Emailed the Observer/Guardian - Update PAH too + reply

Bought the Observer yesterday and with it came the guide to pet care.

I don't know who they approached for the information but there was no mention of
neutering
keeping rabbits in pairs
or vaccinations.

And I have to believe this is a mis-print but rabbits should be eating 2 - 2.5 LBS of dried food a day It implies that this is the staple food for rabbits, with hay simply thrown in for it's fibre content.

As a guide for a potential new owner it is woefully inadequate and misinformed.

Have emailed the Observer/Guardian and hopefully will get a reply.

Ill do the same. The more people that do it the better!

Good for you!

Awful especially as people would trust the guardian to give them correct information. I read bunny info on a vet's website yesterday saying that pellets should only be given in small quantities and even that veg should only be given as a treat! Lots of wrong or misleading info out there on rabbits unfortunately.

Good for you, Vanessa. Let us know what kind of reply you get.

Well, not even an acknowledgement yet

Good for you Vanessa I am very impressed.

Have also emailed PAH. I believe they have a special Easter offer - a rabbit + 100cm indoor cage + woodshavings + bottle + bowl for £80.

A facebook group has been set up to protest agains this https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=102238263146649

And if you have the time then PAH can be emailed at customerservices@petsathome.co.uk

Well done Vanessa, it's just so shoddy innit, you don't even have to look very hard to get the right information to publish.' You'd have thought they'd at least have consulted the RSCPA or RWAF ... pillocks

The PAH thing is pending a decision as far as i understand it, they are reviewing the offer, but if it's going ahead will be launching tomorrow, so any more pressure would be a good thing

Oh the little easter bunsters.

I really really hope that not to many buns are brought as easter gifts this year

I'm surprised too. We got Mr. Magoo from PAH and I'm surprised they gave us him after grilling us. Was funny really, they had an offer on 2 rabbits for a certain amount of money, can't remember now. We only wanted one but I was chatting about it anyway to the 'expert' that worked there. He said they won't let 2 boys go together and nor a boy and a girl (obviously) but they also don't recommend 2 girls going together either and mgiht not let them go if somebody wanted 2 girls. I did ask what the point of having an offer for 2 rabbits is if you refused to sell more than one

I am really surprised at PAH now.

I absolutely agree with you on this one - Ive not gotten a bunny from PAH but I got my first two rats from there and the advice they gave was spot on. So Im suprised they aren't applying this to bunnies.

My sister got a bunny for her daughter and that bunny isn't looked after properly, so promoting bunnies for Easter will just end up with more bunnies living like my neice's poor bunny. I keep trying to convince my sister to give Daisy up to no avail..

Little Bea is sitting on my knee right now and I think she agrees, too! She seems very interested in my puter..

Have had a reply from PAH - it seems that they have withdrawn the bunny from the offer but have had no reply from the Observer

This is the PAH reply. I am thinking of replying back and asking why a small starter hutch/cage is being sold to a customer and them being advised to purchase a larger when the rabbit is full grown. What a load of

Many thanks for your emailing your feedback and allowing us to address your concerns further.

I would like to assure you that Pets at Home is a responsible Pet retailer and like yourself we are very passionate about the Pets in our care. I have passed on your comments and concerns to our Head of Pets who is a veterinary surgeon and also other relevant departments.

The starter deal that we planned to introduce in our stores pulls together all the items that we actually sell in store already. We are not including anything we don’t sell and the idea is to ensure that customers buy everything they need for the rabbit or guinea pig. Due to feedback we have now reconsidered the deal and decided to remove the pet element and to include the dry goods only in the offer. We have introduced to this deal a link save offer which allows a customer to purchase a run with an additional £10 off. We have also added an extra deal which offers an even better saving to include a larger two storey hutch from our range the Daisy Cottage, this is suitable for two rabbits and will include all the same essential items for keeping rabbits.

The offer detailed above is permanent and the reason we have introduced it now is to encourage customers to buy the right items when purchasing their new pet particularly as the weather is starting to get warmer. We would always advise a customer that when purchasing a rabbit with hutch to bear in mind that a larger hutch would be needed once the rabbit was fully grown and that a run is essential from the first purchase. We are very aware that a rabbit needs the space to stretch, stand, hop and sleep comfortably in their home and would not want any rabbit to be placed in unsuitable housing. We are aware that rabbits are sociable animals however circumstances can mean that 2 rabbits living together is not always possible, in these cases when selling a single rabbit we would ensure that the customer understands the extra responsibility of socialising with their rabbit on a regular basis.

Our colleagues in our stores are very interested in animals and generally know a lot about pets and have pets themselves. We aim to ensure that we put pets before profit and all the pets in our stores are treated with the care and respect that they deserve. All our colleagues undergo initial training within their first 12 weeks and they are only allowed to sell a pet once this training and their probationary period is completed. There is additional training that they are obliged to complete over the next 9 months including external training courses on pet care.

Our policy in store is to ensure that we are looking out for the welfare of the animal at all times. Our colleagues ask various questions and make a decision as to whether to sell a pet or not based on the answers given. We are able to refuse any sale of pets if we are not happy with the environment they will live in or if we feel the circumstances are unsuitable. We have also in addition recently increased the age at which a customer can buy a pet to 18 this is higher than the government guideline of 16, to ensure that the customer purchasing a pet is aware of the responsibility involved.

I hope that I have somewhat eased your concerns however please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of any further help.

Well that's a whole lot better than no response or just a bland "we have taken your views into consideration, and decided not to do a bloody thing".

The shop I get the rabbits' hay from sells those kind of smaller rabbit hutches.... they're so good generally, just these tiny little hutches aren't good enough! Lucky they don't sell any animals though, just pet supplies.

One day I hope people will understand.

Great news for buns and rescues, well done The RWAF got involved in this one as well, which is good

They are going to have to understand that there are a lot of rescues and animal welfare organisations watching them and prepared to stir up a fuss if they try to do things which adversely affect the animals they sell. It isn't good enough to 'expect' the customer to do the right thing. Many people will look at the price of the hutch and choose the smaller one, especially when a baby rabbit looks so tiny. If P@A didn't sell the small hutches in the first place, they would have to be more realistic about how much a pet costs initially.

Apparently there are quite a few debates in HO about the 4ft Poppy Den hutch for rabbits that is in the offer! I tell people its only suitable for guinea pigs, so it stops them from buying it! There is another offer too they are doing - 5ft double tier ( I *think* may be 4ft double tier) with everything for £100! I'm pleased they have removed the rabbit from the offer. I point blank refused to my manager I would not be pushing it if the offer went on

I think this may be a more positive offer. If people are going to im buy a bunny anyway its good to encourage then to buy a slightly larger 2 tear than a small single 1 tear.