VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Pack Hay
Become a hay elf for a few hours on Saturday mornings to pack hay for sale. We also have need of volunteers with a roomy vehicle such as SUV or pick-up truck to haul boxed hay to our distribution locations.

Following is the tentative upcoming hay packing schedule. Please note that this is subject to change based on current supply of hay, upcoming needs, and weather. We suggest that you contact the person listed before coming out to help.

East County Hay Packing 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. (approx.). Rancho San Diego Animal Hospital parking lot, 2988 Jamacha Rd., El Cajon. Contact Lisa at lisalisansd@yahoo.com if any questions.  Two to three times per month.

North County Hay Packing 8:30 - 10:30 a.m., Escondido. Contact Cindy at cindyvestyck@yahoo.com for details.  Two to three times per month.

Foster Homes
We have a need for foster homes that can take one or two rabbits.  This requires you to house the rabbit indoors according to HRS guidelines, and to make the foster rabbit available for regularly scheduled adoption days.  To get all the details on fostering for HRS, contact Judith at hrs@sandiegorabbits.org.  A six-month commitment is required for this position.

Foster Home Assistants
Help out in an HRS foster home with general rabbit care; cleaning cages & rabbit rooms, litterbox changes, grooming, exercise, socializing and feeding.  Requires a regular, ongoing commitment and scheduled time/day per week.  Training provided.

Become a Sanctuary Home
Permanent homes are needed for "sanctuary" status rabbits. Rabbits in sanctuary care need caretakers with rabbit experience. These rabbits may have challenging attitudes or on-going medical concerns, making them difficult to adopt into permanent homes. HRS covers all medical costs and "most" supplies (cage, hay, etc.) to approved sanctuary homes. You provide the love and care, throughout the bunnies' lives. Home inspection required. Contact HRS at 619-718-7777 or hrs@sandiegorabbits.org to apply for sanctuary status, and to give one of these homeless bunnies a loving place to live throughout the remainder of its life.

HRS Bunny Supply Store Assistance: ALERT! We have a critical need for additional volunteers in this area.
Our Bunny Supply Store in Kearny Mesa is open on the first and third Saturdays of each month from Noon to 3. If you can help with merchandise sales, education, and/or trimming nails, contact Tina at SDBunny13@aol.com. We also need people with trucks or SUV's to pick up and deliver Carefresh, pellets and cages from KW Cages in Santee, to the store.  We are located at 4805 Mercury Street, Suite B, in Kearny Mesa.  Find our building on the northeast corner of Mercury Street and Ronson Road.

Shelter Volunteers
San Diego HRS does not have a shelter, but instead works closely with our local shelters. Shelter volunteers clean cages, provide fresh food and water, socialize and exercise rabbits, evaluate personality for rabbits' descriptions on websites, be alert for medical/social problems. Most shelters require that volunteers go through an orientation program. Volunteers must be experienced in safely handling rabbits, trimming nails, etc. Training will be provided to volunteers who can commit to a set schedule.

ALERT: There is a crucial need for volunteers in our local shelters and humane societies. If you can help, even if only 2 to 3 hours per week, please contact us. You must make a commitment to be at the shelter on a regular basis, about the same time each week, and go through the shelters' orientation before working on your own. Our presence in the local shelters makes a huge difference to rabbits who might otherwise be euthanized due to lack of space or experienced rabbit caretakers. You really can make a difference!

Following are the local shelters with whom HRS works. If you are interested in volunteering with the rabbits at local shelters, contact volunteer@sandiegorabbits.org

Volunteer Opportunities for Kids
Many of the volunteer opportunities listed above (rabbit care, bunny store, education events, PETCO stores, etc.) can be performed by older children alongside a parent or adult guardian.  Check with us to see if a volunteer need can be met by adult/kid partners.

Teens and pre-teens are welcome. Under 16 requires an adult to volunteer with them; all require written permission from a parent or guardian (up to age 18). Not all volunteer positions will be appropriate for our younger volunteers; we will help you figure out where you can help.

Kids, become a volunteer with the SNAP Dragons, and be part of helping animals in San Diego County.