Backtracking on its own promises, Petco will start selling rabbits in select southern stores. This is a disaster for rabbits and the shelters and rescues that eventually will care for them.
Update: After national outcry from animal protection organizations, rescues, and shelters, Petco reversed its decision to sell rabbits in its stores. This move demonstrates the power of public pressure campaigns. We remain committed to ending the sale of all animals in pet stores.
Rabbits sold in pet stores come from cruel mills, and many end up in shelters. Petco stopped selling rabbits in 2008 after pressure from animal advocates. Alarmingly, it has reversed course and will resume selling rabbits in select stores. Petco employees have stated they expect the rabbits to arrive in the next month or so.
Several state laws and hundreds of cities prohibit the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits. However, none of these state laws are in the South, which makes it easy for Petco to go back on its word.
Rabbits Come From Cruel Mills
Rabbits (and all animals) sold in pet stores come from cruel mills where animals suffer. Animals are kept in stressful, crowded, unsanitary conditions, and ill and injured animals receive little to no veterinary care. Many animals die. At Holmes Farm in Pennsylvania, rabbits and other small mammals were bred in horrific conditions and sold to pet stores, including Petco and PetSmart. US Department of Agriculture inspectors found decomposing animals, cannibalism, filthy cages, and very sick animals.
Rabbits End Up in Shelters and Abandoned
After dogs and cats, rabbits are the third most surrendered animal to shelters. Stores selling rabbits significantly increase the burden on rescues and shelters that must pay for their care. Rabbits require complex care. They must be litterbox trained, and their environments must be “rabbit-proofed” or they will destroy electrical wires, walls, furniture, and plants. Rabbits can be extremely sensitive and easily frightened, making them challenging for children even though many parents purchase rabbits as gifts at Easter time. It’s not surprising that people who were misled by pet store marketing to believe rabbits are easy “pets” often end up surrendering them to shelters.
Some rabbits don’t even make it to animal shelters. Rabbits are frequently abandoned outside in parks or streets to fend for themselves. Many rabbits die from starvation, are hit by cars, or are killed by other animals.
We Need Laws, Not Promises
Companies can change their policies whenever they want. Corporate commitments and pledges can be a good first step, but only laws ensure that companies won’t move backward. The most important thing we can do to protect rabbits, bearded dragons, turtles, and other animals suffering in mills is to pass local and state laws prohibiting the sale of animals in pet stores. Learn how to pass a retail pet sales ban in your community with our toolkit.