Reporting a Pet Store

[JackRabbit]

Stopped in a local pet store looking for something and noticed that the bunnies still have no hay. Asked the clerk who was in charge of the small animals. She says Chris’ (owner) wife but she’s not here. I asked the clerk to tell the owners that rabbit’s need hay, etc. Her reply? “She doesn’t want hay in there. It’s OK because the pellets they are eating have hay in them.” As I was walking out, Chris was coming in. Asked him if he knew that rabbits need hay, etc. He just smiled and said thank you. Told him I was going to report them, again a smile and thank you. My son worked there briefly and said they have problems with animals dying.

Now that it’s confirmed that they know and just don’t care, I need suggestions on where to start. Our SPCA only deals with animals in their care. Animal Control (part of city government svcs) only deals with strays and dead animals on side of road.

Are there any organizations that you all know of that help with this kind of thing? Other suggestions?

[LBJ10]

I don’t know if there is much you can do if the problem is simply a lack of hay. What they are doing probably isn’t considered a crime. The rabbits are being fed and have water (I assume). They are inside. They aren’t obviously sick. The law in most states only dictates that a minimum level of care be met. Unless the people writing the law have a clause in there saying rabbits must be fed hay at all times, I don’t think there is much that can be done. Sorry, I don’t mean to sound like a downer. That’s just how the law works as far as animal cruelty/neglect goes. People might be feeding their dog the cheapest food they can possibly find and other dog owners might see that as a form of neglect, but it wouldn’t be considered neglect under the law as long as the dog is being fed. Does that make sense?

[JackRabbit]

I know, I just at least want to cause enough irritation for them that they think about it. *Somebody* caused enough stink to get Petco to stop selling bunnies! Their employees don’t even know enough to tell customers how to care for them — turnover of employees is so high that they never learn. My son was “long term” and was only there 2 1/2 months.

[LBJ10]

Did you see anything else that might warrant an inspection? It wouldn’t be wise to make false allegations for the sake of giving them a “wake up call”. But if you saw something that was “worth” reporting, like a sick bunny or no food/water then you would at least not risk being sued for defamation or whatever.

[Eepster]

In some municipalities, the health department is in charge of pet stores. These thing vary from locality to locality.

[JackRabbit]

I hate going back in there to look around again for something specific like sick animals. They always have two baby bunnies in a glass case, maybe 1 foot by 2 feet. They told my son’s girlfriend when she bought Kieko there that Kieko was 4 weeks old. The vet said he’d guess 10 weeks, but after posting Kieko’s birthday thread and looking at her baby pic again, she actually looks more like four weeks.

It’s worth a try to call the health dept just to see if pet stores fall under them here.

[Deleted User]

WOW! As much as I hate that bunnies are illegal here (fine $ etc., for me with Henry) – but in the next breath I’m relieved! I don’t have to see that, cause I’m not sure how I would react? Actually, I do – exactly like you! What to do? For me in Australia I’d ring the RSPCA and take guidance from them. If they let me down (which I don’t think they would???), I’d contact some sort of local small town media (newspaper) to see if they want to do a story on them and how bunnies are kept in pet stores in general? Anyhow, that’s where I’d start…..

Good for you JR!

[JackRabbit]

You read my mind AH. We also have a local newspaper magazine thingy that has a “rant” section in it. Thought about putting a general pet store bunny comment in there too.

[Deleted User]

Yep! And make sure you name them ‘without’ naming them – you get what I mean. And seriously, for a bit of hay???
I mean it – go for it! Do it for all us BBer’s that cringe when we enter a pet store that is in it for the quick dollar (and I’m not only talking about bunny’s).

[Katscarpena]

We were looking at the most ADORABLE baby bunnies at a local pet store, and I felt so sad about them being there – my hubby and I were contemplating buying ALL 3 and re-homing them. Then we realized they had fleas. BAD. We alerted the kid there – he was great about it – took down the sale signs, and said he would call the owner asap.

I am always SO torn though. It’s a local place, I like to shop local. And I do think she cares about her animals. But they keep a giant flemish breed back in an enclosure near reptiles – he always has hay and it’s a big enclosure. But he’s too big not to be free ranging it someplace. And the fleas on those babies was heartbreaking. I realize that is probably on the breeder – but I called the SPCA. I don’t know that they can do anything even though.

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