Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be annoyed at Pets At Home

76 replies

loserdoesnotgohere · 20/10/2014 14:53

I went to Pets at Home this morning to buy a rabbit. I have bought everything I need for it and have set everything up and spent lots of money in the process.

Only when I got there the stupid cow refused to sell me a rabbit! I was so embarrased at being shown up like that but the manager backed her up!

no idea what to do about this now.

OP posts:
youbethemummylion · 20/10/2014 15:08

Rescue a pair of rabbits, why anyone buys animals when so many are sitting in shelters needing a him is beyond me.

Moghedien · 20/10/2014 15:09

"Getting a rabbit from a rescue is actually cheaper, because they come vaccinated and neutered."

Pets at Home paid for my bunnies vacs and op.

youbethemummylion · 20/10/2014 15:09

Oh and ask the rescue for advice in how to improve your set up.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 20/10/2014 15:09

A Hutch is Not Enough gives a load of information, but IIRC they need to be able to stretch right out and had room for 3 hops lengthwise, minimum.

Original poster
loserdoesnotgohere · 20/10/2014 15:09

thepoorlobsters a 14ft x 8ft shed with an 8ft run attached (I built this especially for my rabbit) is not big enough, really Confused?

PAH are hypocrites because all the hutches they sell for rabbits really are too small. As are the hamster cages.

I was planning on getting one rabbit, having it done and taking it to a shelter to bond with another rabbit so I'd have two eventually.

OP posts:
lollipoppi · 20/10/2014 15:11

YANBU they refused me a fish once, told me to come back with my mum, I was 29 at the time

ProudAS · 20/10/2014 15:12

Don't get livestock from PAH. I've never kept rabbits but their fish don't last long and they sell tiny unsuitable bowls for them.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 20/10/2014 15:13

loserdoesnot come on over to Super Furry Animals on Pets.

Lots of rabbit knowledge. ( I'm not a bunny keeper )

thepoorlobsters · 20/10/2014 15:13

loserdoesnotgohere Obviously that shed is great, but you said the reason they didn't sell to you is because they don't home outdoor rabbits in the winter. The reason they don't do that is because a rabbit which has been kept indoors (often in the quite warm Pets at Home store) needs to acclimatise before it's thrust outside. Did you tell them the shed was temperature controlled?

Yes they do sell hutches WAY below the minimum requirements. I think some of their "ethical" policies are still catching up with others.

NewEraNewMindset · 20/10/2014 15:17

I actually feel really sorry for caged animals, how is it right to stick an animal such as a rabbit in a hutch when they should be hopping around a field and digging holes underground?

Are you sure there isn't a better pet for your set up OP?

Topaz25 · 20/10/2014 15:19

It depends on the age of the rabbit. Most of the ones they sell are quite young and wouldn't be ready to go outside at this time of year as they haven't reached their adult weight or grown a thick enough coat. They can't be compared to wild rabbits. Wild rabbits are hardier, they also sleep underground and surrounded by other rabbits, which provides insulation. Incidentally rabbits are social animals so only buying one would be another issue. Pet stores have the right to refuse a sale if they have concerns about how the animal will be kept. A heated shed is different to being truly outside though so it's possible they were over cautious. Does it have windows etc?

Personally, I wouldn't buy rabbits from Pets at Home ever again after I bought two there a couple of years ago and one sadly passed away shortly after purchase because she was already sickly. I only get rescue animals now.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 20/10/2014 15:24

New my 3 guinea-pigs (neutered boar and 2 sows) share a wooden shed that is (off the top of my head 72" x70")

They have boxes, deep bedding hay across the entire floor,equine cardboard bedding to satisfy their need to rummage around and chew, each other for company.

No idea how long a wild rabbit would survive in the wild, but I reckon if you offered my hogs the chance of life in Peru or life with me, they'd pick me

CherryDolphin · 20/10/2014 15:24

Animals from Pets At Home are sickly.

I'm always a bit Hmm when I see things like this.

I've had several animals from Pets At Home over the years and all except one of them have lived to be ripe old ages and were all healthy.

I had three guinea pigs from there and they all died this year (not at the same time obviously!) at the ripe old ages of 7 and 8 years old. All three of them were always very healthy and only one of them ever needed to see a vet and that was a very minor ailment which cleared up quickly.

Likewise I have had several hamsters from there and all except one lived to ripe old ages.

Maybe I have just been very lucky though.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 20/10/2014 15:29

I've seen and reported ill guineas in P@H (I only look at piggies)

An obviously pg pig with boars (Yes, she;ll be safe, they won't eat them but she'll get pg again. They are fertile boars from 3-4 weeks old)

A piggie with a gummed up eye

A piggie with a bald scabby throat

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 20/10/2014 15:31

I think Cherry it varies hugely between stores.
Some are good.
Some are a conveyer belt. And sadly when those animals are too old and lose the Ah-Factor, there are more little paws waiting to fill their shoes Sad

Honeezreturn · 20/10/2014 15:37

Get a bunny from a rescue centre.
I was refused a goldfish from pets at home. Im 48 ffs!!
I had a large (or so I thought) glass tank 3ftx2ft all set up and it was deemed too small for one tiny fish.
I then bought 2 fish from independent pet shop (much cheaper too!!) No questions asked & they are very happy in their tank Smile
Funnily enough PAH sell some very tiny fishbowls Hmm

Sweetpea01 · 20/10/2014 15:38

The P@H staff aren't allowed to sell animals if the requirements they feel they need aren't met. Not unreasonable I don't think.

However I would go on Preloved and search for rabbit breeders in your area, most will care where their rabbits go but are likely to be much more leniant than a P@H scripted policy. You will also find that rabbits from a breeder will be much tamer due to handling than pet store ones that are left to their own devices.

Numanoid · 20/10/2014 15:40

Pets At Home are (usually, and in my experience) concerned about animal welfare, which is a good thing. It won't be anything personal, they'll ask everyone who wants to buy a rabbit and has their own housing prepared.

We have 3 animals from P@H (2 bought, one rescued when we realised they rehome). They are fit and healthy and we've never had any problems with them.

Moghedien · 20/10/2014 15:47

"I think Cherry it varies hugely between stores."

I agree with 70isa here. My local store is great, my lovely new bunny is not good with other rabbits, but was handled twice a day and had bedding changed twice a day, played with and we were questioned in detail as to our set and as to whether we understood the rabbits needs. They seemed fond of her.

I requested a vets app with the instore vet before we left, bunny was checked over and nails trimmed before coming home with us.

I cannot ever condemn anyone giving, selling or re-homing an animal for being too stringent with checks.

VivaLeBeaver · 20/10/2014 15:53

Did you tell them the shed was heated?

If you didnt then good for them for not selling you one at this time of year. Though I've bought a guinea pig from them at this time of year and they asked about hutch size but weren't bothered that it might have been going from a warm shop to a cold hutch. It wasnt btw, but they never asked.

Isthatwhatdemonsdo · 20/10/2014 15:54

This is why people shouldn't be shopping in these big chain pet shops. Please support your local pet shop. The staff have extensive knowledge of all products and animals.

Moghedien · 20/10/2014 16:00

"Please support your local pet shop. The staff have extensive knowledge of all products and animals."

My local one doesn't. The rabbits are in cages 2 by 2 ft and cannot sit up, never mind without their ears touching.

I have rang the SSPCA on them (see above). However there's only so much they can do.

They also know fuck all about animals i.e. what mouth rot looks like, what a bad shed feels like to a snake and how to treat it and why it isn't nice to keep dead animals in with the ones your selling.

weeblueberry · 20/10/2014 16:01

Are you able to consider offering your home/shed to a rescue bunny from a local shelter? They might come and do a home check to see for themselves that you have adequate shelter.

figgypuddings · 20/10/2014 16:10

We took our PAH rescue guinea pig to the Vets at Home for the third time over a short period. (pneumonia). we have only had him for four months. It costs between £25 and £30 each time for medicine and vet fees - our other pigs lived very long lives and never required medicine so I'm convinced this is a sickly pig.
There were two 'rescue' pigs and a woman had just bought them but they were sold despite both 'having the cold'. I don't think they should sell animals unless the health of the animal is good.

FyreFly · 20/10/2014 17:51

My guinea pigs from Pets at Home lived to the ripe old ages of 5 and 7. They were pretty darn healthy! My local Pets at Home seems to be pretty good! Every time I go in (regularly) the pens are clean and the hay is fresh, the animals are all lively and bright, the fishtanks are clean and free of algae.

My Pets at Home also has an excellent rescue section, for what it's worth. I've been so tempted to rescue those ones every time I go in!