If a person wants to buy a wiggly-nosed, cotton-tailed, friend at Petco, they’ll have to think again. The pet retailer announced on Tuesday, Sept. 24, that it is no longer selling pet rabbits after backlash from animal welfare advocates.
Petco’s announcement is on the heels of a call out earlier this month from Rabbit.org, which said, the company failed to deliver on its promises in 1994 and 2008 to stop all rabbit sales.
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“The selling of rabbits often leads to impulse buys by customers unaware of the extensive care and significant veterinary costs involved,” Rabbit.org said.
The group also said that rabbit purchases often lead to what the organization dubs “summer dumping season,” in which, many pet rabbits are “abandoned outdoors” and become easy prey or roadkill.
Petco said that its decision to eliminate the sale of rabbits is based on feedback it received “from animal rescue and welfare organizations nationwide.”
In order to encourage people into “responsible rabbit adoptions” Petco is now offering a 20% discount for bunny parents who adopt from an established rescue or adoption organization through the month of October. The pet retailer also said that it is putting all remaining miniature rabbits up for adoption as part of a pilot program in select locations.
The president of Petco Love’s said that the move is in line with the company’s mission to “improve lives for pets and the people who love them.”
Bunnies are reportedly the third most popular pet in the United States.
