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Forum THE LOUNGE Temptation at the pet shop

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    • Theo&Mickey
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        I was at the pet shop today and saw this little guy. Stole my heart. But I can’t really justify a third rabbit. 

        Would a trio even work? 3 boys? Apparently he’s a boy. Ok, I’m talking myself into this…. clearly… 

        His nose looked completely wet, so I’m guessing he has a URI? Probably has mites of some sort, too, being in a pet shop. Terrible he was on shavings. I was tempted to bring him home, I must admit. I feel bad wondering where he’ll end up and knowing I could make a difference in his life. I can’t stop thinking about him. 

        Any advice from other bunny lovers? Words of wisdom and experience, please? 


      • Deleted User
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          Awwwww he is precious!! I can definitely understand the urge to want to give this little guy a better life. However, you are right to determine if you can actually feasibly handle another bun. Pet stores have terrible reputations for how they treat their animals, so unfortunately he probably does have some health issues, and I am sure that his diet isn’t adequate. It would be a lot of work cut out to get another bun- I’m sure you know that though. With having the other 2 (not bonded yet, right?) you would need the space available to house them all separately. Poor little fella, I hope the right person comes along and scoops him up!


        • joea64
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            Theo, I was actually thinking that you might get in touch with your local rabbit rescue, if there’s one. I don’t know if they’d be able to take charge of him directly but they might know somebody who can step in to bring them to a better home than what they have now.


          • Theo&Mickey
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              I still haven’t bonded my two, and Mickey only just got neutered yesterday. I definitely don’t have the space to house another one separately in the bunnies’ room. In my head I was trying really hard to “Make a Space” for him, but it’s too stressful to think about right now. I know there will be more just like him, there will always be a pet shop bunny in distress. It’s so sad.

              joe, yes, I was thinking to contact the SPCA here, and ask if they can send someone to check on the bunnies. BUT, if they are ill and the SPCA confiscates them they would likely be euthanized (not treated) at the shelter. Months ago I was going to adopt a bunny that was surrendered to them but found out later it was put to sleep because it had ringworm


            • sarahthegemini
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                I always look at the rabbits when I go to the pet shop to buy litter. It breaks my heart I saw a gorgeous black lop that I fell in love with. He was very tiny so I also suspect he was a little too young. I wanted him. So bad. But I knew in my heart it wouldn’t have been a good idea. I have no intentions of doing anything that could disrupt Peanut and Buttercup’s bond and I just couldn’t financially care for another bun. Nor do I have the space to house a little bun and his future pal. We can’t save them all


              • joea64
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                  Posted By Theo&Mickey on 8/28/2017 9:48 AM

                  I still haven’t bonded my two, and Mickey only just got neutered yesterday. I definitely don’t have the space to house another one separately in the bunnies’ room. In my head I was trying really hard to “Make a Space” for him, but it’s too stressful to think about right now. I know there will be more just like him, there will always be a pet shop bunny in distress. It’s so sad.

                  joe, yes, I was thinking to contact the SPCA here, and ask if they can send someone to check on the bunnies. BUT, if they are ill and the SPCA confiscates them they would likely be euthanized (not treated) at the shelter. Months ago I was going to adopt a bunny that was surrendered to them but found out later it was put to sleep because it had ringworm

                  Yes, I agree; that’s why I said “rabbit rescue” if you have one in the area – they certainly won’t euthanize the bunnies in their care unless they’re ill beyond any hope for recovery, unlike “regular” animal shelters. Or what about the local House Rabbit Society chapter if there’s one?


                • Theo&Mickey
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                    I live in Bahrain, and we don’t have a House Rabbit Society or any rabbit rescue. We have individual people that form groups who rescue animals, but not a shelter where they can be treated, housed and then re-homed. I’m getting in touch with an American woman who does welfare checks on animals being sold at pet shops and markets. Hoping to liaise with her and find a solution for this bunny if he is sick and needs treatment. I will keep you guys posted. If anyone has any more ideas, please keep them coming –


                  • Q8bunny
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                      I know how you feel.
                      Every time I go to PetZone to buy supplies, I have to really force myself to not bring home all the poor bunbuns there…
                      I hope the poor little guy find a loving forever home with a bunny nut.


                    • Bam
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                        I just read this cautionary post on FB, in a rabbit group where I’m a (passive) member. “My hubby came home today and informed me his whole family has turned against me for getting a rabbit. But I’m 42 years old and I’ve always wanted a rabbit.”

                        So be very careful in pet shops. Your buying a rabbit could be the start of a heartbreaking family feud.

                        I do most of my shopping for bunny supplies online. Seing rabbits in shops tears my heart to shreds.


                      • Boston's Mama
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                          I feel you , Boston was a pet store rescue . I tried hard to get him help without taking him home , over a few days I went daily to see if the vet had seen him ( which they promised me they would get one in to do a check ) – never happened. I took him straight to my vet , got him treatment then he came home with me. He’s partially blind and had other issues he needed antibiotics for so I’m glad I brought him home.
                          But that had consequences.
                          My boys didn’t not only not bond – but couldn’t stand each other at all even from a distance, the stress eventually made Boston sick and my other territorial 24 / 7.

                          It’s not only will they bond that needs taken into account , its will they stress where housed ? Will original pair of males ( once / if they bond ) be able to hold the bond with another bunny housed in same room? If not do I have another room to seperate them ? Or even three rooms in worse case ?

                          That’s 3 lots of food , 3 lots of litter , 3 x the vet bills , 3 x everything

                          There will also be one who pulls at our hearts – but as others said there are other ways to help


                        • Theo&Mickey
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                            Hey Boston’s mama! Thanks for sharing your experience in a similar scenario! Is that Boston in the pic? He’s adorable 

                            I can financially and emotionally take care of 3 bunnies, but it’s as you said: there’s no telling how they’ll react to each other. And since I haven’t started bonding Theo and Mickey yet, it would be irrational to take on another bun. Both Theo and Mickey are responding well to pre-bonding, though, and I haven’t had any territorial/aggressive behavior from Theo (first bun). They both know each other’s scent quite well now as I switch teddies, litter box and even share some hair from each of them after grooming. I’m lucky that Theo hasn’t changed at all since bringing Mickey into the picture. They are housed in the same room but separated by a baby gate and a plank of wood to stop nose bites etc. 

                            The lady who is going to check on the pet shop bunny cannot confiscate him – all she can do is request that he be vet checked, but there’s no real likelihood that they will do that. They want to make money, not spend it, and since he is not writhing in agony and still looks “store front ready”, I really doubt they’ll change anything. I’m stopping myself from going to see him again today. Part of me thinks I can buy him, treat him at the vets and then find him a new loving home. But I know I’ll probably get attached – and where to put him is still an issue, even if it’s only temporary. 


                          • Boston's Mama
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                              Yep that’s him in my profile pic he’s a sweetheart


                            • Tony's Mum
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                                This is exactly how I ended up with Tony. I had all these plans for adopting, and looking up good breeders, and I kind of wanted a little lop…

                                But this filthy damp tiny ball of attitude with a damaged ear and a runny nose was just too pathetic to leave behind. I went in to look at what the setup costs would be for bunnies, and came out with Tony in a cardboard box.

                                I’m glad I did it but I wouldn’t do it again. I really started to panic about an hour after I got him home about how unprepared I was and everything. It took a lot of googling, shopping, and trips to the vet before we were happy! No way would I make that kind of rash decision with another bun already at home. When I decided to bond Tony to Mellie, I was quite precise about wanting a neutered female, and it took a couple of days of visiting shelters to decide to bring her home. I’d already arranged everything in preparation for her arrival and it was still quite a stressful and awkward time until we went to friend camp.

                                Every now and then I see a beautiful little bun who I know I could love and care for more than most people, but I have to prioritize the animals I already have made a commitment to. And myself too, because a different bun in every room would drive me crazy eventually…

                                Focus on your current bun family first. Then maybe in the future you can find a bun in need. Or two.


                              • Theo&Mickey
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                                  That is a sweet story about Tony.

                                  You are absolutely right, I need to focus on my two precious bunnies right now. I feel a bit silly for creating this post.


                                • joea64
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                                    Posted By Theo&Mickey on 8/29/2017 6:24 AM

                                    That is a sweet story about Tony.

                                    You are absolutely right, I need to focus on my two precious bunnies right now. I feel a bit silly for creating this post.

                                    Don’t be. If I had a passport, I’d be mighty tempted to get on the next plane to Bahrain! (Of course, then I’d have to get Q8’s help with setting up arrangements with Lufthansa to ship the bun all the way back to America…&nbsp


                                  • Theo&Mickey
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                                      Hahaha – now that made me laugh!! 

                                      P.S. your two are looking absolutely cuddlesome in your avatar <3


                                    • joea64
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                                        Posted By Theo&Mickey on 8/29/2017 7:05 AM

                                        Hahaha – now that made me laugh!! 

                                        P.S. your two are looking absolutely cuddlesome in your avatar <3

                                        They certainly do, don’t they? It’s very much a work in progress still; Panda likes being talked to a lot better than being petted (so far), and Fernando is too active a bun to hold still for long.


                                      • muffinandmunchbunny
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                                          This happened to me as well. I saw the most beautiful dark brown lop in the pet shop that would flop all the time, but after the pain of a bunny death and muffin starting to grow more independent I had to leave it in the pet shops that I usually go to they have glass cages so we couldn’t interact with the bunny
                                          It’s hard leaving a bunny in the pet store.


                                        • Q8bunny
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                                            Bringing buns into the US is eeeeeasy. It’s just the Canadians who are mean old barracudas.


                                          • Tony's Mum
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                                              Don’t feel silly, I would nearly guarantee that every single one of us has tried to mentally rearrange our bunny rooms to see can we take home some adorable floof from a pet shop ?


                                            • DanaNM
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                                                I can totally relate! I was just at the pet store getting some aquarium fish, and there were two adorable babies snuggling on display…. on wood shaving bedding with very little hay (but at least they had a litter box with pelleted bedding)… I had to pull myself away! I already have two HUGE bunnies in a tiny apartment, so definitely no space for them. Plus Bertha and Moose’s bond is fresh and wouldn’t want to strain it. 

                                                That said, I often wonder about “rescuing” rabbits from pet stores. Ultimately it involves buying the rabbit, which shows the pet store that people will buy rabbits from them… so they will end up just replacing the one you buy with another…. and another.  

                                                I realize no one wants to see an animal in a pet store suffer, but could “rescuing” rabbits from pet stores just perpetuate the problem? 

                                                I’d love to brainstorm some solutions to the pet store problem aside from just buying all the bunnies. Does any one know of any other channels that could be used? Contacting local rescues seems good, but not sure what help they could be. Maybe an animal welfare group? Or business bureau? Or leaving negative yelp reviews?  Or contacting the pet store with guidelines for better care for the animals? Often just a switch of bedding and unlimited hay would work wonders for the rabbit. 

                                                . . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  


                                              • joea64
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                                                  This is a genuinely difficult question. I know of a pet store in my locality (NOT Petsmart, Petco or Pet Supplies Plus, none of whom sells rabbits – in fact, Petco and Pet Supplies Plus, particularly the latter, partner with Friends of Rabbits on adoption and Q&A events) that does sell rabbits, and from what I hear doesn’t keep them in adequate living conditions. Actually, that store is notorious, judging from its Yelp and Google reviews, for not taking proper care of the animals, including dogs, cats and others, that it offers for sale, as well as what I can only describe as profiteering or highway robbery on the prices they charge. I know they’ve had repeated complaints lodged against them with local authorities, but so far nobody’s really been able to take action against them for whatever reason.


                                                • Theo&Mickey
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                                                    I agree with you Dana! Obviously, buying the bunnies is just feeding their money-making operation. They charge a pretty penny for those bunnies. I spoke to a woman today who said I could ask a vet to walk down to the shop and take a look at the rabbit (the vet clinic is on the same road, next door, about 1 min walk). So I called the vet and asked and was not warmly received upon that request. They do not want to invade or be seen to be intruding on a business. Vet said that if the pet shop decided to bring the rabbit to them, that would work. But, fat chance of that happening.

                                                    In the past, whenever I have made comments or suggestions about the bunnies to the staff at the pet shop, they seem to give me the cold shoulder and not be very communicative. It’s hard to talk about proper rabbit care with them without coming across as a know-it-all or self-righteous person and then ending up talking to a brick wall. A very delicate process of fine-tuning without seeming overbearing! I will try again.


                                                  • Theo&Mickey
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                                                      Posted By Tony’s Mum on 8/29/2017 10:47 AM

                                                      Don’t feel silly, I would nearly guarantee that every single one of us has tried to mentally rearrange our bunny rooms to see can we take home some adorable floof from a pet shop ?

                                                      Ha… I guess you are right.. 

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                                                  Forum THE LOUNGE Temptation at the pet shop