Rabbit Rescue Group Outraged at Decision by PetSmart Sell Rabbits

[rabbitsncavyluv]

RICHMOND, CA (July 14, 2007) - House Rabbit Society asks that PetSmart, Inc., immediately reconsider its recent decision to sell dwarf rabbits in PetSmart stores. PetSmart has honored its commitment not to sell puppies and kittens in any of its stores, and HRS asks that the company extend the same protection to rabbits.

A nonprofit organization dedicated to rescuing rabbits and educating the public about proper rabbit care, HRS blames thousands of cases of rabbit neglect, abandonment, and euthanasia on impulse purchases of rabbits at pet stores. PetSmart has not previously sold rabbits in its stores, instead choosing to partner with HRS and other rabbit rescue organizations to place homeless rabbits.

As the world’s largest rabbit rescue organization, and with a website that gets over a million hits per week, House Rabbit Society has played the leading role in rescuing and placing abandoned rabbits. As of 2007, HRS volunteers have rescued over 20,000 rabbits, the vast majority of whom were originally purchased through pet stores and breeders.

PetSmart’s proposed sale of rabbits goes against everything that PetSmart itself claims to stand for. According to the Humane Society of the United States, rabbits are the third most-frequently relinquished species at shelters across the country, and PetSmart’s decision to sell rabbits when thousands languish in shelters will cause yet more rabbits to die.

HRS President Kathleen Wilsbach says, “Contrary to popular belief, rabbits are not low maintenance animals. In fact, compared to dogs and cats, they are actually very high maintenance pets.” Impulse purchases by customers with little knowledge of rabbits often results in the subsequent relinquishment of the animals to municipal shelters or to rescue groups such as HRS. Even worse, many frustrated owners simply release their companion rabbits out of doors – into neighborhoods or wilderness areas where they fall victim to dogs, cats, raccoons, and motor vehicles.

Because of PetSmart’s decision to breed and sell rabbits in spite of its adoption partnerships with HRS chapters and other rabbit rescue groups, House Rabbit Society is now encouraging its members to shop elsewhere for their pet supplies. For those individuals interested in bringing a rabbit home to their families, HRS suggests contacting local animal shelters, humane societies or rabbit rescue groups for information about adopting a rabbit. A full list of HRS chapters, contacts and other rabbit rescue organizations, as well as comprehensive information on rabbit care, can be found at House Rabbits - Behavior, Care, Rescue, Adoption, Education | House Rabbit Society.

An Open Letter to Petsmart: An Open Letter To Petsmart

What you can do to help: What You Can Do Regarding PetSmart's Sale of Rabbits

Here is some good information on Marshall Farms - who provide the bunnies to Petco and PetSmart. See Below

PetSmart is test marketing rabbits from a bunny mill (Marshall Farms, the same bunny mill Petco gets their rabbits from) where mother rabbits are treated like nothing more than machines. The mommies are kept pregnant and then disregarded once they can no longer produce more babies to sell.

Marshall BioResources --on this page, you can read about the beagles, mongrels/hounds, minipigs and ferrets that Marshall Farms breeds/sells to companies that test on animals...

Then, if that depresses you, go to mpwebhome where you'll see a totally different side of Marshall Farms--the fluffy, cute façade... the Marshall Pet page.

[suzilovespiggie]

One more battle to fight. I encourage everyone on this site to e-mail Petsmart and tell them what you think and not to sell rabbits, not only rabbits but all small animals. How do we as a group go against Marshall Farms so they too can be shut down? Any ideas?

[Sopher7132]

My local rabbit shelter sent me a e-mail about this. I posted the letter a few days ago which explains in more detail as to how we can help. They told any rabbit owner to write them a personal letter. Include pics of your rabbit, how much money they require, how many are homeless, your own story about how you adopted a rabbit. They also reccommended we send it in a big envelope so that they are more willing to open it. A petsmart employee stated that most of the letters they recieve they do not even look through, so you need to make them stand out. We need to get it stuck in their heads that purchasing a rabbit is just like purchasing a dog.

[Jennicat]

FYI, when I wrote to Petsmart, I got a form letter back from their company:

[FONT=Century Gothic]Dear Jennifer,[/FONT]
[FONT=Century Gothic]Thank you for sharing your concerns with us regarding the sale of dwarf rabbits in our stores. We began testing this concept in 40 stores across the country this month. There appears to be some confusion and misinformation circulating about this test, so we appreciate the opportunity to provide some clarification.[/FONT]
[FONT=Century Gothic][/FONT][FONT=Century Gothic]
It’s important for you to know that, as with any pet we sell in our stores, we began this test only after many months of careful evaluation by a team that included pet care experts and veterinarians. We selected a dwarf variety that we believe will make a great family pet and will create a lifelong bond with its family. As part of this test, we’ll conduct follow-up, random surveys of customers to see how these pets are adjusting. [/SIZE][/FONT]

[FONT=Century Gothic]We are sensitive to the issue of pet populations and animal welfare and took that into consideration when making our decision to sell dwarf rabbits. All rabbits sold through PetSmart will be spayed or neutered before they arrive at the stores. And the retail price of $99.99, we believe, will deter customers from buying this pet on impulse, a practice we strongly discourage. [/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Century Gothic][/FONT][FONT=Century Gothic]
In addition, we will continue to promote rabbit adoptions in our stores. We partner currently with more than 50 animal welfare organizations that are specifically devoted to rabbits and that conduct adoptions at our stores. We will continue these partnerships as well as continue to add qualified adoption partners. [/FONT][FONT=Century Gothic]

We take our responsibility seriously when it comes to selling pets. We make sure our associates are well equipped to answer customers’ questions about the pet and determine if it’s the right fit. We provide customers with the tools to help them make a responsible decision and to deliver the proper care and attention needed for their pet.[/FONT][FONT=Century Gothic]

We share your passion for pets and want to assure you we’ll do what’s right for our Pet Parents and their pets. You can also find additional information about dwarf rabbits and our test on our website at[/FONT][FONT=Century Gothic].[/FONT]

[FONT=Century Gothic]Sincerely,[/FONT]
[FONT=Century Gothic]Cory[/FONT]
[FONT=Century Gothic]PetSmart.com Customer Experience[/FONT]
[FONT=Century Gothic]1989 Transit Way[/FONT]
[FONT=Century Gothic]Brockport, NY 14420[/FONT]
[FONT=Century Gothic]1-888-839-9638[/FONT]
[FONT=Century Gothic]

[/FONT]I replied that as a guinea pig owner and rescuer, Petsmart certainly hadn't been a partner to us, so why should we expect better of rabbits, which are dumped more often, and tend to end up having serious problems and being unadoptable more often. (But longer, and more professional sounding.)[FONT=Century Gothic]

[/FONT]

[Alusdra]

And of course rescues will continue to support Petsmart once the store starts adding to the problem...

I got a 'dwarf' bunny from a family that bought her from a pet store... oops, turned out to be a New Zealand White (one of the largest species) and one that is used most often in research... strange that such an animal would come from a mill that also sells to research institutions...

[suzilovespiggie]

I recieved the same letter, Jennicat, I sent it to T as I did not know how to transfer it here. It seems they are and plan to continue selling the rabbits. I have rabbits from my local Humane Society. One a lop, the other a drawf. We have two rabbit shelters near Tucson, both full of rabbits. I told Petsmart this but it doesn't faze them. I told them of the breeding mills but they didn't answer to that.
I will get pictures and do as sopher7132 suggests.

[Sopher7132]

I just saw this on Craigslist. It's in Chicago.


Reply to: Chancelynn2002@yahoo.com
Date: 2007-07-19, 10:22AM CDT

This was flagged, for whatever reason. Please knock it off. I am only speaking the truth and helping out.

Hello! First of all, PETsMART does NOT sell rabbits - under PETsMART rule we do not sell anything larger than a guinea pig. Rabbits, cats, and dogs are considered overpopulated, and besides that their requirements for being raised properly do not suit them for life sitting in a pet store, so they are not sold; it is strictly against policy and PETsMART charter. Adoption organizations will bring in their larger fuzzy friends to be adopted in the store, but it is nothing to do with PETsMART operations.

However, PETCO DOES sell rabbits as well as ferrets. All animals require contact and handling, but these more so to be used to humans and household life.
If you want to contact PETCO, you may do so here:

Mr. James M. Myers, CEO
PETCO Animal Supplies
9125 Rehco Road
San Diego, CA 92121
Fax: 858-453-6585
E-mail: customersatisfaction@petco.com

Please research your posts before printing incorrect items.

Have a good day, everyone!

[CavyHubby]

Hmmmm I had not seen this thread before, But I was in Petco yesterday. They had added a new cage on the floor with rabbits.


Safe Journies
Samuel

[rabbitsncavyluv]

Whoever posted that on craig's list is wrong. Petstupid sells ferrets, chinchillas and rabbits. Those are all bigger than guinea pigs. They're a chain with 1000s of stores. Maybe not everyone carries them all but it's all the same.

I wish we could use this public pressure and bad publicity to push them to do away with all the small animals/ exotics sales.

[Jennicat]

Not to mention, the announcement about rabbits was on the Petsmart website, and they sent everyone who complained a letter back saying that they were going to sell rabbits, but only dwarfs.