agouti rabbit in garden centre

I was so upset this afternoon, I went to my local garden centre to buy a few things and had a look at the bunnies as normal. There was only one, a beautiful agouti dwarf lop that has been there for what seems like ages. She's really big now and in a tiny little cage. I felt so sorry for her I almost brought her home, I can have three right? :roll: I have a thing for agouti lops since my lovely Dana, sadly now gone to the bridge. What do they do if they don't sell them?

Becky x

As heartbreaking as it is to see an animal in a petshop for a long time, by buying them you're only giving the petshop/garden center the funds (and more importantly, motivation) to buy more to replace her. This article's about rats but applies equally as much to rabbits too:
http://www.fancy-rats.co.uk/information/guides.php?subject=buyingfrompetshops
If you do think you can fit another bun into your family why not check out local rescues? The majority of buns will likely have originated from petshops so you'll be helping out a bun just like the one in question, without encouraging the pet trade.

I know that really, my Walt is a rescue bun and I'm going to get another rescue bun Martha tomorrow, I just felt so sorry for this poor bunny, and when they get their new stock of babies, this one will just get even more overlooked. It's so sad, I wish they'd just stop!

I'll be flamed for saying this - but in this situation (where an older bun has become 'less attractive' to the general public - and will soon be destined for 'back of shop and return to breeder for . . . . ), then if you have lost your heart to her I would take her.

Make your reasons clear at the time (preferably after they have sold /her to you in case they refuse!) but don't let a bun down just for principles

I KNOW everything that can be said about 'continuing the endless cycle - but otherwise you will never get her out of your heart and soul and will always wonder if she was knocked on the head as 'too old to sell', or sold for 50p as 'unsellable' to who knows what future?

Its a hard call - but you may be saving her from a life of misery - or even 'short cutting' the eventual destination to a rescue (if he's lucky).

I know its against all the principles of not encouraging the breeders/pet shop for you to 'rescue' this little one: But I once stood out against buying an 'unwanted' lonesome one from a petshop and was later told it had been 'sent back to breeder as unwanted'. I never forgave myself for what probably happened to that bun that I had formed an instant soul-bond with.

I still well up when I think of him

I'm glad you understand what I meant by posting this. I'm 100% for rescues, as I say I'm getting Walt's wifey bunny tomorrow (very excited), but my heart goes out to this one. It's so easy to fall for the baby bunnies when they come in but for whatever reason, no one wanted her.

I suppose it's a never ending cycle though, you could see a bunny you want to take home everytime you go in a pet shop. She just reminded me so much of my Dana and I adored her. I'm going to keep an eye on her over the next few weeks and maybe ask what happens to them if they're unsold.

The thing is I don't know how long she's been there, but she's what I would say is fully grown for a dwarf lop. How old is this?

Becky x

If you've got your heart set on her then perhaps try talking to the staff about the rabbit, ask how long she's been there, if there's any interest. Ask if they're getting any more buns in and need the space, perhaps you could take her off their hands for a reduced price or free, that way then won't be making a profit from her.

But truth be told, it's best to let her go and forget about her, being in a pet shop that long will mean she won't be very socialised and used to handling so she may be a difficult pet temperment wise. Plus you won't know about her health, I've found a lot of pet shop animals have varies health problems due to overcrowding and inadequate food and care, usually something along the lines of pasturella or dental problems. You dont want to introduce a potentially ill and contagious rabbit to your other buns do you?

Our gorgeous Elliot came from a pet shop in Birmingham We got him three years ago yesterday
The people who spotted him saw that he had a poorly leg and he had been there for a long time - I said that we would take him and they kindly went and paid for him and brought him up to us in Wales
I think you know what will happen to this bun if she goes back to the breeder
I don't believe in buying from pet stores but sometimes you have to - sometimes that bun is destined to be with you and you can't not follow your heart

I lost my heart to an agouti in a pet shop Same old story, went in for provisions, last bun left in a tiny cage. I went home, phoned hubby and within 20 minutes I went back for the bunny. Koo is such an affectionate, good natured rabbit.

I don't go to the pet shop for provisions now, I shop at the local tack shop - they don't sell rabbits thus easy on the heart strings :lol::lol:

Poor agouti lop at garden centre.

I would follow your heart and go for this Agouti lop (i love agouti,s too!)as i see it, it is a "rescue" as if it is returned to breeder then who know,s what it,s fate will be:shock:
I have bought rabbits from retail outlets that i just could not leaveand have never regretted doing that
Go get your little bunyou love her

yes - agouti's are wonderful (I have 3) and are all too often overlooked. In fact they seem to rarely turn up at petshops because of that.

So pleased to find I am not the only one on the forum to feel that sometimes the soul has to win out and some things are meant to be (despite what appear on the face of things to be conflicts of principles).

So I would say 'follow your heart' on this one.

But find a rabbit food and hay seller that doesn't also sell rabbits for the future!!!

I will definitely be seeking out a petshop that doesn't sell buns in the future! In all honesty, when I went back to the garden centre today I expected her to be gone, I kind of went in to set my mind to rest but she was still there

I'm getting the lovely Martha tomorrow, I'm hoping she will bond well to Walter. Do you think it would be possible to introduce the three? I do have space for them.

I'll definitely be going back there and talking to the people who work there. If she's not been there as long as I think then I'll leave it a while, I just felt so sorry for her and I know Agoutis tend to be overlooked, it's such a shame.

IzzyTwig said:

But truth be told, it's best to let her go and forget about her, being in a pet shop that long will mean she won't be very socialised and used to handling so she may be a difficult pet temperment wise. Plus you won't know about her health, I've found a lot of pet shop animals have varies health problems due to overcrowding and inadequate food and care, usually something along the lines of pasturella or dental problems. You dont want to introduce a potentially ill and contagious rabbit to your other buns do you?

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So this denies him/her a loving home then?

If you want to bond three I would recommend it is best to do it 'all at once' rather than bond two then try and add - but others may say differently - thats just my experience.

I wouldn't feel guilty for taking in a bun from a petshop. I understand not 'continuing the cycle etc' and all of my rabbits are rescues, but at the end of the day the bun in the petshop will probably end up in a rescue at some point itself. I won't buy from petshops but I also believe it's very unlikely that they will stop stocking animals any time soon, as much as we would love that to be the case, so if there is an animal that has been sitting there in a small cage for a certain length of time I would class that as a rescue itself...yes you may not know the rabbits history etc but most rescue rabbits are in the same position. Just because they have a health check doesn't mean they are screened for the rest of their lives. Three of mine were health checked at the rescue and given the all clear to then go on to develop dental disease due to poor breeding. It's something you can't predict or prevent in rescue rabbits so I don't see a petshop rabbit being any different. Goodluck, I hope you do decide to give her a home

Any news on this bunny!

Hi everyone,

I went to the garden centre yesterday and asked to have a look at the bunny, she was quite timid and the man couldn't pick her up very easily but once he did she was fine. He described her as "daft as a brush". He was just letting her out for her morning hop around the shop floor The only exercise the poor little thing gets I think!

He said she's been with them quite a while and they had some new babies in, all cute and fluffy, brightly coloured and about one third of her size.

I asked what would happen to her if she was unsold and he said the woman they get them from "usually" uses them to breed. He said he was pretty sure she would use her as she is such a big bunny.

I got the lovely Martha yesterday, she's adorable and I love her already

This bunny is still on my mind though. I spoke to my partner and he said we should leave it maybe a week and see if she's still there.

I don't know what to do now :roll:

It's open for another 45 minutes...

Becky x

I've got her and I'm officially never going there again, or any other pet shops that sell animals!

She is adorable and hasn't left my lap.

She was due to be returned to the breeder this week as they return them at 16 weeks old. Is this normal? I got £10 off the price.

The guy there asked not one single question, he just put her in a box with no food or hay and handed her over!

I'll post some pics but they won't be great quality, will ave to be on my phone as I broke my camera last night

Becky x x x

blueboy said:

So this denies him/her a loving home then?

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Perhaps, life isn't fair I'm afraid and it never will be. If we all took in every unwanted petshop pun that pulled at our heart strings not only would be over run by rabbits but possibly endangering the rabbits we already own, plus the pet shops will only bring in more to replace those rabbits.
We can't rescue everyone or every rabbit.

Regardless, Becky I hope your new bun settles in well, at least she's one of the lucky ones.

Awwww I'm so glad you got her, can't wait to see piccies

Here she is






My trio is complete

Becky x