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BOUGHT vs ADOPTED rabbits

Whitesnowy

New Kit
I'm curious what is the percentage of BOUGHT vs ADOPTED rabbits in the country/area where you live?
And what is your opinion - should a person ever buy a pet?
 
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I wouldn't have a clue I'm afraid. But due to the distinct lack of rescues where I live, and MOST folk's unwillingness to travel more than about a mile to adopt :roll:, I should imagine most bunnies are bought from pet stores, either large or independent.

Personally, I don't think buying is bad IF you are a responsible owner who isn't going to dump that pet when something better comes along or it no longer matches your furniture. I can only really relate this example to dogs because I bought puppies and all my small fluffs are adopted. But IMO, it's irresponsible ownership or breeding that creates the dumped pet problems and I get right pee'd off when it's suggested to me that I am no better than the chav who churns out countless staffy pups a year to make a fast buck or the couple who buy a puppy "from a bloke in the pub", only to discard it 6 months later when it's no longer a fluffy pup, has eaten all the skirting boards due to lack of exercise and boredom, and nipped the owner due to bad handling.

A responsible breeder will vet potential owners and take back any pets they bred should their owners be in a position where they can no longer look after them (ie. a death in the family and granny's dog is left behind, or being made homeless etc - NOT because you've had a baby and can't manage both a small human AND a dog) . A responsible owner takes care of their pet for its whole life, irrespective of where they obtained it from and if they find themselves in dire circumstances they put the welfare of their pets first. After all, if there were NO breeders, there would eventually be no pets and the World would be a very sad place then :(.
 
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As Mackers has said, I'd have no idea on statistics.

I've had brought and rescued animals.

My two hamsters and two rabbits now are shop brought (all from the shop I worked in and ran), our gerbil is a rescue.
My ferrets before I had two shop brought and 5 rescues.
All of my animals get the care for their entire lives, I'll always find a way to make sure they have and get what they deserve.

For example, my ferrets in 7 years cost me around £6,000 in vets fees alone when I was working on £4 something an hour. (Below minimum as I was an apprentice).

They were never denied any treatment they needed. I'd rather give up things I wanted or needed, than to deny them their treatment or to rehome them.
Once an animals enters my life, it's there for good. (Except one ferret that was rehomed as he couldn't be entered into the group so he was best suited to life as a house ferret).

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Sorry - no idea but I would imagine more rabbits are bought than adopted, purely because it is easier to buy - I could go down to P@H and come home with a rabbit right now if I wanted - not so easy if adopting.

I've also bought and rescued rabbits - all animals that come into my home are here for life and get the best care and love that we can provide. We bought Harley from a breeder - the breeder sat and lectured and questioned us for 2 hours before we were even allowed to see Harley, and then another hour spent showing me how to groom her etc...and she would have taken her back if our circumstances changed. These days the breeder neuters/spays the bunnies before selling and only sells them in bonded pairs. Not all breeders are sharks.

We have also bought a puppy from 'a bloke in pub' - hubby couldn't bear not to. We couldn't have a dog then but we quickly managed to find a lovely home for her where she gets to run around with a big husky all day - she's grown into a big beautiful girl and I am so glad we did buy her that day...that to me was a rescue.

I am looking out for a lady bun for Bobo - I will adopt from a rescue - first time doing so as most of my buns have sort landed on my doorstep (in one case - literally!!!) but need to find a rescue that will do the bonding for me as we don't have space to keep two buns separate.
 
No idea. I would imagine that many people buy rabbits because it is so much easier and more instant than going to a rescue.

I impulse bought two of my four rabbits from a local pet shop, I found RU and adopted two more rabbits from barc rescue. They all live together now. The rescue rabbits were much better value having already been bonded and vaccinated but it cost loads to travel up to get them ...

All animals deserve good care and a long term home. Getting one from a rescue gives you a life times back up for that animal and frees up a space for another animal to come into rescue.
 
I reckon most rabbits and hamsters are bought from pet shops. As said before, it's easier to buy the whole shebang in one go. Lots of purchases are done on a whim. It's a bit more complicated to get a rescue. Some people would not be happy with a home check. I've had both. Years ago we would buy from local breeders, you would know someone breeding so you'd pop along and get one! After some years we visited our local rspca, whilst on a day out and came back with a rabbit. You just gave a donation. This is over 30 years ago. We'd occasionally be given an unwanted bun by a neighbour. I'm ashamed to say, we probably didn't look after them properly. Vets were a bit in the dark too. Now that veterinary care for buns has improved and knowledge has spread, via the net, etc., people are realising bunnies are very specialised. I only adopt from rescue now and have really good vets. I still think that most bunnies are bought, sometimes male and female, by accident and loads of babies are born unwanted. Hence the thousands in rescue centres all over the country.
 
I think most are bought, lots on impulse, as the rescue route can take a while and Society wants everything immediately.

When I lost Tilly, I was very worried about how Hettie would be (piggies for anyone who doesn't know). I looked at Pets at Home and Freeads, just in case, but luckily she has been fine so we are waiting on a little boy at RSPCA Walsall who has been neutered.
 
Most are bought afterall where do you all think rescue pets come from? and people buy because it's easier and we live in a " I want and I want it NOW " society
And before anyone reads the rest of my post please note we all know how hard it is to resist the little face in the pet shop, or to want a certain breed and get your mind so firmly set on it you can't see beneath the fur.

Backyard breeders and puppy farms are the main concern and the government need to act on this.
Of course all animals deserve a good home and someone who researches first and buys a pet from a registered breeder and keeps the pet for life is not adding to the problem of unwanted pets.
But they are not helping the problem either.
As things stand animal rescues for all types of pet from horses down to guinea pigs and reptiles , are overflowing.
We are all constantly having to turn animals away.
There are simply too many animals for the homes available.
While this is the case then no one should buy a pet whatever reasons they may put forward for doing so.
Animals are dying for lack of homes and when you buy you encourage the industry and leave the rescue pet you could have adopted sat in the pound.
Strong action needs to be taken to reduce the amount of dogs, cats, rabbits ect that are being produced. And every person can affect this by their choices.
Many people just don't realise that hundreds of perfectly friendly and healthy animals are destroyed in this country each year due to lack of a home.
Rescuing is often soul destroying when people who are aware of this problem post about the kitten, puppy, or rabbit they "just had to buy" for one reason or another.
As I have said many times before try choosing which animals live and which die, then tell me why you have to buy another pet.
 
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I would never buy now I have had almost 12 years dealing with bunnies in rescue ..

But I think pet shops , breeders , garden centres , adds on selling sites are where most come from ..I know because people tell me we they give them up ��

As already said its because it allows for impulse buying and is easier .
 
Most are bought afterall where do you all think rescue pets come from? and people buy because it's easier and we live in a " I want and I want it NOW " society
And before anyone reads the rest of my post please note we all know how hard it is to resist the little face in the pet shop, or to want a certain breed and get your mind so firmly set on it you can't see beneath the fur.

Backyard breeders and puppy farms are the main concern and the government need to act on this.
Of course all animals deserve a good home and someone who researches first and buys a pet from a registered breeder and keeps the pet for life is not adding to the problem of unwanted pets.
But they are not helping the problem either.
As things stand animal rescues for all types of pet from horses down to guinea pigs and reptiles , are overflowing.
We are all constantly having to turn animals away.
There are simply too many animals for the homes available.
While this is the case then no one should buy a pet whatever reasons they may put forward for doing so.
Animals are dying for lack of homes and when you buy you encourage the industry and leave the rescue pet you could have adopted sat in the pound.
Strong action needs to be taken to reduce the amount of dogs, cats, rabbits ect that are being produced. And every person can affect this by their choices.
Many people just don't realise that hundreds of perfectly friendly and healthy animals are destroyed in this country each year due to lack of a home.
Rescuing is often soul destroying when people who are aware of this problem post about the kitten, puppy, or rabbit they "just had to buy" for one reason or another.
As I have said many times before try choosing which animals live and which die, then tell me why you have to buy another pet.

Couldn't agree more Jill. Like most folks, almost 20 years ago I purchased a pair of guinea pigs for our family. Those were the days before we had access to the internet and we relied on literature found in books and from the pet seller. Needless to say we ended up with accommodation that was too small for our boys, with the wrong bedding and food. Fast forward a few years, our knowledge had improved drastically, the pigs had appropriate accommodation and food and we started to be asked by friends to take in their unwanted piggies as we were deemed to 'know our stuff' - I was a soft touch! A few years further along the line and I was bitten by the internet and piggy/bunny forums, yet more information was gleaned and before I knew it I had offered to foster for my local piggy rescue. Two years further on, having learnt so much about the ways of rescue, the abuse of these animals we hold so dear, I set up my own piggy rescue so I could do my little bit for these wonderful creatures.

In this day and age, with access to the internet on almost every device we own there should be no excuse not to know about rescues. Maybe we need to make purchasing an animal much harder work, people shouldn't be able to take home any living creature based on a spur of the moment decision or nagging by their children. It would be wonderful if a time came when rescues were no longer needed, but sadly in today's climate I fear that is a long way away. What makes me truly sad is when people who frequent forums and pages like RU still think it is acceptable to buy a bunny when they know just how many are sitting in rescue waiting for a loving, forever home.
 
*goes out to buy popcorn and pick kids up from school* who bets by the time I get to come back online, this thread will be locked?
 
I'm curious what is the percentage of BOUGHT vs ADOPTED rabbits in the country/area where you live?
And what is your opinion - should a person ever buy a pet?

How would anyone know?
And what business would it be of anyone else, how one's rabbits were/are acquired?

My personal opinion is that people should not keep pets unless as owners, they are specially trained, licensed and inspected. Licenced. Don't know. Someone who can spell will tell me, I'm sure.
 
How would anyone know?
And what business would it be of anyone else, how one's rabbits were/are acquired?

My personal opinion is that people should not keep pets unless as owners, they are specially trained, licensed and inspected. Licenced. Don't know. Someone who can spell will tell me, I'm sure.

I think you were correct the first time. License is the verb; licence is what you hold.
 
Ive done both... adopted and bought from both a pet shop and a friend of mine whose rabbit had babies. All of mine are loved and happy and healthy regardless of where I got them from. I think its (as someone else said) much much easier to buy as its more instant than adopting. I work with animals and have to say that rabbits are very very misunderstood and I really wish that people did their homework and gave it much more thought than they do!!!!
 
I bought Petra's parents from a lady who had a litter and didn't want them. My flat mate wanted to buy from pets at home but i refused to as i wanted a bunny that an owner didn't want rather than a store one that's easily sold. Does that make sense?
Petra I've had obviously since she was born but if anything were to happen to her, I'd definitely buy from a person getting rid rather than a store xx
 
I've done both but seeing how many unwanted buns are around now I'd always adopt. I did get my current bun from P@H from the rescue adoption section. She was a feisty madam and bit several members of staff. I think she was given up for this reason, I got her spayed free of charge and she's a very different bun now so loving but still head strong. I've always rehomed dogs in the past though.
 
I don't know the answer, but I do know, if more people adopted, more animals could be saved.
Animals like these-

http://forums.rabbitrehome.org.uk/s...-animals-taken-in-by-rescues-may-be-upsetting!

I should also say, lots of the small animals bought from pet shops and breeders come from situations like post 68 on this link.
Lots of cats and dogs also come from puppy farmers, who are very good at conning people the pet comes from a family home, by having cohorts who take the pups/ kittens in to their homes for viewing.
 
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*goes out to buy popcorn and pick kids up from school* who bets by the time I get to come back online, this thread will be locked?

I'm sure it'll get locked eventually Claire :lol:. However, as this forum is 'rescue friendly' rather than 'rescue only', members will clearly be nice to each other, irrespective of where their pets came from ;).
 
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