Image by Rebekka D
If you have a bunny, chances are you'll have to buy new items to entertain your bunny because your pet seems not to enjoy the existing items anymore. What will you do with the old items? Throw them? Or donate them?
Donating old bunny items to the shelter is better so you won't be wasting but helping other bunnies while waiting for their adoption.
Bunny Items You Can Donate
1. Old bunny toys
There are a few things to consider when deciding what bunny toys to donate. First and foremost, you shouldn't donate any toys that are broken or unsafe. If a toy has lost limbs or has small parts that could easily be chewed off, it's best to throw it away.
Similarly, if a toy is too large for your rabbit (too big for them to pick up), it may be better not to donate it.
You can donate toys that have never interested your rabbit. Since all rabbits are different from one another and have different levels of energy and playfulness, there's nothing wrong with donating an old toy if your rabbit has never shown interest in playing with it.
You want these items in the paws of bunnies that will love them!
2. Old accessories/clothes/other items
If you're looking to donate old bunnies' accessories/clothes/other items, there are some things you should consider before tossing them in a bag.
It should be clean and free from any stains or smells.
The item should be in good condition—not ripped or torn.
Don't forget to wash anything you plan on donating by hand so it doesn't get ruined during transport to the shelter.
After washing them out at home with soap and water, allow them to air dry before putting them into plastic bags or bins; this helps prevent lint buildup while volunteers transport them.
3. Old bunny cages
If you have trained your bunny to free-roam, don't throw the cage away! You can donate the cage to a shelter or rescue group with rabbits. They can use the cage for their current rabbits or prospective adoptees.
If there are no rabbit rescue groups in your area (or if you just prefer to keep your old belongings), don't fret—you can benefit other bunnies in other ways.
You can still use the cage when traveling with a bunny!
Contact Local Shelters and Check Their Needs
Once you've decided to donate your bunny items, it's important to ensure the shelter can use them. To do this, contact them and ask if they need what you have.
Ask if they have room in their facility to store the items and whether or not they have enough manpower to use them (or if they need volunteers). Also, remember that shelters are often busy places with lots of different needs—they might not be able to offer much time or energy toward using your donations right away because other things come first.
Donating old bunny items to shelters can help make space in your house, help another rabbit in need, and feel good!
Disclaimer: We are not professional veterinarians or medical doctors. We created this blog based on our experiences with pet rabbits, volunteered hours in the rabbit shelter, extensive pet product research, and experienced peers. The purpose of this blog is to provide information about properly taking care of rabbits. Please know that it is still best to visit the vet regularly. For medical emergencies, contact a rabbit-savvy vet. Always observe your rabbits around new products or environmental changes.
Final Thoughts on Donating Old Bunny Items
We hope you're inspired to donate some old bunny items. The best thing about donating items is that you don't need to do it all at once; you can spread the donations out over time and ensure your bunnies are taken care of first.
If there are other bunny items you think might be useful for shelters, you can let the volunteers know about that!