very tempted…

[LittlePuffyTail]

So I stopped at the grocery store this afternoon (to get greens for the Princes, lol, what else?) and my curiosity got the better of me and I went into the pet store next door to see if they sold all their “stock” of baby bunnies they had gotten in for Easter. Of course, they did, but there were 2 bunnies left. A small baby lop and a big, I’d have to guess full grown, mixed looking breed. He was a beautiful dusty gray colour. He looked sooo sad and was in a tiny glass, lack of a better description, container. I felt so bad for him because he had been there 2 weeks ago and also looked sad then and I know he will probably be passed up time again for the younger buns.

Anyone who knows me knows how anti-petstore I am but is it this bunnies fault? I am very tempted to “bring it up” with the boyfriend this weekend. Not that I can really afford to buy another bun (although that never stopped me before). The guilt of even thinking about giving money to that puppy mill upsets me but I can’t stop thinking of his little face.

[bunnytowne]

poor bunny sometimes when the too old so they say they give them away. poor lonely bun

[kralspace]

awww, Little Puffy Tail, do I know how you feel…..

I’d had my Pringles 3 or 4 months and had been reading enough to know she needed a buddy, and had learned about the rescues. That was the plan, anyway. I had been in Petsmart a bit after Easter and there was this one bunny left. 3 months later I went in again and the poor thing was still there, double in size but, like you said in a small glass container all by himself. By now, I had read enough about bunny language to know this guy was very lonely and depressed so when I went in a few days later and they had that sad “Clearance, Too Old, Gotta Go” sign I couldn’t stand it and brought him home.

Daisy is terribly sweet, but you could tell he had problems from growing up inside that little container. For months he wouldn’t move outside of an area that big, even though he was in a big condo and let out to roam the house everyday. He was terrified if a hand came towards him and it would break your heart the way he’d just give up when I did have to catch and handle him. It was so sad. The best day was the morning he came to the front of the condo with Pringles when it was time to eat. He’s still so very shy, but I’m glad I got him.

[JK]

I know how you feel. The poor bunny is at the mercy of that pet store. That’s just horrible he is in a glass container. How inhumane. I say get him if you can – you would be saving his little life.

[LittlePuffyTail]

I’m thinking, if I can convince my bf, I will stop by the pet store on Monday and ask how much they are asking for the little guy and maybe I can talk to the manager and really bargain him down.

I’m planning on eventually getting another rabbit because I want to have a buddy for my mini-lop as I really feel Stormy is too agressive to try bonding the two.

[RabbitPam]

I definitely think you can “take him off their hands” and would be saving him if you did. Try and see if the manager will just give him to you, suggesting the alternatives won’t make any money for the store anyway, and it’s better than putting him in a shelter. Start at zero dollars and see what he says before you pay anything. I have a feeling you’ll get him. He needs you! (Here’s some convoluted logic: the cost of adding him to the costs you already spend a year on bunny anyway is probably less than a donation you would make to a different good cause. And you’re giving so much more than just writing a check.)

[MimzMum]

Hogeeze, Puffy, believe me…if I were closer to your area, if you didn’t nab him, I WOULD!
That’s exactly how we brought Pippi home. She was the last of the last in one of those horrid octagonal glass containers (they remind me of snake tanks…UGH!) and you could see she was just heartbroken that everyone was passing her by. (probably because of the fluff around her face, seems like she has more hair than she does and one of the more aggressive buns had groomed her face down to skin) I kept thinking of how she reminded me of BigWig from Watership Down and I would go up to the pen every time I went into the store to say hello. She began responding to me even before we had the thought to bring her home and it would just crush me to leave her each time.
One day in December, what happens? My daughter bats her big old eyelashes at her papa and she comes home with bunny! ^^ I made a big show of ‘gee-do-we-really-need-another?’ but I was SO happy! She had to have been in that wretched pen for at least six months! We paid full price and I loathe the idea that the shop made a profit…but it was SO worth it!

[(dig)x(me)x(now)]

Ah, I know what you mean. A pet store near where I live has had the most gorgeous rabbit for a while now… (s)he is white with a light speckled pattern in her fur and has the most gorgeous pink eyes. I feel so bad for her whenever I see her in there. She’s a gorgeous rabbit, but I think since she’s full grown (even though she’s small), she gets passed up a lot. I am always so tempted to give her a better life!

[Heath]

That’s how I got Heathcliff. The pet store had a bunch of adorable baby rabbits (that I now know where being treated awfully) and Heath, who was a bit aloof, older, and set in his ways. I know enough about cat rescue to know that older animals just don’t get taken home as often; every pet we’ve had has been an older animal as a result.

[Lisa_43]

If you get this rabbit, I would tell the shop why you are taking him and that normally you would not buy from a pet shop. Make them feel bad.
I sound terrible but I also really hate pet shops selling animals, it is the same here they are in small glass cabinets, it makes me cry.

[Lion_Lop_Lover]

I’m assuming it’s PU, eh Puffytail?
I strongly boycott them; I used to do betta fish rescues and raise hell there, but then I just stopped because it made no difference. They’re such a chain store that they don’t care.
And the rabbits – bleh, I totally hear ya. I haven’t stepped inside Freddytown’s PU in at least a year; I would flip out at them about the puppy mill dogs, the fish, the animals…everything…

That being said… I’m not sure what you should do – because any way the store sees it, it’s money. Who cares if it’s in s–t conditions, it’s money. That’s one thing I’ve learned through my work with betta rescues – some stores purposely keep animals in bad conditions just to get the sob response from passersby who will buy them.

It’s a tricky situation.

[LittlePuffyTail]

Yes LionLop, it is that evil pet store. The worst part is there are 2 PU stores in Moncton (well one in Dieppe). The one in Dieppe started out not selling anything but small rodents because it’s a PU Express but now they have a fullblown puppy mill in the tiny store and sell cats and rabbits and ferrets too. Like I said, I loathe the idea of giving them money, but it’s not fair this bunny should suffer because they are greedy jerks. I never buy supplies from there and I tell anyone who will listen never to shop there because they get their dogs from puppy mills. If I do get him, I will try my best to bargain them down and like Lisa43 suggests, I’m gonna make them feel like absolute “poop” about the situation.

I talked to my bf last night and he was surprisingly agreeable to yet another pet. He knows how important helping rabbits is to me. I’m gonna stop in today or tomorrow and talk to the staff about him.

If I do get him/her it will be quite a while before I can get him fixed but at least he will be happy and safe (and loved and spoiled). It’s not like he/she will reproduce cuz my two boys are fixed anyhow.

I sort of wish I hadn’t of gone in there yesterday…

[RabbitPam]

Why exactly do you wish you hadn’t gone in there? Is another bunny too much for you? 3 are a lot, so it is understandable. Your BF sounds like a great guy.

If you have doubts, here’s an alternative suggestion. You could say to the pet store that if this bunny is not given a home by the end of a week, please call you (leave your name and phone #) and you will come in to discuss taking him. That way you give yourself time to get used to the idea and prepare for him a little first. If he does get a new owner, the problem is solved. If not, you will be sure and ready. I doubt you can stand to leave him in those conditions for another whole week, but it’s a way to go. You might just want to take a day to get the cages set up for him first if a week is too long.
Personally, I’m very excited for you about taking him. I saw a similar bunny in a pet store (a chain here) many months ago, and it broke my heart to walk out. I can’t go in there again. Older, larger, eyes that said Please Help Me! So, so hard to leave him. It’s worse I think when you know you’re making a commitment for years. You’re doing the right thing, whatever you do.

[LittlePuffyTail]

Well I just REALLY hate the idea of giving that store even a cent, but yes I do plan on getting him. I might go in today or tomorrow and pay for him and make them put a “sold” sign on him and then go in the next day and pick him up.

I don’t think another bunny will be too much of a hassle although it will be at first. I have to find a place to stick him. I don’t have another big cage like my buns have and can’t afford one right now (I’m saving up to build condos). What I’m gonna do is give him the small guinea pig cage I have and make it so he can hop in and out of it and put an x-pen surrounding the cage so he will have quite a bit of room. I’m just not sure where to put it because my “rabbit room” is pretty full already and I don’t want the x-pen on carpet seeing as though he isn’t litter trained (he doesn’t even have a litter box in his cage, just shavings, ugh…). Hopefully he will be able to bond with Bindi eventually and I can build them one condo for both. Although I’m a bit leery of trying to bond an unfixed bun with my Bindi and like I said, I don’t know when I will be able to fix him.

I’ll let you know when I get back from the pet store.

[Beka27]

i like what rabbitpam suggested.  give your info and tell them that if he is not sold you will take him off their hands.  not buy him, just take him from them.  i wouldn’t give them any money for him at all.  this is always tough i know.  do they only have buns at Easter time?  it’s frustrating b/c if you go in there in another 6 months they’ll have another lonesome bun “too big to sell”.

[LittlePuffyTail]

I just got back from the petstore. The bunny is still there obviously. It was very crowded and busy so I didn’t get to talk to anyone but I’m gonna go back tomorrow. I managed to take some pics of him while no one was looking.

I am concerned, however, because one of his eyes had some white, goopy stuff in the corner (maybe you can see in the pics?). I don’t know if it’s infected or what, it wasn’t there when I went there yesterday. Maybe just an eye booger? What do you think? Should I get him anyway, I’m just scared my buns catch something. Should I keep him quarantined somewhere else in the house. I’d hate to not buy him just because of his eye. He looked so sad…

I’ll post pics in the post below.

[LittlePuffyTail]

 

I have a closer pic of his eye but Photobucket is not letting me resize it, I will have to put it on later tonight. The poor guy/girl, the smell in the rabbit/rodent section was making me feel sick. Poor little critters. Anyways you can sort of see his eye here. It’s just strange cuz his eye looked fine yesterday.

[Beka27]

he’s cute.  not sure about the eye, altho i know discharge isn’t good.  he’d definitely need to see a vet before being brought to your guys area.

[Scarlet_Rose]

The eye thing may be a direct result of those darn shavings in there. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! They are probably pine too…Oooo evil pet store!!!! The discharge is not yellowed and there doesn’t appear to be any from the nose, but to be sure it is nothing, keep him away from your other rabbits and get him to a vet to be checked over. Poor little thing. I don’t go to the parts in pet stores where the animals are sold. I always get upset and sad.

[Deleted User]

He looks like he’s crying! =( You know, when I decided to get a bunny, I really didn’t do any research on rabbits. I just knew for about a year, that I wanted to get a bunny, because I couldn’t have a dog. I now wish that I had looked into the whole process first and got my bunny from a shelter. I had no idea how overpopulated bunnies are! I bought my bunny at the classic pet store, got all my supplies, etc. I just really had no idea how it all worked. Reading what you guys have said, I’m very glad that I picked Boston up at the store, cuz I can’t imagine her in that little glass cage months from now! But I do know that after I get her spayed, and can muster up more room, I will be getting Boston a companion…from a shelter! This is all such an eye opener. I really hope you get the bunny! It sounds like you know what you are doing and he/she would be in great hands. Good luck with whatever you decide! =)

[Lion_Lop_Lover]

Fartin’ PU. God I hate them.

Was talking to my part-lessee at the barn today and she is a strong anti-PU advocate as well, anyway, her parents dragged her into PU here yesterday and she said there were 2 terrified white and brown buns in the open top cages, NO water, and teenage boys were poking and prodding them. Sigh.

[bunnytowne]

yes thats what I was thinking. he was crying and sad. poor thing looks depressed. I would take him home and of course see a vet just in case right off. the pet store by my house in feb did not have bunnnies. then comes Easter and of course had 4 buns. I thougth was all they were gona have then they go and get 8 more. there are 4 left. awe. another pet store I know when they got 3 mos they gave them away. who knows where they went snake food or people food. makes me sad.

[MimzMum]

This bun is adorable! I understand how you feel about not wanting to spread anything to your other buns though, we kept Mimzy and Pip strictly separate for quite awhile until I was sure she didn’t have anything that she might spread to him. I would hazard a guess and agree that the discharge is probably due to the shavings, but I’m no vet so…. But it looks like a larger amount of the same stuff that comes from Mimzy’s right eye once in awhile due to his allergy to bunny bedding-which he comes into contact with when he’s in the xpen with Pip.

He is quite the nondescript little fellow isn’t he? Most folks want a ‘fancy colored bunny’ when they go to the pet store, but I think he’s rather sweet. ^^ Cute and cuddly in my opinion. And those eyes! Gosh, don’t they just beg love?? I sure hope you can help him out!

[LittlePuffyTail]

I love my family….

I just talked to Mom and convinced her that she should let me keep the bunny quarantined at her house for a little while (she lives about 15 minutes away). I told her I would stop in everyday and take care of him and spend time with him. I got my love of animals from her so it wasn’t too hard.

I’m going to pick him up tomorrow and bring him there. I’ll wait a few days and see if his eye clears up, if not I will make a vet apt. for later in the week. This way here I can snatch him up and keep him safe while not having to worry about my two guys at home.

I hate the idea that he will have to get used to 2 different homes but it’s much better compared to his present situation. My little niece, whos 3, and visits Mom alot is going to be absolutely ecstatic because she LOVES bunnies. She will come to my house and literally hand feed Bindi and Stormy hay, piece by piece for like an hour, she’s so gentle with animals. I’ll tell her she can help me look after him while he’s at Moms.

MimzMum – yes he’s a rather plain little guy but I always tend to fall more for the ones I know are not as popular. I happen to have a huge softspot for white pink eyed buns

[MimzMum]

Alright MOM! WOOHOO! ^^ (boy do us mums have the word ‘sucker’ printed in big letters on our foreheads or what?) j/k
Sounds like the perfect situation! I am so happy for you! I sure hope it all works out!

And I know what you mean. Pip was quartered with another bun that was her same dun color but no lion’s mane, and if I’d had room for that one, I’d have taken it home too. Plus there was a smaller white bun in the pen with her that she kept washing, it was SO adorable! Need I say, that one was snatched away before we went in to get Pip. And so was the other brown bunny! I just couldn’t figure out what folks didn’t see in our little girl, but boy I am glad they didn’t see it now!
But it’s the eyes, not the fur, I swear! Those just say “TAKE ME HOME!” in no uncertain terms! ^^

I’m also one of those folks who looks for the older, slightly botched plush animals that are obviously unwanted by anyone else and then I take them home and clean them up, do any stitching that’s needed and add them to my ‘stuffie family’. (Yah, I know…what a weirdo, right?) >_o

[LittlePuffyTail]

So I brought the little darling home today. She is staying at my Mom’s.

The poor little soul. She is absolutely terrified of people and every little noise. Here is what I managed to get from the petstore clerks (after talking to about 3 of them since no one knew anything.)

They don’t know how old she is. She was at the petstore a while back, had babies (ugh…) and was bought by someone after all the babies were sold. A few weeks later they dropped her back off at the petstore saying they didn’t want her. The poor little thing has obviously been through a lot to be so scared. They probably really mistreated her.

She has lots of quiet  and room here. She’s at my Moms who is out of town for a week and Im gonna come spend a few hours with her everyday. When I came she was out but ran into her cardboard box when she saw me.

She’s very overweight because she has been eating crappy pet food store with lots of junk in it, unlimited pellets. Once she settles down I will be putting her on a diet. She seems to have no idea what to do with hay. I’m a bit concerned as she got here at 12 and it’s now 730 and she has yet to poop but I guess it’s because she’s so scared.

I will probably make a vet apt in a few days because her eye might be infected. It’s pretty runny and she keeps washing it but it runs right after. All the fur around the eye is wet. The other eye is fine.

I think it’s gonna take a long time to gain her trust and love but I’m willing to wait as long as she needs. I’m so glad I rescued her from that horrible place. It’s gonna be strange for me, I’ve never dealt with a bunny like this, so timid and afraid.  Any tips welcome!!

ps. I only ended up giving that stupid petstore $10 for her and bought all my supplies elsewhere.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Awww he’s so cute!! You get him girl!!

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

oOPPS ‘he’s’ a girl….OK, you get her girl! I’m soo glad she’s home. I’ll bet she’ll be timid. Rupert’s been home for weeks now and he’s still a bit timid…

[babybunsmum]

oh the poor poor dear!  thats what my baby bun’s eyes have looked like   the gentocin the vet gave me has really started to clear it up for her now… finally!  definitely get her checked over by a vet.  i’m so glad you’re going to give her a good home, sounds like the poor thing deserves it!

[RabbitPam]

Oh, I’m so very, very glad you got her!!!!
I love your Mom – what a perfect set up for her transition and care from you. You might consider just bringing her in right away to the vet, since not only her eye leaks (and Spockie’s eye leaked regularly, a drop of ointment and poof! All better.) but the lack of pooping might need a bit of care as well. Maybe just some (help me guys) simethicone or petromalt to get her going again.

She is so sweet. I can see why you fell in love with her. Luck, lucky bunny.
((((((((((((((((((((((((binkies of joy)))))))))))))))))))))))))))

[LittlePuffyTail]

I’m back home now and I will be going back to Mom’s in the a.m. to check on her. Hopefully she will have pooped by then. I’m going to bring her a bit of lettuce to try.

If she hasn’t pooped by morning I will definetly be worried and contact the vet but I’m really hoping I can wait a few days before taking her to the vet (if it’s just her eye, I will probably call Wednesday) because I know it will be very traumatic for her to have to travel again to the vet. I’d like her to get a bit more settled in her space before travelling with her.

If she hasn’t pooped in the a.m. should I try giving her some simethicone as rabbit pam suggests because if so I will make sure to bring it with me just in case.

I’m glad I got her. I think it will be a very rewarding experience when she becomes happy and friendly. There is no greater joy than a sad mistreated animal learning to love again.

[Beka27]

what a lucky girl that you were in to save her!  i’m glad you got your supplies elsewhere.  at least they didn’t profit too much.

[LittlePuffyTail]

She’s such a cutie. She is really starting to get more comftorable with me. She comes over to the cage bars and sniffs me and lets me pet her. She is going nuts chowing down on hay. She didn’t have any at the petstore. Stupid people…bunnies need hay!

[Author]

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