited senior rabbit enthusiasts to share their hard-earned experiences and offer deeper insights into caring for rabbits. Through their knowledge, we hope to provide helpful guidance for a happier and healthier life for every bunny.

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