Our facility will be closed on certain dates throughout the Spring. We will be closed on the following dates:

• Thursday, March 28th through April 3rd for Easter Break
• Thursday, April 18th for an outreach event
• Sunday, April 21st for a large scale spay/neuter clinic for Napa Buns

We are looking forward to inviting everyone back on site for some of our newest main room renovations!

Make plans to join us for our 2nd annual holiday bunny bazaar on December 16, from 11 am to 4 pm.

Stop by to make your own mischief mat to take home to your furry friend or give to an HRS shelter rabbit, like Royal Icing (pictured). You can also make your own holiday foraging bag and stuff it full of special goodies that will be fun for your bunny to discover.

We’ll also have various rabbit keepsakes and trinkets and a hot cocoa bar (with vegan options) available by donation.

There’s no ticket for entry. Mischief mats are $15.99 and foraging bags are $5.99. We’ll have a free, exclusive holiday cocoa bunny sticker modeled after HRS volunteer bunny Cocoa for anyone who stops by, so don’t miss out! All proceeds support rabbit rescue and education. We hope to see you there!

Can’t make it to the event but would like to see all the goodies our Hop Shop has to offer? Check out our online store! We ship nationwide across the US.

On December 7th, 2023, an outbreak of myxomatosis was confirmed to have been the cause of several deaths of rabbits at an outdoor petting zoo in Berkeley, California, in early November. Read the article from Berkeleyside here.

House Rabbit Society is located here in the San Francisco Bay Area, and many of our members and supporters are local to us.

The Berkeley deaths are the 5th ones attributed to myxomatosis in the Bay Area in 2023. In August, there was a confirmed case in San Jose. In September, there was one in Santa Cruz. In October, there was a confirmed case in Santa Cruz and another in Freedom.

What is myxomatosis?

Myxomatosis is a deadly, viral infection in rabbits caused by a member of the Poxvirus family. It’s endemic to many coastal areas on the west coast of the United States, in the territory of the brush rabbit (Sylvilagus bachmani), which is a reservoir of this disease.

The virus is fatal to domestic rabbits. Currently, there is no treatment or vaccine available in the U.S. Myxomatosis only causes illness in rabbits, not other animals or in people.

How is myxomatosis spread?

Myxomatosis is spread by vectors (mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks) that have bitten an infected rabbit. Direct contact with an infected rabbit can also spread the disease or contact with surfaces contaminated by an infected rabbit. Wild rabbits can carry and spread myxomatosis but may not become sick.

What are the symptoms of myxomatosis?

Symptoms include swollen eyelids, ears, nose, lips, and genitals, a high fever, lethargy, loss of appetite, and progresses to difficulty breathing, and death, within 2 weeks or less. The onset of illness is rapid and sudden death may occur.

If you think your rabbit may have myxomatosis, call your veterinarian immediately and quarantine them away from all other rabbits.

Protecting your rabbit from myxomatosis

House Rabbit Society recommends rabbit guardians in areas where there have been confirmed cases of myxomatosis to house their rabbits indoors (which is also a recommendation due to Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus Type-2 [RHDV2]), with secure window screens.

Administer a monthly flea treatment to rabbits, to prevent fleas and fur mites. Safe treatments to prevent and kill fleas on rabbits include Advantage (imidocloprid), Program (lufenuron), and Revolution (selamectin). Never use Frontline (fipronil), which is fatal to rabbits.

Prevent mosquitoes from breeding on your property. Regularly check for stagnant water (such as flowerpots, gutters, etc.) and remove any that you find.

Wash your hands before and after handling rabbits, especially ones from outside your home.

Get your rabbit fixed at the Rabbit Center! We have restarted our low-cost spay/neuter clinics (by appointment). Since medical bandwidth is limited, surgeries are scheduled when our facility has open appointment spots. Typically, this is 1-2 appointments per week on a Wednesday. Surgery is scheduled first come, first serve. All participating rabbits MUST be vaccinated for RHDV. Additional services will be available!

Location: 148 Broadway, Richmond California 94804

Cost: $200 – $300 Sliding scale

For SF Bay Area residents, schedule an appointment here

For Contra Costa County residents, schedule and appointment here

Fill out our intake form before arriving 

If your rabbit is not yet vaccinated for RHDV, sign up for our low cost clinic!

Every first Saturday of the month from 12pm to 3pm, we host our monthly rabbit essentials pantry at the Rabbit Center where we have essential rabbit supplies available to the public on a limited first-come, first-served basis. Items that will be available include carriers, litter boxes, litter pellets, hay, food pellets, x-pens, and a limited selection of toys.

The pantry is open to Bay Area residents in need due to financial difficulties, no proof of household income required. We also welcome anyone who has found a dumped domestic rabbit in their neighborhood and needs the supplies to care for the rabbit while rehoming them.

Donate to support our rabbit essentials pantry. (In the comment box, please specify your donation is for the pantry.)

You can also donate items for the pantry. Food and litter items must be unopened, and other items should be lightly used and able to be sanitized.