Have you ever had that moment where —

[Meg Pressley]

— you just happen to walk into a pet store, adoption shelter and you instantly fall in love with creatures that you know you cannot have?

Well, I have.  Today I went out with my friend, and we went to the local pet store in Virginia called Pete’s Pet Forum, and I saw these beautiful Angora Lionhead Mix (ALM) bunnies.  There were three of them, one was separated from the other two, probably because of behavioral issues.  The other two were so loving with one another, and they were either an instant bond or they have been bonded with each other for a long time.  None of them really liked to be help, touched, or petted, but I guess they were just so scared and not used to being in the pet store.  There was also a REW Mini-Rex, which they had in the same “pin” that the REW Angora Lionhead Mix was in — the one that was separated from the others.

The ALM’s, I think, were going for $35.00 each.  I’m not sure about the Mini-Rex — there was no sign.

Do not fret, I have pictures.

REW Angora Lionhead Mix.  This was the one paired with the REW Mini-Rex (who is the white under the hidey house).  The Mini-Rex was very frightened and stirred up; would hide everytime someone tried going near her — I estimate that she was about two-three months as she was a bit smaller than my Pixie when I had gotten her [and Pixie was roughly three months].

The REW ALM’s fur was matted and had the shavings all over her bottom, feet, tail, head; some of it was matted in there pretty good too.  I tried getting the loose shavings off of the ALM as much as I could while my friend and I held him/her…  But some of it was stuck, and she was frightened, and it was kind of pointless because she was going right back into the shavings.

I believe the shavings were made of Pine, simply by the smell that they let off when I lifted her — smelt like Pine…  Which didn’t make me happy.  Actually the whole store set up didn’t make me happy…  They kind of let the bunnies just sit in the poop and pee, with a bowl of pellets, and a house…  That’s it, oh and a bottle of water…  I was VERY disappointed, as I always am by this set up…  But it is a locally owned and run pet store, so I guess you cannot ask too much of them…

Two beautiful Angora Lionhead Mixes.

These are the two I suspect were either insta-bond, or they have been together for quite some time.  They would snuggle next to one another, groom, lay heads over one another, and hold their noses in front of one another and just sniff.  It was so cute to watch their bunny love happen in front of my eyes.  I wish I could have gotten better pictures with my phone….  But…  Yeaaaaa….

I really hope these two are bought together, it’ll be sad to seem them being separated since they have such a good bond.  I suspect their hair is no different than the REW ALM, since they are in the same situation with the long hair, the shavings, the bowl, the poop, pee, and water bottle…  So their fur and mats are probably not much different.

Which is saddening because they are such beautiful bunnies.

There are also at least six or so guinnea pigs living in the same conditions, and some of them (one in particular) I know has been there for over a month or two.  They are so calm, and cute, and they rarely bite (one of them — which is the one I supect has been there for three months or longer — bit her, but the one I held did not bit me).

Of course, I fell in love with a whole other creature (other than the beauty of the ALM’s and the brown and white guinnea pig I held — which I would have named Flora if I could have taken her home): ferrets.  One in particular.

I know ferrets are in awe of shiny things, so while all the rest were sleeping, and this one rumbling around for attention, I lowered my phone charm (which is a bear with a shiny “halo” and wings — also attached to it is a tiny bell), instantly the ferret began “hunting” for it.  Coming in close, standing up and trying to bite it, jumping.  Once or twice she — the guy there told us, and then I checked to confirm — got in a good bite (even taking the wings off — which the pet store guy was able to retrieve for me).  She was so playful, so my natural instinct was to hold her.

She was so sweet, and after holding her and playing with her for a few hours, she fell asleep on my chest — so heavy in the sleep I was able to walk around the store a little ways without disturbing her.  (Apparently small animals like my chest — bunnies, guinnea pigs, and now, this ferret).  She was like a little Bandit (and thus, I named her, which by then I was already sucked in by her cuteness and loveable attention seeking nature that I was in love and wanted her all to myself).

When it was about an hour before the store was to close my friend and I decided to say our farewells to the ferrets (as she too was playing with the others while I held Bandit — yes I named her, screw it XD).  The ones my friend was holding on to would hug her wrist and try playing with her some more, knowing she had to leave I suppose.  Well she would hold them up and they would lick her forehead.  She was playing with two, so those two were the ones, the other two were sleeping.

I said good bye to Bandit, and then I would make kissy noises and she would start licking any part of my skin she could get to, hands, fingers, chest, face (anywhere on my face — nose, mouth, chin, cheeks, forehead).  When I stopped the kissy sounds, she would stop licking me, and once I started up it would happen some more.

If I could have, I would have gotten her…  But I can’t as I am saving to have my girls spayed….

But, I really wanted to share mainly because of the rabbits, and the experience of going somewhere and seeing a pet you like but not being able to help it.  The feeling makes me feel so aweful because I had loved and played witgh the poor ferret for so long, I felt like I was disappointing her for having to leave.  But my first obligation is to get my girls spayed.

Just wanted to share this with you all — maybe someone here from Virginia, or close to Virginia who is looking for some buns can make a trip down to save these four (the three ALM’s, and the REW Mini-Rex/Standard Rex — unsure, it be either, was too young looking to tell I suppose).

P.S. If you’re wondering, the ferrets are $99.00 each…  But there was this note on there, because this lady had to drop off three of hers because she got sick and it was fatal to her health to have the ferrets, that you could get her three ferrets and the SMALL VERY SMALL cage they came in for $75.00.  When I mean small cage, it looked like it could BARELY be a cage for a guinnea pig or two…  It was probably about two feet tall, two-level, and about one foot wide…  And it housed THREE medium to adult sized ferrets…  They definitely need a good home and a BIGGER cage.

[Monkeybun]

If it is a local owned pet store, you can definitely make a difference! Print up some bunny info, especially diet and housing, and bring it in one day and ask for the owner/manager. Quite often, these small stores will be happy for good info about how to care for animals. Definitely tell them hay is needed!

[Meg Pressley]

I will definitely have to do this, because I really do dislike the conditions these amazing creatures are in. It makes me so sad to see them all matted and in such messy living spaces. Thanks for the advice, I will definitely do this and hopefully I’ll see the changes being made to improve the health of their animals.

[LittlePuffyTail]

I cannot go into pet stores for that reason…as well as the fact that pet stores are the reason so many animals are dying in shelters.   I pretty much want every bunny I see. I volunteer at the SPCA which is hard…so many cats and bunnies. I’m currently in love with the 9 kittens at my stable. So many cute animals…so little time and money.

ps. Get me the REW Mini-Rex!

[Beka27]

I wish you would’ve taken a pic of the mini rex! I love REW buns!!!

I agree that it is so hard when you see these precious creatures, especially when they’re not in the best of conditions. And you don’t know who they will go to because pet stores don’t care who gets an animal, as long as they get paid. I also avoid pet stores that sell animals, first because I don’t want to support them with my money, and second, because I’m afraid I might not be able to resist taking home an animal. I am a firm believer in supporting adoption, therefore I do not purchase animals, I adopt.

You are a strong person for recognizing your limitations! Your responsibility is first and foremost to the animals you have now. When the time comes when you are ready for another pet, I’d encourage you to adopt from a rescue. Rescues have rabbits, guinea pigs, AND ferrets!

[Meg Pressley]

Yea, I’m not that big on the pet store for animals either. It just seems like that’s always the first place people go for a pet, and the first place people go when they need to “dump” their pet. It’s just sad! And I hate seeing so many precious animals in those conditions, and knowing that they’re either going to be sick, die, or go to homes where they’ll be neglected.

I wish I would have gotten a picture of the REW Mini-Rex, she/he was beautiful too. They were all so gorgeous and sad looking in their little cubicles. :[ I just wanted to steal them all and take them to a shelter where they would be better taken care of.

I will most definitely go to a shelter when the time comes for me to get another pet! :] I hope though, that in the future people will think of the shelters more than they think the pet store… Especially when wanting to have a pet of their own, or needed to drop the pet off somewhere because they can no longer care for it or have it for what ever reason.

[Beka27]

Fortunately, many chain pet stores no longer carry live animals! The backlash has been too great. My local PetSmart has a very limited selection of tortoises and lizards, no furry animals. PetCo stopped selling animals and started adopting out rabbits from local rescues… It’s mostly the smaller, privately owned pet stores that still have animals. So I think it is working! The problem now tho, is that more people are turning to online websites like Craigslist to sell and buy animals, which is just as dangerous and detrimental to the animals.

[Meg Pressley]

I am hoping that I can at least make the pet store a little better by doing what Money suggested, giving them more information about the care for animals, and maybe they’ll just make it a bit better for the pets for the time being… It would be so much better if they would have left it to JUST the pet products instead of the actual pets as well. During the visit my friend and I saw really hungry fish, some were dead, and the other were so hungry they were starting to eat the dead ones. It was horrifying.

All the animals were in their feces and urine, in pine. I should stop getting so upset about it because I know it’s a pet store and their not the greatest, but I hate seeing animals being treated so… awfully. It’s definitely effected me more since I’ve had my bun’s (of which both are from the pet store — which worries me a little bit about their health, thus I am trying my dang hardest to find a good vet in the local area).

Oh my, I hate Craiglist because of that. So many animals that are neglected or no longer wanted and people trying to make a quick buck… That and if they are not bought soon enough the people will just leave them on the street somewhere or take them to the pet stores… It’s sad, but you’re right, it is slowly changing so maybe eventually things will get better for the pets everywhere!

[Stickerbunny]

Locally owned pet stores typically _want_ to take care of their pets as best they can – for one, they really can’t afford any fines if they get reported for abuse. Agree with giving them a little fact sheet, easily explained, but be nice to them about it and just mention that you were in here and were impressed with how friendly and such the animals were, then offer the advice (without criticizing) about changing bedding and keeping the long haired buns groomed. A well groomed, non-matted, healthy animal sells better anyway! Hope they will listen.

Beka, I wish my petco and petsmart would do that petco here  had four ferrets in a small glass display and they were sucking desperately at their water bottles so I looked and … no water. So I told them they needed to fill the water bottles of the poor things! Now I kind of make it a point just to go in there to look at the water bottle levels of each and every animal and tell them what needs filled up. I’m sure the employees find me annoying. They also have like 30 budgies in a TINY ROUND glass enclosure (round is the WORST display you could have for a bird, it gives them no “safe” area and causes severe stress/anxiety). They have rats, mice, guinea pigs, etc and 90% of the cages in the store are not fit for any animal they sell.

Petsmart is a little better… they have one big display which they will trade around what is in it. Sometimes it is a conure, sometimes it is a guinea pig, sometimes a bunny… they keep budgies/canaries/finches all the time, as well as rats, mice, hamsters, gerbils. Again, all cages are WAY too small for the animals they sell. And the employees aren’t very good at answering questions.

All of them sell reptiles – which the average lifespan of reptiles is stupidly low because people buy them with no idea how to care for them, sometimes not even knowing they need a UV light! Argh.

Needless to say, I am not a fan of pet stores. Sadly, there is no store around here that sells pet supplies without selling pets as well so I don’t have an option of not supporting it unless I want to pay shipping on all my animal supplies – which is $10-$13 for a bag of bird food that costs $7.99… can’t afford it.

I got my minirex from craigslist because I saw her up there and the lady was trying to get rid of her ASAP – she had taken it from a neglected home, so was being a little cautious about who the bun went to, but she had no idea on bunny care herself… luckily she knew that the bunny shouldn’t be in a tiny cage ignored all the time though and took it out of there. She let us set our own price because she said we sounded like a good home for the baby and she came with cage (way too small) bedding (pine shavings, which went right to the garbage!), water bottle, hay and food bowl. I’m just glad I got to her before someone else who didn’t know about buns did – she’s now happily eating her salad in the laundry room where the tiny cage is now her litter box holder and she has two rooms to run about all to herself.

So Craigslist isn’t _all_ bad, but there are a lot of animals I just want to take home every time I look at it since people are just trying to get rid of an animal they no longer want a lot of the time… the “I want to trade X animal for X animal because mine is boring now” ads really make my blood boil!

[Meg Pressley]

I am most definitely hoping that this local pet store will be more accepting of some light encouragement to make the setting a lot better for the pets.

Yea, the PetCo, PetSmart, and PetSupplies Plus here in Virginia (in Charlottesville where I am closest to) still sells animals in WAY too small glass tanks, as you said. They are not properly cared for or in the right conditions either, and the people there don’t know much about animals apart from feeding them on a daily basis, and water is easily forgotten by them.

Yea, see Craigslist is okay when it comes to some users who are actually precautios and care. For instance your experience with the care the lady was looking for for the bunny. I’m okay with that, but in my state the people are kind of a bit less caring on Craigslist. There just like, “Here’s a rabbit, $75.00.” And you’ll find the cage is WAY too small, there is no bottom to protect their feet, no litter box, just a water bottle, huge bowl of pellets, and nothing else. It sounds like the lady who you found your Mini-Rex from was pretty good because she knew she didn’t know much about the care but wanted to find a good home that would know how to take care of it, so that’s always a plus. I’m glad you got her. :]

[Stickerbunny]

Yeah, we have the bad ads as well – though not that many rabbits, thankfully! But, that is going to happen with anything – and I would kind of rather they go up on craiglist than be set free in the wild or thrown away, at least they have a chance at being picked up by someone who cares.. as small as that may be. A lot of people out where I grew up would just set their rabbits out in the wild because “there’s plenty of grass for them to eat, they’ll be fine” and didn’t even try to find them another home! I posted pictures of my buns on another forum I am on (bird) and one of the users said her bun as a kid was set free and how fun it was to watch him with the wild bunnies… people don’t even realize how mean it is to do that.

[LoveChaCha]

Aw

I don’t even go to Petco anymore. They have a rabbit up for adoption from the Humane Society, but is left in the same conditions from your pictures, Meg. It makes me so angry.

I’ve been ‘OOOed’ by other rabbits, but I know that my dad would not be too happy if I bought home another rabbit. I don’t even know how it will react, and I still live with my dad so I have to respect that.

[LittlePuffyTail]

And how would CHACHA react??????

[Meg Pressley]

You’re right Stickerbunny, it is a bit better seeing the bunnies on Craigslist than on the side of the road or in the garbage. It’s still sad, but there are people out there that do care and will take amazing care of the bunny, granted the person is still being patient and hanging on until it can find an owner for the bunny they’re trying to rid of… I still hate seeing the ads though, because they just look so neglected and sad – but I do hope that things look up and all animals are adopted or taken better care of.

I rarely go to any of the pet stores around town because I know if I walk in, I have absolutely no will power and will instantly look at the animals… and then I’m disappointed because of their conditions or because I cannot save them. So, I try my hardest to avoid them, but sometimes when I’m out, I just like to go look and hopefully promote or suggest to people I know who might want a pet that there are some animals of needed care at the place, and they need to be owned soon because it’s not good for them and they could be nursed back to health if taken care of properly… For the most part.

It’s really good that you respect your father like that, I bet he really appreciates that from you!

When I got Aria, the only thing running through my head was, “I want/need this rabbit.” I practically begged both my parents, and I was a little shocked they said yes – I would have been a bit upset if they said no, but I have my Pixie so I would have gotten over it [and the Lionhead would have definitely found a home if I could not get her]. The situation, though, for me and Aria, could have definitely gone better and more smoothly, and I probably should have really thought about how it would effect Pixie, my family, and myself a bit more – but I’m definitely happy that I have these two wonderful girls. They’re both pet store girls though, and I know that next time, if I am able to and have room in the future I’ll adopt from a shelter rather than going to the pet store.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Ever the mom-I just have to caution you this

Ferrets are predatory animals-bad ones. They hunt and kill rabbits in the wild-so although I’m with you in the ‘omgisn’theadorablethemostsweetestthing’ reaction to ferrets-really really too risky to own both at the same time

Anyways on to original topic-yes if I wander into a pet store (Telling myself I’m only checking for sick animals-whcih I do and I do phone authorities when animals are sick)-there isn’t a one I wouldn’t take home. I can’t tell you the pain when we popped into one while christmas shopping and they had beautiful little dutch bunnies there-we all have that breed or color or animal that makes us weak in the knees more so any other-and for me it’s dutch. Well my hearts in my throat thinking about. Oh man do I know what your talking about

[LoveChaCha]

Posted By LittlePuffyTail on 07/08/2011 04:28 AM
And how would CHACHA react??????

 

She would hate me

[Beka27]

Posted By Kokaneeandkahlua on 07/08/2011 04:04 PM
Ever the mom-I just have to caution you this

Ferrets are predatory animals-bad ones. They hunt and kill rabbits in the wild-so although I’m with you in the ‘omgisn’theadorablethemostsweetestthing’ reaction to ferrets-really really too risky to own both at the same time

Very good point.  Something I just kinda glazed over.  

[stinkybinky]

That’s a reason why I avoid pet stores.. you never know who are the sources, e.g. backyard breeders. But one time when I had difficulty getting a bunny because it was so hard to contact adoption centers and many were far away AND I was getting impatient with finding the right breed because my bf was like blah blah-_-, I wanted a bunny from a pet store And guess what, it was a day before Easter and the girl was like you better reserve these two because it is Easter and they are really popular! Sad. But I decided on waiting for adoption people to contact me back.
In my area, they only have bunnies in local pet stores, and we only have one. The habitat of the bunnies are a lot better than before but they are kept in a GLASS cage. And there is NO HAY despite how small they are, just pellets. I got a bunch of cellphone photos of them sent to me but try to avoid going there….Sometimes I think I should rescue them from a petstore but at the same time I guess I would be taking part in encouraging pet stores. Imagine how others that are not very well informed on rabbits and rabbit related issues would feel looking at the cute buns in the petstore, yes that’s why there are so many abandoned rabbits

[HoneybunnySara]

I also have a locally owned petstore nearby that I have to go to to get supplies sometimes. They have guinea pigs, hamsters, birds, bunnies, all in the same condition as you describe Meg. And the bunnies have no hay at all! Gggrrrrrr. I am also going to get some info together in print to take to them. That is a great idea. I have tried to nicely tell them about buns, about litter training and being indoors, a great rabbit vet I use, but they did not sound too interested. Maybe I could beat them into being interested. Lol, jk jk.

[Meg Pressley]

@Kokaneeandkahlua:
Yes, I know, that’s why I wasn’t planning on owning both at the same time. Ever. I rarely own more than one species at a time strictly because of their extreme differences with one another – that and I do not have the space for more than one species. I am working on giving my current babies a better space to play in, so the room will be even less spoace for myself and more space for them haha.

But I definitely would never mix ferrets with bunnies, that would be crazy. o-o I simply like looking at other pets, but I would most definitely never put my babies in a position with a pet ferret – so those two pets are going to be at completely different times in my life.

@stinkybunny:
Oh yes, these bun’s were in a glass cage as well, with pine shavings, no hay, LOTS of pellets, a little hidey-house, and some of these pets are put in the same cage with a lot other and just because they are the same species does not mean they get along with one another so some of them will fight with the other – which bothers me when i’m there to see or hear the squabble.

@HoneybunnySara:
I’m hoping my local place will accept the information, and heck maybe they could find people willing to donate the supplies. I’d donate supplies for them to make it better on the animals if I could afford to, but I need to take care of my baby girls first and foremost… But hopefully once I’m able to get my girls spayed, in a better play area, and bonded together I’ll be able to help or donate if they need it… Just to make things better for other rabbits and pets and people that go there to get a pet.

Hopefully it’ll get better.

[Author]

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