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HOST FAMILY RULES
General
1.1.The association, if necessary, finances the transport of the rabbit to the home of the FA.
1.2.The FA agrees to house the rabbit until it is adopted, for an undeterminable period. If the FA can no longer keep the rabbit, it is required to inform Happy Bunny as soon as possible (by telephone, post or email), at least two months in advance.
1.3.The FA cannot abandon the rabbit, nor dispose or sell it. The latter remains the protege of l'association.
1.4.Happy Bunny undertakes to provide the FA with the equipment (with the exception of the litter box) as well as the food necessary for the reception of the rabbit. All equipment lent by the association remains its property and will be maintained as a good father. This, as well as the medicines and food financed by Happy Bunny, will be used exclusively for the foster rabbit. The FA undertakes to return the equipment to the association. In the event of breaches, the association will demand reimbursement of the equipment.
1.5.The FA will inform its referent of its need for equipment/food, within the time prescribed by the latter. The association will send food and/or equipment by post, and will not reimburse purchases for which it has not given prior agreement.
1.6.The AF must be a member of the association for the duration of the rabbit's reception.
1.7.Happy Bunny is committed to supporting the FA. A volunteer will be the referent to contact in case of questions, problem, request for ordering food/equipment/veterinarian visit.
1.8.The FA will have access, on the association's forum, to a section reserved for FAs. Happy Bunny agrees not to remove this access as long as the FA hosts a bunny from the association.
1.9.In order to optimize the chances of adoption of the rabbit, the FA will send to the association detailed information concerning it, at least fortnightly. The latter will relate to the character of the rabbit, its progress since its arrival, its state of health, its habits, etc. Also, the FA will send, together with the aforementioned information, 5 recent photos of the rabbit.
1.10.If the animal in FA is sponsored, the FA will give monthly news of the rabbit to the people who sponsor it.
1.11.The rabbit will be named by its FA when taken care of, taking care to avoid a ridiculous name, cliché, or already used to baptize one of the rabbits taken care of by the association. The office reserves the right to refuse the proposed name if necessary.
Welcoming a Rabbit
2.1.Outside outings will take place, subject to Happy Bunny's agreement, only in a secure area and under surveillance. The rabbit will mostly live indoors.
2.2.The animal must have a living space adapted to its needs including at least:
- a litter box for defecating
- clean bowls for pellets, greenery and water
- an unlimited source of hay (rack, bowl, etc.)
- anything offering him comfort as well as the possibility of letting off steam
2.3.The FA undertakes to allow maximum freedom to the animal, at least 6 hours a day in a secure room or set of rooms (cables not accessible, sheathed, any valuable object or not suitable for height, etc.). Under no circumstances should the animal be locked up all the time. If the animal lives in semi-freedom, its enclosure must have a minimum surface area of 2m². Placements in cages are prohibited except in exceptional cases of cage therapy duly attested by a veterinary certificate.
2.4.AF plays a vital role in rabbit socialization. From then on, she undertakes to devote to him the time, attention and affection necessary for his well-being and his development, but also to stimulate him through outings, games and daily contacts. To do this, she will take care to respect the learning rhythm of the rabbit.
2.5.The FA is also committed to educating the rabbit: acquisition of cleanliness through the use of a litter box and non-destruction of the environment, in a positive approach. Under no circumstances will the FA use violence, abuse, “petting”, yelling, or anything else that stresses and/or abuses the rabbit. Education will be based on gentleness, rewards as well as objects to be destroyed such as cardboard, wood to chew on, etc. Happy Bunny will make sure to support the AM at the heart of this learning process.
2.6.In the event of abuse or negligence, whether physical or psychological, Happy Bunny will demand the return of the rabbit and file a complaint with the competent authorities.
Feed
3.1.The FA is committed to providing a healthy diet, in accordance with the physiological needs of the rabbit:
- Quality hay at will;
- Greenery/fresh vegetables every day;
- Possibly: quality extrudates, at the rate of 1% of the weight of the rabbit per day.
- Water changed daily, ideally containing less than 15 mg/l of calcium.
3.2.The hay as well as the extrudates can be supplied to the FA by the association. If necessary, these will be delivered free of charge to the home of the FA or to a “relay” point. If the FA chooses to finance extrudates and hay itself, it will ensure that it meets Happy Bunny's requirements and will not be eligible for reimbursement.
3.3.The FA will take care of a gradual introduction of vegetables/greenery, in order to avoid disturbing the transit of the rabbit. These are the responsibility of the FA.
3.4.Mixtures of seeds and cereals as well as all industrial treats and/or containing salt, fats and sugar are prohibited.
3.5.If the rabbit's state of health justifies it, Happy Bunny will reimburse any food supplement, veterinary product, force-feeding powder, etc. To do this, the FA will send the association an invoice mentioning the association as well as the name of the rabbit concerned.
Other animals
4.1.If the FA lives with its own rabbits, it is forbidden to have them cohabit with the foster rabbit. The quarantine period must be strictly observed.
4.2.Happy Bunny is against breeding. Under no circumstances will the rabbit be used for procreation purposes. Otherwise, the association will demand the immediate removal of the animal
4.3.If the FA lives with a dog or a cat, these can meet the rabbit. Initially gradually and under supervision. When there is no longer any danger for the rabbit, they will be able to live together. If in doubt, the FA will take no chances. If the dog is young, poorly socialized or poorly educated, meetings are strongly prohibited.
4.4.If the FA decides to adopt/welcome a new animal (whether independently or for another association), it will inform the association as soon as possible. In the event of an adoption deemed dangerous, Happy Bunny reserves the right to withdraw the rabbit. During the reception of the rabbit, the FA undertakes not to accommodate ferrets, snakes, or any other formidable predator.
Under no circumstances will the rabbit be in contact with an animal for which a quarantine has not been carried out beforehand.
Health
5.1.In order to quarantine when the rabbit arrives, the FA will isolate it in a room where it will have no contact with its own animals. She will wash her hands after each contact.
5.2.The FA undertakes to offer the rabbit a healthy living environment (not exposed to cigarette smoke or other toxic substances.) Also, the latter must be temperate and exposed to daylight. As for the litter, the FA will make sure to use elements that are not harmful to the rabbit. Excluded are: newsprint, wood/softwood shavings, mineral/silica/clumping litter. The litter and the water bowl will be cleaned regularly, for which the FA will use a non-toxic product such as white vinegar. The water will be changed daily, and low in calcium (less than 15 mg/l.)
5.3.Rabbit euthanasia is strictly prohibited, except in the exceptional case of a serious, incurable and painful state of health for the animal, attested by a veterinary certificate. In this case, the association must be informed of the situation as soon as possible in order to make a decision. If the FA Bunny dies accidentally or naturally, the FA is required to notify the Happy Bunny Office as soon as possible. The body will be brought to a veterinarian, validated by the association, who will write a death certificate. If necessary (in case of suspected virus, etc.), an autopsy will be required.
5.4.The FA undertakes, as far as necessary, to go to a veterinarian validated by the association. An appointment is made in the name of Happy Bunny, with his agreement as well as a veterinary slip. In the event of an emergency, the FA will go to the veterinarian, informing its referent or the association by email or telephone. Veterinary costs will be reimbursed after submission of an invoice. Discounts or other advantages resulting from partnerships between veterinarians and Happy Bunny cannot only concern rabbits cared for by the latter.
5.5.The FA will be attentive to the state of health of the rabbit, and will inform Happy Bunny of any doubt as to an illness, behavioral disorder, etc.
5.6.The rabbits collected by Happy Bunny will, after veterinary advice, be vaccinated against myxomatosis, VHD1 and VHD2, at the frequency recommended by the latter. Before going outside, vaccines must be up to date. (see: 2.1 on outdoor outings)
5.7.In the case of a pregnant rabbit, an urgent sterilization will be carried out if her health allows it. Before joining its adopters, the rabbit will be sterilized at the expense of the association. If the latter does not have the budget, the adopters will be required to finance the operation before the rabbit joins them, in order to avoid any risk of adoption with a view to reproduction.
6.1.In case of absence, the FA will entrust the rabbit to a person who will present reception conditions validated by the association.
6.2.If the FA does not have a custody solution, they will inform Happy Bunny as soon as possible in order to find one.
Adoption
Keep
7.1.When the association receives an adoption request for the rabbit, the volunteer handling the request will take into account the opinion of the FA.
7.2.If the FA forwards an adoption application along with a third party, the Association will assess who will be most beneficial to the rabbit.
7.3.Happy Bunny undertakes to validate an adoption request after a careful study of it. The members of the Bureau, the volunteers in charge of adoptions as well as the FA take part in the vote with a view to granting an adoption. Adoption ends with a majority of votes; in the event of a tie, the President's vote counts double.
7.4. If desired, the FA can conduct the post-adoption follow-up visit for the association.
7.5. Happy Bunny agrees to check in with the adopted bunny every 3 months for the first year after adoption, then every 3-6 months thereafter. The information received will be available on the forum, in the “Adopted Rabbits” section, which can be consulted by the FA.
Become a host family
If you wish to become a Host Family at Happy Bunny you can fill out the form HERE. One of our volunteers will contact you as soon as possible.
If you have any questions you can write an email to presidence.happybunny@gmail.com.
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