Does Rabbit Retail sell bunnies?
No. Rabbit Retail has not, does not and will not sell rabbits.
Despite the name causing a little confusion in some phone calls, we are retailers for rabbits, not retailers of rabbits.
Here at Rabbit Retail we believe whole-heartedly in Adopt Don’t Shop and rabbit rescues.
Animal rescues around the country (and the world even) are at breaking point with dumped, abused, neglected rabbits and the many babies of misgendered rabbit parents.
When someone buys a rabbit from a breeder, via pet shop or directly, it not only exacerbates this problem, but in addition there’s invariably a trail of abuse behind that purchase.
When a price is attributed to an animal that animal becomes a commodity, not a being. They are liable to abuse.
Female rabbits can have a litter every month! That takes its toll on the mother’s body, from fur pulling to making nests, to the physical strain of creating lives and feeding the litter.
Bunnies can get pregnant from 12 weeks old, although that is like a 12 year old human being pregnant: dangerously early in a bunny’s development. It can be fatal for mother and babies - clearly not a good thing!
But for breeders, each baby is more money so the sooner a rabbit can be used for breeding the sooner they are bred. And it doesn’t matter what health that baby is in, as long as they look cute enough to sell. If they’re not deemed “cute” enough or healthy enough, frequently breeders will dump them and rescues have to pick up the slack. Or they end up somewhere even worse.
But I’m a breeder and I do it for fun not money?
What fun is there in animal abuse? In forcing a rabbit to have countless litters? Do you know what happens to the lives created in your “care”? Are the homes checked to meet RWAF requirements? What happens if a bunny needs to be sent back? Are the bunnies bred after sale? Are the buns given vet care? One breeder told a customer that rabbits don’t need vets.
There is no shortage of rabbits available in this country. There is no need to provide more of them - in fact, there is need for the opposite: there are too many “unwanted” rabbits currently in rescues and massive queues to surrender to rescues because they are full.
You cannot convince me breeding is okay.
I want a rabbit - how do I get one?
Rescue!
The website saveafluff.co.uk is a great way to find local rabbit rescues.
There is also the RSPCA website where you can add your postcode for a radius search of rabbits waiting to be rescued near you.
The Blue Cross have branches you can choose from.
Rescues will also help provide you with info on rabbit care. Welfare standards are improving and rabbits are living longer, so advice may differ from when you had a rabbit as a child or even the last time you adopted bunnies!
Here is a small guide we put together: Smallish Guide on how to care for a bunny
Rescuing and caring for bunnies is so rewarding and getting to know their little personalities is amazing, but please do your research.
