STEP 1 – REVIEW THE ANIMALS ON THIS SITE
You can see a selection of the animals available for adoption on this site and get basic information about them. You may also see a ‘home profile’ where we outline the kind of home that would be suitable for that animal e.g. older children only, no other animals etc. In these cases they are not merely recommendations as it is important that we get the right home for our animals and the right animal for you.
STEP 2 – VISIT THE SANCTUARY
If you see an animal that you think you might like to adopt, your next step will be to visit us any day between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. The farm staff will be pleased to meet you and help you with information about the rabbits, guinea pigs and degus.
This site is kept as up to date as possible, but you will need to check that the animal has not yet been reserved when you visit the sanctuary.
STEP 3 – RESERVE THE ANIMAL
Once you have decided that you have found an animal that is right for you, you should ask the farm staff to make a reservation for you. After asking you a series of questions relevant to the care of the animal they will fill out an adoption application that will be passed to the home visitor for your area. If you already have an animal then ideally they should be introduced before going to their new home so please ask our staff for advice.
STEP 4 – THE HOME VISIT
The home visitor will phone you to make an appointment to visit you at a mutually convenient time. After discussing the matter with you the home visitor will almost certainly give us a ring and tell us that it is a great home for one of our friends and that we can proceed with the adoption. Please note that occasionally we may have to decline an offer of a new home for one of our animals. We do not do this lightly or without good cause. The home visitor’s decision is final and cannot be appealed to the sanctuary management. It may take seven to ten days to arrange a visit.
STEP 5 – THE FINAL CHECK
After receiving the call from your home visitor we will determine when you want to collect the animal. They will have had a vet check during their stay with us and if this is not recent he/she will be checked again. Assuming the vet is happy you will then be able to collect your new best friend.
STEP 6 – COLLECT YOUR ANIMAL
You can then collect your new friend any time between 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. You should allow time for the adoption process which usually takes about 15 minutes. If you wish to collect on a Saturday or a Sunday, please bear with us as weekends are our busiest time and we do not want the adoption process to be rushed.
Before they leave us all our rabbits are de-flead, wormed, neutered and vaccinated. If animals are too young to be neutered you will be issued with a voucher for our veterinary service, Vets4Pets in Bury to be done free of charge. This neutering is not discretionary as all our animals are neutered. Males are neutered at about 4 months old and females at 6 months old. Guinea Pigs are not neutered as routine in the interests of the welfare of our animals.
The donation that we currently ask is £35 for a rabbit, but £60 if you adopt two rabbits and £20 for a guinea pig.
Rabbits – a suitable hutch can be recommended by the farm manager when discussing adoption.
Please ask our farm staff for advice on the provision of winter housing or on a suitable run for a rabbit or guinea pig for exercise.
Guinea pigs and rabbits are not suitable for rehoming together but guinea pigs need the companionship of another animal.
If you need any further information you may find it in our FAQ’s on this site; otherwise you may phone between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day on 01706 822577, or visit us during these hours.
