Pet store not giving rabbits hay, what to do!!

[Starla]

I was at a petland, which I never usually go to. I was buying a bowl for my rabbit and came across their rabbits. I was looking at the rabbits and was thinking to myself about how they have a large habitat then I realized, they had NO hay!!! Just pellets. I wanted to say something but I was in a hurry and didn’t want to make a scene. They even sell hay at the store! Also the guinea pigs had no hay, which I think they need hay, but I could be wrong (I never owned one before). I really want to say something maybe through an email or call. But is it worth it? Would they even listen to one person about a problem?
Any advice on how I should go about this!
It really bothered me and I don’t plan on buying from them again. However this was my first time buying from them in years, so it’s not like me not buying from them would effects them.
I thought about getting a bunch of people to call and complain but I don’t many people who are as passionate about rabbits as I am.
Hope for some advice.

[Azerane]

I would definitely call them and politely mention how you were in there store and noticed that neither the rabbits or piggies had hay (yes the GP’s need hay just as much as rabbits do). If you need to, tell them how much hay they should be giving and why it’s so important. Ask to speak to the manager about it too, rather than just the first person who happens to answer the phone. I’m not sure there’s much to do but complain about it. Reporting to animal welfare will get you no where since they had food and water. Is it worth it? Definitely to the bunnies and guinea pigs

I would also go back there when you get the chance to make sure that they are being given hay. You don’t have to buy anything, just check up to make sure they’re following through. If they have a social media page it can also be a way to make a stronger point if you post a polite complaint to them publicly that everyone can see. You can also link to a reputable website then too to show that they require hay.

All that being said, probably best to call first, there’s always the possibility that they had just been cleaned out and hadn’t been given their replacement hay yet, or that they usually have hay and it was an innocent mistake that someone forgot that day.

[Starla]

Thank you for the advice! I will be calling them after the holiday. I would agree that maybe it was an honest mistake but when I my boyfriend bought me a rabbit from there 6 months ago…

*Yes adopt don’t shop, but sadly the closest rescue is more than a hour away. I did sort of compulsively buy my rabbit because I found out they lived long lives thanks to google (I used to believe they lived short lives, which I didn’t want). Knowing what I know now, if I get another rabbit I will get it from a rescue far away, or this local pet store that acts as a rescue in many ways (has taken back full grown rabbits and when a customers rabbits had babies, they took them in as well).*

….I remember there not being any hay then. The lady did recommend to me to buy there, which at the time confused me because there was no hay in their habitat. Also, I’m pretty sure she told me hay for optional :/ . It makes me so sad to see this because I know some people aren’t aware of rabbits needs but the owner/manager should know enough about all there animals in the store and have guidelines there employees must follow.

Also, the rabbit I got from there (which is my love) had an ear mite outbreak 4 months after taking her home and the vet said that she most likely got it while being at Petland and the ear mites waiting to fulling have an outbreak until my rabbit grew. (I did catch the ear mites at an extremely early stage just because I learned so much about rabbits). I would love to also mention this to them but at the store but maybe there rabbits at the moment don’t have it. Pet stores should seriously give out care sheets. Sorry for my rant lol.

I could easily go there without buying anything to check on the rabbits. Many teenagers go there just to play with puppies which I doubt they ever buy. So if I go there just to go to the rabbits, they would care less.

Maybe I can bring those babies some fresh hay with a bunch of fresh veggies, lol.

ALSO, should I mention that somebody who used to work there had spoken out before about the puppies and how sick they were, etc. And when Sarasota county tried to ban selling kitten, dogs, and rabbits (I read from another source), Petland sued the county. I guess they won? Cause they are still open and filled with customers. 

I put the links of just 2 of the many articles about this, hopefully it wont get removed. (I’m not promoting Petland at all lol)

http://www.heraldtribune.com/news/20161116/petland-sues-sarasota-county-over-dog-and-cat-ban

Pet Store Employee Quits After Puppy Dies In Her Arms, Speaks Out About Puppy Mills

[SeaTurtleSwims]

Like Azerane mentioned, a polite phone call would be appropriate. If you are continuously there visiting and routinely don’t see hay it might be worth a call to your county’s humane officer to investigate. I worked at petland for 1 ten hour shift before back in 2010 quitting on the spot after learning about puppy mills for the first time and how/where their puppies come from. It’s atrocious.

That being said, have visited other petlands where the rabbits were so dehydrated that if you played with the loose skin behind their neck it would literally stand up on its own. Very sad place with highly controversial animal keeping/acquisition ethics When I lived in Ohio, when one tried to move in the town petitioned against it and they were never able to move in thankfully.

[Sr. Melangell]

I saw a similar situation in the summer when I visited a pet shop where my friend lives, but it was so bad, the animals were all badly cared for and had no water, one rabbit was clearly not well (May have been GSI I don’t know.) I went and told my friend and I was upset and it takes a lot to upset me, he got upset because anything to do with animals and children it upsets him, he is stronger than me, he is ex armed forces, he looked on the computer and passed me the phone and said. “Call these people and tell them, it’s the number for the R.S.P.C.A.” Royal Society of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, after the call I thought nothing would be done.

When I was leaving to get my coach home I had to get a bus to the city to the coach station and we passed the shop, I saw 3 animal vans and 4 police cars outside the shop, I shouted. “Look darling, look look!” and threw my arms round my friend and said. “They listened to me, they have gone to help the animals.

Sometimes it is best to leave it to the authorities.

[Reesebun]

The best pet store to go to, in my opinion, is V.I.Pets because they don’t sell animals and they only sell stuff for the animals, and have lots of good rabbit stuff

[Mari and Lilo bunny]

Sorry for answering so late. In my opinion you should have immediately reported this, even if it meant making a scene. So you should consider this next time you see something happening. For now, you should probably call or send an angry email to the petstore saying how this is intolerable! If that does not work then I would demand talking to the manager. If you’re not comfortable with this then you should report it to someone who is willing to say something. Oh and you should consider going to petco or petsmart. They have excellent rabbit supplies and they do not mistreat their animals!

[SeaTurtleSwims]

That is true haha I worked at petsmart for over two years in college and they do bend over backwards for their animals there. They still come from mass breeding factories and are often unhealthy. And some of their reptiles are questionably wild caught from countries with less stringent protection laws. But once in store those animals are loved. (Be nice to the pet care worker though haha Nice children get nice hamsters and brats get the biters. Every time. LOL)

It’s hard because pets are so loved but at the end of the day the animal is a product for sale, and usually the demand is in the same mass quantities that candy bars or dish towels are desired so in order to produce for that demand….. there will always be shady things about the back end of the petstore. Even if the store itself manages to stay scott clean, the source of those animals will always pose an ethical question.

I like the idea of petless pet stores, but what about fish tanks? aquariums? Where else do you get a pet frog/turtle/guinea pig? Rescues are great but it’s not wrong to want to raise one from a baby either. So it’s an ethical trade off we reconcile with. Brooding brooding brooding about pet stores haha.

Off to spend the day with family and my own house of too many critters! Hope the man in the red suit visited Breathe easy today, it’s time to eat food and sip toddies and be surrounded by family <3

[Sr. Melangell]

If any animals are suffering to remember, animals can’t talk, they can’t tell people they have no hay or water or want a slice of banana, sending emails to these places don’t work, so send an email to animal rescue or give them a call, because while you are writing your email to the store you are wasting time.

If a child was in danger you would contact social services and/or the police straight away right? You wouldn’t sit in front of your PC and email your Auntie Annie about the situation, you would contact the authorities straight away, they are always there even at Christmas, there will be an emergency number for out of hours, don’t be scared to contact them even if it is 2:00 in the morning, that is why they are there, waiting for your call, that’s what they get paid for, if you leave it too long they will think they have got away with it and the situation could get worse, don’t tell the shop you are contacting them, let the people catch them in the act.

[Starla]

I really couldn’t say anything at the time I was there because my boyfriend was sick and needed to get home and petland was just the closest place to go. I literally rarely go there. I have tried calling authorities before for different situations and they told me to contact the store. I have emailed the store and will look for more authorities/rescues to help. Its christmas and many places are closed. I’m going to research whats legal in my city/state later. Got to celebrate Christmas first. Thank you all for the advice!! Means a lot!

[Starla]

Regarding Charlies Angel, I’ve worked at preschools and this situation would be compared to a parent forgetting to pack their child a lunch or doesn’t pack enough food for their lunch. For that sort of situation, you don’t contact the authorities right away. You would comment first to the parent(s) and if they didn’t change it, you call. If a child comes to school with bruises all the time or severe injuries, then you contact the authority right away. The rabbits seemed like they were as healthy as they could be for living in a pet store. I’m just worried that they may not be getting the correct diet and those who buy the rabbits won’t be aware of the need for hay. 

So me sitting here asking for advice isn’t wrong. By the time I got home, everywhere was closed until this Monday. Getting animal control/the police involved won’t help especially since they have been at this location recently as mentioned earlier. The petland even was “inspected” and had a sign. The police would blow it off and have done something similar before.

[JPetrucci84]

Dumb question, but you didn’t see hay there, but were there remnants of hay being in the cage prior? Are you SURE they ROUTINELY weren’t being fed hay? I would do this first in my humble opinion just to make sure that you aren’t jumping to conclusions if you don’t know for sure. If you do know for sure that they are not being fed, I would bring it up to a Manager and just politely let them know that rabbits need as much green as possible (hay, lettuce, etc) not just pellets.

[Sr. Melangell]

Posted By JPetrucci84 on 12/28/2016 4:01 AM

Dumb question, but you didn’t see hay there, but were there remnants of hay being in the cage prior? Are you SURE they ROUTINELY weren’t being fed hay? I would do this first in my humble opinion just to make sure that you aren’t jumping to conclusions if you don’t know for sure. If you do know for sure that they are not being fed, I would bring it up to a Manager and just politely let them know that rabbits need as much green as possible (hay, lettuce, etc) not just pellets.

Hmm, I never thought about that, or maybe they had just swept up and only give them hay at night, but not all pet stores are nice to animals and we all know that and it has been going on a very long time, some of it isn’t always deliberate, 

[Author]

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