So, it seems every article you write and share, I have a personal experience with, Ed. This is no exception and I’m sure if anyone reads my responses probably thinks I have a fantastical imagination or it’s simply not possible in ones life to have all of these hands on experience.
I have the receipts.
During my tenure of employment as a vet tech, I was a preschool teacher for a time to destress from the challenge of that job.
Invariably the child care facility would have a pet for the children to give care to and induce kindness towards animals.
That part was good but that is as far as it went.
The actual daily care of the rabbit was almost never followed through.
The cage would oftentimes filthy and water bottle empty upon my return after a weekend. The rabbit, if female, would suffer from periodic UTI’s due to an unclean environment.
I took over the care completely with clean litter, the right nutrition and tried to establish an area in the building that was the less stressful place for the rabbit hutch.
I finally had enough and took the rabbit home and to my vet.
I never took the rabbit back claiming she had an infection that would take months to treat. Yes!! I lied. I did however, convince the daycare to not have a resident animal explaining the work and cost involved to care for that animal rather have the local humane society come periodically to explain animal care and kindness. A program most humane societies have.
Rabbits are so prone to stress and infant rabbits can die if put in stressful situations.
I am angry that Petco has resumed selling animals and I intend to follow through with the info you gave on your post.
My heart breaks every time I notice a backyard hutch knowing there could be one of these beautiful and kind animals wasting away slowly day by day, the owner not knowing the very specific needs rabbits require.
Elizabeth, thank you again for sharing your heartfelt story and experiences. Your dedication to animal welfare shines through in every aspect of your life. Your actions in caring for the rabbit and advocating for humane education at the daycare are commendable. It's stories like yours that inspire others to take action and make a difference. I'm grateful to have someone like you in this community, and I appreciate your commitment to following through with the information provided. Thank you for your support and for being a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves.
I so appreciate your Call to Action sections, Ed! I just emailed both Joel and Customer Relations. I hope stressing that I refuse to shop at Petco until I learn they aren’t selling rabbits anymore hits them where it hurts. I know I am just one person but maybe I will signal to them that there are enough of us who will do this and it hurts their reputation and perhaps even their bottom line.
Yvonne, thank you for taking action and reaching out to Petco's leadership. Your decision to withhold your business until they change their policy on rabbit sales is a powerful statement. Every voice counts, and your efforts contribute to a larger movement that can influence Petco's decisions. Let's hope that with enough collective pressure, we can encourage them to prioritize animal welfare and reconsider their stance. Thank you for your commitment and support!
The rabbits people surrender after an impulse buy are lucky if they land at a shelter. Too often the owner just lets them out in the yard or the woods, thinking they could survive the way a wild hare would. If someone wants to adopt a rabbit, they can find one through either their local shelter or a rescue organization online
Jan, thank you for highlighting such an important issue. It's heartbreaking to think of rabbits being abandoned, and you're absolutely right—domesticated rabbits aren't equipped to survive in the wild like their wild counterparts. Your suggestion to adopt from local shelters or rescue organizations is spot-on and helps ensure these animals find loving, responsible homes. Thank you for your insightful contribution!
So, it seems every article you write and share, I have a personal experience with, Ed. This is no exception and I’m sure if anyone reads my responses probably thinks I have a fantastical imagination or it’s simply not possible in ones life to have all of these hands on experience.
I have the receipts.
During my tenure of employment as a vet tech, I was a preschool teacher for a time to destress from the challenge of that job.
Invariably the child care facility would have a pet for the children to give care to and induce kindness towards animals.
That part was good but that is as far as it went.
The actual daily care of the rabbit was almost never followed through.
The cage would oftentimes filthy and water bottle empty upon my return after a weekend. The rabbit, if female, would suffer from periodic UTI’s due to an unclean environment.
I took over the care completely with clean litter, the right nutrition and tried to establish an area in the building that was the less stressful place for the rabbit hutch.
I finally had enough and took the rabbit home and to my vet.
I never took the rabbit back claiming she had an infection that would take months to treat. Yes!! I lied. I did however, convince the daycare to not have a resident animal explaining the work and cost involved to care for that animal rather have the local humane society come periodically to explain animal care and kindness. A program most humane societies have.
Rabbits are so prone to stress and infant rabbits can die if put in stressful situations.
I am angry that Petco has resumed selling animals and I intend to follow through with the info you gave on your post.
My heart breaks every time I notice a backyard hutch knowing there could be one of these beautiful and kind animals wasting away slowly day by day, the owner not knowing the very specific needs rabbits require.
Elizabeth, thank you again for sharing your heartfelt story and experiences. Your dedication to animal welfare shines through in every aspect of your life. Your actions in caring for the rabbit and advocating for humane education at the daycare are commendable. It's stories like yours that inspire others to take action and make a difference. I'm grateful to have someone like you in this community, and I appreciate your commitment to following through with the information provided. Thank you for your support and for being a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves.
Until I take my last breath…
I so appreciate your Call to Action sections, Ed! I just emailed both Joel and Customer Relations. I hope stressing that I refuse to shop at Petco until I learn they aren’t selling rabbits anymore hits them where it hurts. I know I am just one person but maybe I will signal to them that there are enough of us who will do this and it hurts their reputation and perhaps even their bottom line.
Yvonne, thank you for taking action and reaching out to Petco's leadership. Your decision to withhold your business until they change their policy on rabbit sales is a powerful statement. Every voice counts, and your efforts contribute to a larger movement that can influence Petco's decisions. Let's hope that with enough collective pressure, we can encourage them to prioritize animal welfare and reconsider their stance. Thank you for your commitment and support!
Sad
The rabbits people surrender after an impulse buy are lucky if they land at a shelter. Too often the owner just lets them out in the yard or the woods, thinking they could survive the way a wild hare would. If someone wants to adopt a rabbit, they can find one through either their local shelter or a rescue organization online
Jan, thank you for highlighting such an important issue. It's heartbreaking to think of rabbits being abandoned, and you're absolutely right—domesticated rabbits aren't equipped to survive in the wild like their wild counterparts. Your suggestion to adopt from local shelters or rescue organizations is spot-on and helps ensure these animals find loving, responsible homes. Thank you for your insightful contribution!