Around and around the mulberry bush the monkey chased the weasel
SAN DIEGO––Petco rabbit policy might be described as repeatedly tying itself in bowline knots: “The rabbit,” meaning the end of the line, “comes up out of the hole, goes around the tree, or the long end of the line, right to left, and goes back down the hole.”
Three times in 20 years the 1,500-store Petco pet supply chain has popped up with a scheme to sell rabbits, run into humane opposition, and rapidly retreated from the scheme, pledging––or at least appearing to pledge––to henceforth only offer rabbits for adoption from rescues.
“Recommitting to an adoption-only policy for rabbits”
Petco again tied itself in a bowline knot on September 24, 2024, announcing only weeks after offering rabbits for sale again that it “is recommitting to an adoption-only policy for rabbits – the third most popular companion animal in the U.S. – following the completion of a limited pilot involving the sale of fewer than 50 rabbits in select locations.
“The decision,” said Petco media contact Yvonne Tarrab in a prepared statement, “was made in line with the company’s longstanding Think Adoption First philosophy, and feedback received in partnership with animal rescue and welfare organizations nationwide.”
“We’ve learned – from our own Petco partners and customers, as well as [nonprofit subsidiary] Petco Love and its animal welfare partners – we can have a greater impact by refocusing our efforts into helping find homes for the thousands of rabbits already looking for loving families across the country,” said Benjamin Thiele-Long, the Petco chief environmental, social, and governance communications officer.
Slow learners
But the Petco powers-that-be appear to be slow learners, having repeated the same mistake three times in about twice a well-kept pet rabbit’s lifespan.
Petco moreover reached the same conclusion about offering dogs and cats from animal shelters for adoption, rather than selling puppies and kittens, back in 1965.
Boasts Petco, “We’ve helped find loving homes for more than 6.9 million pets in partnership with more than 4,000 animal welfare partners.”
Trying to pull good publicity out of a hat
“To help encourage responsible rabbit adoptions,” the Petco media release announced, “Petco will offer a 20% off ‘Start Right’ savings for pet parents who adopt a rabbit from any established rabbit rescue or adoption group through October.
“Additionally, starting today [September 24, 2024],” the Petco media release said, “all remaining miniature rabbits who were made available for purchase at select Petco locations as part of the recent pilot will be offered for adoption.
Susanne Kogut, president of Petco Love, pronounced herself “pleased by the decision to recommit to an adoption-only policy for rabbits and proud of Petco leaders for listening to the perspectives of Petco Love and our animal welfare community.”
Petco loves lettuce in the till
Petco Love, begun as the Petco Foundation, became Petco Love shortly after Kogut, formerly executive director of the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA in Virginia, succeeded founding president Paul Jolly in May 2013.
Jolly, suffering from Lou Gehrig’s Disease, died in March 2014.
(See Petco Foundation founding director Paul Jolly, 57.)
“Palo Alto’s Bunny.org criticized Petco earlier this month,” recalled San Francisco Chronicle staff writer Aidin Vaziri, “for reneging on its 2004 and 2008 promises to end rabbit sales. The group warned that selling rabbits often results in impulse buys, leading to abandonment and dire outcomes for the animals.
10,000 emails
“In Defense of Animals, which organized a protest against Petco’s rabbit sales earlier this month, praised the move,” Vaziri continued. “The organization claimed over 10,000 emails were sent to Petco executives denouncing the initiative [to sell rabbits].”
Said Brittany Michelson of In Defense of Animals, “Our supporters made clear that Petco’s move was cruel, irresponsible and dangerous for rabbits and rescues already stretched to their limits,”
Added the House Rabbit Society, also in a prepared statement, “This achievement reflects the tireless efforts of advocates and rescue groups who came together to push for change.”
(Beth Clifton collage)
“Significant concerns”
Observed Animal Politics blogger Ed Boks on September 14, 2024, the Petco “pattern of making and then breaking commitments has raised significant concerns among animal welfare advocates, who argue that Petco’s actions contribute to the ongoing exploitation and suffering of rabbits.
“Rabbits are the third most surrendered animals to shelters, following dogs and cats,” Boks reminded. “Selling rabbits in pet stores often leads to impulse buys by customers who are unprepared for the complex care these animals require.
“Rabbits need specialized diets, regular veterinary care, and environments that are ‘rabbit-proofed’ to prevent destructive behavior.
“Eh, what maroons!”
“Many new rabbit owners, misled by the perception that rabbits are low-maintenance pets,” Boks said, “find themselves overwhelmed and ultimately surrender these animals to already overburdened shelters.”
Boks had first-hand experience with all of that in more than 35 years of directing the major animal care and control shelters serving Maricopa County and Yavapai County in Arizona, Los Angeles, New York City, and Spokane, Washington.
“Rabbits sold in pet stores typically come from large-scale breeding operations,” Boks added, which “prioritize quantity over quality, leading to breeding rabbits with genetic defects and health issues. The result is a population of animals that are predisposed to chronic health problems, which can lead to significant veterinary costs for their owners.”
“Think Adoption First!”
Petco announced in mid-2004 that in lieu of selling rabbits, four Petco stores in the Minneapolis area had begun offering rabbits for adoption from the Minnesota House Rabbit Society.
The test of rabbit adoptions came under threat of a PETA boycott of Petco pending a corporate pledge to quit selling animals.
Petco spokesperson Shawn Underwood at the 2004 Conference on Homeless Animal Management and Policy in St. Louis introduced a “Think Adoption First” program, partnering not only with dog and cat rescue organizations, but also with rescuers of “small animals, reptiles, and birds,” Underwood said.
Talking through hat, maybe, but no “weasel words”
But the “Think Adoption First” program did not actually mean that Petco would no longer sell rabbits, reptiles, birds, and other small animals.
“As part of our commitment to saving more animal lives,” Petco vice president of animal care and education Marcia Whichard announced on November 17, 2008, “we’re phasing out the sale of rabbits in stores where we now sell them, and reaching out to rabbit adoption groups to join with us in finding forever homes for more rabbits in those stores and all of our stores across the country.”
While Petco can be accused of tying itself in bowline knots over rabbits, the company has never announced an end to selling ferrets, and therefore cannot be fairly accused of uttering “weasel words.”
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AND SPEAKING OF PETCO SAN DIEGO –
https://www.newsweek.com/sports/mlb/one-mlb-stadium-wants-host-rodeo-amid-resistance-city-leaders-1958160
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Eric Mills, coordinator
ACTION FOR ANIMALS
Oakland
The bottom line will ALWAYS be the bottom line, right where it belongs, and tragically, no matter who suffers as a result. As a longtime Petco customer, I know all too well how none of these big corporations adding to their coffers via sales to those of us who share life with members of other species really give a damn about them. The independent company I used to buy from, before it was gobbled up by Petco, was the major employer in its location and, as far as I know, truly cared about those it served, to some extent, at least. I miss them every day. So too, I’m sure, to the many employees made jobless in the wake of the corporate buyout.
Sharing with gratitude.
In a world where millions of companion animals need homes “think adoption first” sounds nice. However, a quick google search of Petco indicated they are selling reptiles and birds. The reptile and bird trade can be every bit as horrific as the puppy mill trade. As with much of our world what quotes nicely on a bumper sticker falls apart upon examination.
I couldn’t begin to say how many bunnies, gerbils, guinea pigs, mice, and other critters came through shelter doors. Often with the reason for surrender being some variation of the kids no longer want, or we don’t have time. Allergies too many times felt like code for the former. A bunny should be planned as a 10 year commitment.
Birds and tortoises by contrast can live 30 to 50 years if not longer. This makes them a legacy purchase which in theory requires planning for care after the owners have passed. In reality too many are treated as any other impulse purchase.
Unfortunately high demand from the public exists for young animals of all stripes, and if any retailer resists the market, a backyard breeder steps in to fill the void. A quick local google search of Craigslist pets for sale returned 120 listings page 1, 839 total. Many localities have made token efforts so shudder pet stores, but done little if anything to stem what may be the real supply problem.
Think adoption first remains a game of inches where the much of the public that would give an animal a second chance lack complete information of how and why to consider it. Petco certainly has it within their power to educate the public and work with local rescues and governments to lead the charge if that’s their goal. Vet care, grooming, boarding, training, and supplies seems like a large enough pie to allow for consistent and committed advocacy.