How to adopt

We are happy to rehome our rabbits with young children providing the parent(s) are happy to teach the children how to respect and treat animals. It's also important the rabbits have previously lived with young children and that our staff are confident the rabbits would be able to live in a household with young children.

We strongly recommend rabbits live in pairs and we will assist in the bonding process to make sure you find the right mate for your existing rabbit. Your rabbit will need to be neutered if it has not already been, prior to reserving a Mayhew rabbit.

This can be discussed on a case by case basis as this largely depends on whether or not your cat/dog has lived with rabbits before, as well as the temperament and demeanour of the rabbit you are interested in adoption.

You will need to provide us with either proof that you own the home you live in, or provide us with a permission letter from your landlord, council or housing trust.

If you live in rented accommodation, the adoption process will be vastly speeded up if you can bring an approval letter to your rabbit viewing.

We recommend rabbits have access to an outdoor hutch and run area as this is the most natural environment for them. However, we are willing to discuss other circumstances as well.

We are happy to rehome our rabbits anywhere in the UK providing potential adopters are able to carry out a minimum of two trips to The Mayhew Animal Home. However, please note our home visits may take longer to arrange.

You need to be over 18 to adopt a dog from The Mayhew.

Also, if there is an increased chance your new rabbits might outlive you, we will ask to meet the person who would take the rabbits on, should this happen.

All family members.

We cannot reserve a rabbit over the phone/email without first discussing and meeting the individual rabbit with you in person at The Mayhew. If you are serious about adopting one of our rabbit we strongly recommend that you visit The Mayhew as soon as you're able during our opening hours. We will not reserve a rabbit for you, unless we feel it is the right match.

There is no limit on the time you can spend getting acquainted with suitable rabbits before you reserve, and we would encourage you spend as much time with them as possible, however visits must take place during designated viewing times. Before you officially adopt and take your new rabbit home, it is vital that a bond is established between the rabbit you wish to adopt and your existing rabbit, if you are looking to pair him/her with a mate. The Mayhew will assist with this but please be aware that this can take anywhere from several days to a few weeks.

All of our rabbits are fully health checked and temperament tested. We are always completely honest with adopters and will make it very clear to you if the rabbit you are interested in has any health or behavioural problems. There are however no long-term guarantees. Any rabbit can develop a health or behavioural problem at any point in his/her life. If you adopt a rabbit from The Mayhew you will be required to register him/her with a specialist vet with experience in treating rabbits. Veterinary and behaviourist fees can be expensive, for this reason we strongly recommend pet insurance. We offer lifetime support for all of our rabbits and will be available to offer guidance throughout the rabbit's life.

It is £40 for one rabbit, and £80 for a pair. All of our rabbits are neutered, microchipped, vaccinated, health checked and behaviourially assessed before they are rehomed. We also provide you with a year's friend of The Mayhew membership and four weeks free pet insurance with Petplan.

The Mayhew is a charity solely funded by the generosity of the general public.

If your visit is successful and you are introduced to a pair of rabbits which you like, you will be asked to pay the adoption fee of £80.00 and this puts the rabbits on reserve for you (ensuring no one else can view or adopt the rabbits whilst it is still within our care). If you are looking for a single rabbit to rehome with an existing rabbit, we will place a temporary reserve on the rabbit while we go through the bonding process. If this is successful, you will then be asked to pay the adoption fee of £40.00.

Our home visits are extremely important, as we need to ensure that all potential owners and their environment is conducive to a happy life for our rabbits. It is also a second opportunity for you to ask any advice/information on how to care for your new animal.

Our rabbits have already been given up once before by their previous owners, so they are now looking for guardians who will be 100% committed to them for the rest of their lives. You will be taking on up to a ten year commitment, which must not be taken lightly. All of our procedures are in place for the benefit and welfare of our rabbits.

Whilst we understand it may be easier for you to 'buy' a rabbit, we would hope this is not something you would consider when hundreds of rabbits are given up in the UK due to loss of interest or lack of time to care for them. Please do not think our policies are in place to put you off adopting a rabbit. Instead look at them as an opportunity to prove your commitment to us. You'll be happy you did when find yourself living with your perfect companion and knowing you've helped save a rabbit's life in the process.

It is normal to have some anxity in the first couple of weeks following the arrival of a new animal in your home. Please call us on 020 8969 0178 to discuss any issues you may be experiencing and we will do our best to help and support you.

Due to our rigorous adoption procedures and advice given we rarely need to take animals back into the Home, but as part of our commitment to you and the animals we adopt out, we will take in any animals which you can no longer care for.