ALERT: MOLDY hay epidemic

[Luna]

Check your bun’s hay! I usually get my timothy hay from an online distributor (Small Pet Select), but I ran out while waiting on my shipment. I went to the pet store (Petco) for a small bag of hay in the meantime. I always inspect Luna’s hay – pulling it out of the bag/box and just looking between the layers. Well, right in the middle of the bag, a clump of damp moldy hay. I returned it and went to a different store and got a different brand. Then, my shipment from Small Pet Select arrives. I had to work early the next day and I’ve ordered from SPS before so I gave her some of the hay without inspecting it first. BIG MISTAKE. I get home from work tonite and decide to check the hay before I feed her more. Midway down the box, running along the side of the box, a band of mold all over the hay (pic below). WHAT IS GOING ON! This is mold right? Or am I going crazy? Running to a different store to grab some hay…wish me luck.

[Benthebunny]

yuck

[Odette]

Yep. That looks like mold to me too.

[tobyluv]

You ought to send that photo to Small Pet Select and either get your money back or have them send a new box. When I’ve seen mold on hay in the past, it was usually black, and yours looks more brown, but that certainly doesn’t look right.

I don’t normally order SPS, but they recently had a special where you could get a box, just paying the shipping charge, so I got some. It looked fine to me, but after seeing your photo, I just took a closer look. As far as I can see, it all looks good.

[Azerane]

I would absolutely also request a refund from them. Hay should definitely not look like that.

[Luna]

Glad to hear your bun’s hay is ok! Yes, the second I saw it I emailed SPS with that photo, new hay demands, admonishments, and passive-aggressive undertones. Although I have only used SPS 4 times so far, I was still surprised to discover that grossness because they have good reviews and my past orders were good. But I’ll definitely be reconsidering my options.

[tobyluv]

From my perception of Small Pet Select, I think they are an honorable company and will stand behind their products. They may even send you some extra goodies along with a new hay shipment, to make sure that you are happy and satisfied with their products. I normally use Oxbow hay – different varieties, and American Pet Diner Timothy Gold hay. I’ve never had mold in any of those.

Even though I looked at my SPS hay, I want to check it again tomorrow when it’s sunny and I can see it better.

[Tia]

Thanks for the heads up. I just got a new shipment of hay from SPS so I will be thoroughly checking it. I ordered a bigger box for the first time so I didn’t check out all the hay like usual (trusting them because it has been good and I have been using them for over a year now.) I did notice that this box seems more brown than usual and has other stems in it that I’ve never seen in the other boxes. I have been picking those out and not feeding them to her. Gah! I really hope there isn’t a hay problem happening!
Please update us on SPS response!

[Luna]

I ordered the 20 lbs timothy hay 2nd cut (I usually only get the 10 lb), and I too noticed a lot of brown, but it was more like dark-mud-brown than a normal brown. Around the 3rd or 4th layer down was where the dark mold/mystery stuff was.

And SPS did contact me back…if just to say my concern is being looked into by the manager. Almost 24 hours later I am still waiting for some kind of substantive response. I first contacted them Friday 9/23, and even though the service rep later told me they are closed on the weekend so that’s why I didn’t get a response until Monday, I am still getting frustrated with the lack of urgency on their end. But I will definitely keep everyone updated!

[Luna]

RESOLVED – So while waiting for the final word from SPS, I went ahead and ordered a new box because I got impatient (and because I saw a pop-up ad online for 40% off using the discount code “betterhay” ). After I placed my order, I still hadn’t heard back, so I emailed them again and told them instead of a replacement box I would be needing a refund. This was their response: “From the picture, he [the manager] said that it looked more like a section of brown hay but if it was mold it would have a pungent smell and would be very obvious from the time of opening the box. For situations like this, we do send replacements. Please let me know when you’re ready for another box and we’ll get one sent out.”

No apology? (lol – I’m just being picky…kinda) And ok, opinions could differ on exactly what that brown stuff is, but it is NOT a “section of brown hay”! Anyway, they said they would send me a new box at no cost and to just let them know when to ship it. All in all, I guess I’m satisfied.

[tobyluv]

I’m glad that they are sending a new box. Hopefully, this box will contain all good hay.

[Odette]

Mold or not, I think if you requested a refund for an inferior product you should receive one. But, I’m glad you’ve resolved the issue. And at least you know that probably wasn’t mold.

[Author]

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