Last week, Animal Rescue and Care were asked to take 21 rabbits from a home where the breeding had got out of control. The owners were sold wrongly sexed rabbits by Pets at Home and quickly got overwhelmed. Unfortunately, if the male is still with the female after she gave birth, she can be pregnant again within minutes. That’s two unwanted litters in the space of a month.
Mis-sexing the rabbits they sell is a common Pets at Home mistake, yet when challenged about it, they brush it under the carpet by saying everyone makes mistakes. This unfortunately shouldn’t be taken lightly, not only for the customers who are misled - they only want two rabbits, not two dozen - but also for the rescue centres who often end up with all those rabbits to find homes for when there’s thousands already sitting there. And of course, the cost of vaccinating and neutering is a huge financial burden for the rescue centres who only rely on public donations.
It’s going to cost ARC about £100 per rabbit to get each of them health-checked, neutered and vaccinated for Myxomatosis, VHD and VHD2.This doesn’t include the food and the additional veterinary treatments if necessary. Therefore this Pets at Home mistake is going to cost the rescue over £2,100 before any of the rabbits can be ready for adoption in about 4 to 6 weeks time.
If you are able to give a forever loving home a pair of rabbits, please contact ARC via their website or Facebook page.
If you are able to make a donation towards their care, please visit:
https://animalrescueandcare.org.uk/donate/
This problem needs to be stopped at the source.
Urge Pets at Home to STOP selling rabbits!
Please sign the petition and share widely.
Thank you!
Isabelle Rineau
@BaBBACampaign
https://www.facebook.com/BabbaCampaign
Video on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/G8_vjBOcX0w