There’s nothing we don’t love about bunnies. They’re fluffy, cuddly, brimming with personality – and even naturally vegan! Which is why some people may want to keep them as pets.
While rabbits make wonderful companions – there are some serious issues with buying rabbits from pet stores.
So, if you’ve decided to get a pet rabbit, here’s why you shouldn’t buy one from a pet store – but adopt it instead.
Pet stores are miserable places for animals
Buying animals from pet stores may seem innocent at first sight – but, sadly, those animals often come from breeding mills. The conditions at breeding mills are horrible – with animals being bred too frequently, kept cramped together – and sold at very low prices (often as little as $3 to $5 per rabbit!).
Animals are social creatures and require socialized care and attention – but they rarely get that in breeding mills. This results in many milled animals suffering from various health problems, as well as lacking proper socialization skills.
On top of that, pet stores often buy bunnies when they’re only four weeks old – which is when they still need their moms. Heartbreakingly, because these rabbits are so young, the Rabbit Advocacy Network estimates that twenty to thirty percent of the babies die en route to the pet stores.
All animals deserve a life free from cruelty – and, unfortunately, buying from pet stores doesn’t guarantee they haven’t experienced abuse or have been neglected before being sold to you.
Millions of rabbits are looking for homes
While tracking rabbit numbers in shelters is extremely difficult, according to East Coast Rabbit Rescue, rabbits are the third most popular pet (behind dogs and cats) – as well as the third most surrendered pet at shelters.
For every rabbit that’s purchased and not adopted, a rescue or shelter bunny loses a potential loving home.
Adopting a pet saves lives
Millions of rabbits end up in rescue centers because their previous owners decided they can no longer look after them. Perhaps they were bought on impulse or turned out to be not the “starter pet” they were expected to be.
Because rabbits are social creatures, it is likely that they’ll find going to a rescue center or animal shelter stressful.
By adopting a bunny, you are saving an unloved, abandoned, and homeless animal in need of help. You are giving them what they need the most – a loving and caring forever home.
Plus, by adopting rather than buying, you’re making space for the next homeless bunny – so that they can also find a new caring owner.
Where to adopt a bunny
Adopting a bunny is a lifelong commitment. Before you “hop to adopt,” watch this video by the Humane Society International about what keeping a pet bunny is really like.
And if you’ve decided to bring a bunny into your life to love and care for, here are a few organizations that’ll help you find bunnies looking for new forever homes:
- Rabbit Rescue & Rehab
- Rabbit.org
- Friends Of Rabbits
- East Coast Rabbit Rescue
- Los Angeles Rabbit Foundation
- Long Island Rabbit Rescue Group
- Rabbit Rescue Inc.
- Vancouver Rabbit Rescue And Advocacy
And now – want to help other animals in need? Check out these posts:
- The biggest challenges cats face and how to help now
- Here’s why you should boycott Groundhog Day
- 3 simple things you can do to save koalas
- The best animal charities to support right now
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