Adoption Terms & Conditions

These Terms & Conditions outline the commitments required when purchasing a rabbit from Bellarine Bunnies.

By reserving or purchasing a rabbit, the buyer confirms they understand and agree to all terms, expectations and requirements outlined on this page. They also commit to loving & protecting their new family member.

💜 1. Responsible Ownership

The primary responsible person must be an adult (18 years or older) who accepts responsibility for the rabbit for its full lifespan - recognising that rabbits can live up to 13 years .

During this time, owners must commit to providing:

  • Housing that allows the rabbit to move freely, stretch fully, and exercise daily
  • Daily care, enrichment, and interaction
  • Constant access to unlimited hay and constant access to fresh water -
  • An appropriate diet including fresh greens and high quality pellets
  • Clean living conditions
  • Daily monitoring of their bunnies appetite, health and behavioural conditions

🩺 2. Veterinary Care

Health care is a basic right for all bunnies and new owners must commit to providing appropriate veterinary care during their lifetime. This includes ensuring:

  • Access to prompt veterinary care when their bunny is injured or unwell
  • Supplying preventative health care including vaccinations (where recommended by your vet)
  • Desexing when age-appropriate (unless part of an agreed breeding arrangement)

🏡 3. Housing & Environment

A bunnie's housing and environment has a huge impact on their wellbeing, happiness and long term health outcomes. All new owners must understand this & commit to providing safe, secure & appropriately sized housing for their bunnies, as well as regular opoortunities for them to play, stretch & explore.

It is never ok for a bunny to live in a cage or small hutch .

New owners agree to meeting the following minimum standards throughout their bunnies lifetime:

  • Housing that protects the rabbit from pests, predators, and environmental risks
  • Bunnies cannot regulate their body temperature and at high risk of heat stress. New owners commit to providing their bunny with a climate controlled environment and constant protection from heat & cold.
  • Regular opportunities for exercising in large open (secure) areas where they can explore, move freely and live their best bunny lives.
  • A clean, secure, and well-maintained environment

💸 4. Deposits & Reservations

Deposits allow us to reserve your chosen bunny while ensuring availability remains fair for all families.

  • Our rabbitry is not open to the public due to the persistent biosecurity threats to rabbits in Victoria (ie calicivirus).
  • A 50% non-refundable deposit is required to reserve a rabbit
  • Once a deposit is received, a pickup appointment and collection address will be provided. For context, we are very close to GMHBA Stadium in Geelong (which is located on Kilgour Street, Geelong).

📦 5. Pickup

We aim to provide a positive and relaxed experience for all families picking up their new bunny.

  • Bellarine Bunnies retain legal ownership of all rabbits until full payment is made & the rabbit is picked up.
  • All outstanding balances must be settled in cash at pickup .
  • Pickup is by appointment only
  • A secure carrier must be brought for transport
  • Bunnies must be collected within 7 days of reservation unless otherwise agreed.

🔁 6. Rehoming

If at any time the owner can no longer keep their rabbit, the rabbit must be returned to Bellarine Bunnies Geelong.

  • New owners agree that they will never rehome, abandon or surrender their bunny .
  • Should the worst happen, bunnies must be returned to Bellarine Bunnies, with ownership transferred back to us.
  • Bellarine Bunnies cannot pay owners seeking to return a bunny to our care. Due to quarantine requirements, and health care costs (all bunnies must recieve vet health checks & testing before being safely returned to the main rabbitry), this is simply not possible.