Thank you so much for the support you’ve shown to The Bunny Hutch over the past several weeks, months, and years. It is with great sadness that we announce our facility will be closing at the end of 2019.
The Bunny Hutch and CLIMATES-Rescue as a nonprofit will live on. After a period of reorganization in 2020, we will continue our mission to help rescue exotic animals and advocate for stronger regulations in the exotic pet trade. Although we will no longer have a facility in Virginia Beach, we will be a home-based rescue and, more importantly, help raise money for shelters throughout Hampton Roads and beyond so they can improve their herpatological and educational departments. Our goal is to continue to teach the public about responsible pet ownership.
Here are a few FAQs about what you can expect:
What is the timeline for closing the Virginia Beach facility?
Over the next few months, all volunteers and interns will report to The Bunny Hutch for their normal shifts and all planned events will occur as normal.
We will remain open for walk-in tours until sometime in October or November, and after that tours will be by appointment only. Please watch our social media accounts and homepage for updates.
Our current goal is to have a large closing sale in November and to close the doors officially on Dec. 31, 2019.
At this time, we are not accepting applications for new volunteers or animal surrenders, except at the discretion of our director. Please email us before completing the forms.
What about the animals currently at the facility?
Jr. the continental giant is our director’s registered ESA (emotional support animal) and will live with her for the rest of his life. They will be available for speaking engagements starting in early 2020.
We have educational facilities lined up to give homes to our animal ambassadors: Blue the savannah monitor, Shio the fox, and Scarlet the red-tailed boa. As soon as the transfer details are solid, we will announce on social media when and where you can visit them at their new homes.
Currently, we have a few animals at our facility looking for forever homes with private individuals. Please check our adoption page for details. Any animals still without homes as of Dec. 31, 2019 will be transferred to our home fosters while we continue to look for appropriate homes for them.
Can I still book an event?
Right now, yes. We are still booking birthday parties, zookeeper for a day, and other events through the end of the year. We will update our events page when we are no longer booking.
If I donate now, what happens to that money?
Currently, your donations go to feed and house the animals still in our care. In the future, donations will also go to helping exotic animals. Just because we are closing the facility doesn’t mean that we won’t have operating expenses. We will continue to be a home-based rescue and 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Our fostered animals will need food, medical attention, toys, and more. Additionally, as funds allow, we hope to someday offer small grants to other shelters so they can improve care for their exotic pets. Your donations continue to be tax-deductible. You can click here to make a donation.
If you have any questions, please email info@thebunnyhutch.org (Keep in mind that we are all volunteers here, so it can take 24-48 hours to reply.)