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Small pets

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Original poster

Pets at home animals (do they live long)?

58 replies

Timeless10 · 23/09/2021 10:48

Does anybody know if pets at home rabbits live long?
We have a purpose built shed, run etc all kitted out for rabbits (have had many in the past).
No breeders around the area and haven't been for a while (been keeping an eye out locally for ages but nearest is 35miles away and worry about the distance for them in the car journey home).
I've never bought animals from them but have seen a couple in our local store. The only issue is I've heard bad things about their animals being sick and suffering or not living long etc.
So would it be worth risking getting them or would you not bother?
TIA

OP posts:
Sooverthemill · 23/09/2021 10:53

We have had many small animals from pets at home over the years ( though not since 2012). They all lived reasonably long lives. We often adopted from the back where people brought back red eyed white rabbits which aren't popular. I probably wouldn't get one form there now but we have 2 lovely hamsters we 'rescued' which were from there originally. They are Curran out a year and seem very healthy.

It's hard to get small animals except from the animal breeding farms I think. The rescues will probably be from there originally

Sooverthemill · 23/09/2021 10:55

Also although the stores follow company policy each is staffed by different people. We have had amazingly good service as well as rubbish ( in terms of advice). Do your research before you commit. Hamsters for example need massive houses

starfishmummy · 23/09/2021 10:56

Buying an animal from anyone can be risky.

With regards to transporting from a breeder have you asked their advice? I image the pets at home ones are transported to the stores somehow so moving one rabbit yourself is probably preferable to a load stuck on a lorry!

Albgo · 23/09/2021 11:00

I'd recommend joining a rabbit forum and asking there. They have a terrible reputation for selling poorly and mis-sexed small animals.
There are loads of good rabbit rescues and I'd personally prefer to get one from there. Depending on where you live I'd happily recommend some. They're also more likely to give you correct husbandry advice - eg adequate cage size, the fact they should live in pairs etc (just one rabbit on its own is very cruel).

BigWoollyJumpers · 23/09/2021 11:02

Our local Pets at Home seems pretty good. We have had a couple of hamsters, a few fish, and two Guineas from them. All lived long, longer than expected, lives, and didn't need any vet visits at all.

The guineas we took, one was a younger attractive piebald, and the other a slightly older, ginger with pink eyes, which no-one seemed to want. He was actually the best guinea, very loving, very chatty, and they both lived really well together.

Accidentgirlfriend · 23/09/2021 11:03

We had a hamster during lockdown 1 and he’s still alive so is my friends . Yet my DD had a rabbit from a local specialist breeder and she died after a couple of months .

ginandnappies · 23/09/2021 11:04

We bought a 6 month old Syrian dwarf hamster. Lived another 2 and a half years! He was a darling :) we now have a Russian dwarf who is a wee character.

Mrsjayy · 23/09/2021 11:08

We haven't had rabbits but hamsters and fish, our hamsters lived the usual lifespan 5/6 years as did the fish

Mrsjayy · 23/09/2021 11:10

2/3 for hamsters sorry I think we had 1 for 3.5years

Original poster
Timeless10 · 23/09/2021 11:46

Thank you for all your replies and to those that have had positive experiences.

We have always either adopted them from a small local rescue (not open anymore unfortunately) or used a breeder in the area and they have lived decent lives. Oldest we've had was 13 when he died.
We always try to have at least 2 together so that they have company.

OP posts:
Mrsjayy · 23/09/2021 11:48

I didn't realise rabbits could live so long !

krj2608 · 23/09/2021 11:51

I haven't had rabbits from pets at home but have had 2 degus which lived to 8.5 9.5years old.

MandyMotherOfBrian · 23/09/2021 11:59

Where do they usually get their animals from? I only ask as a store local to us took on quite a lot of guinea pigs from an animal hoarder and sold them in pairs (though they did seem in good health). They contacted op the animal rescue my DDs work for because they had some left over they hadn’t been able to sell on and were concerned the shop wasn’t the best environment for them. The rescue took a couple of pairs and we’ve currently got one recuperating at home with us after his snip (in the hope he can join the group after his recovery and period of isolation to ensure no more babies!!). The only issue with him was he’d not been used to handling, but he’s come in really well and is totally adorable now.

the other a slightly older, ginger with pink eyes, which no-one seemed to want. He was actually the best guinea, very loving, very chatty

That’s what our little boy is, ginger and red eyed, I love him, he’s beautiful! 🥰

Original poster
Timeless10 · 23/09/2021 12:28

@Mrsjayy

Yep Grin our 13 year old outlived one of our dogs.

OP posts:
Sooverthemill · 23/09/2021 13:21

@MandyMotherOfBrian many come from here which is just a big animal farm.

bunnygeek · 23/09/2021 16:27

My last pair of rescue rabbits lived to 12 and 13 years.

PAH get their rabbits from bulk breeders, no thought into their long term health. Pet shop rabbits are often miss-sexed, barely handled and may well come with long term illnesses such as snuffles or genetic problems such as dental issues. Pet shops are basically rubbish places to buy pets!

Where are you located? A reputable rescue is a much better place to get rabbits from - they will be neutered, vaccinated, vet checked, they'll know their personalities and they'll be properly bonded.

Albgo · 24/09/2021 21:53

@bunnygeek exactly.

BlossomingSlowly · 02/10/2021 18:56

Pets at Home claim that their animal care has improved over the years, as has where they source their animals, but personally, I don't support the brand and their selling of animals. They sell so many to unsuitable homes.

Sounds like you have a great set up though! I'd recommend looking at local rescues (RSPCA, Blue Cross, any other small local ones eg Ivy Dean Rabbit Rescue based in Leeds). Rabbit rescues are absolutely over run at the moment, the situation is pretty horrendous, primarily due to so many people getting rabbits in lockdown and then abandoning them. Also, rabbits must live in pairs or small groups as they're social animals so make sure to get at least two that are bonded 😊 Rescues will be able to advise on bonding. Please support a local rescue if you can, many have baby rabbits available ❤️

smilingthroughgrittedteeth · 02/10/2021 19:01

Ive had 3 rabbits from pets at home all lived over 10 years. One died from myxomatosis at 11 and the other 2 of natural causes at 12 and 14yrs.

Id probably use a rescue centre if i was going to get more but our local Pets at home are actually pretty good and the staff are fab unlike the one near my mum who dont seem to care much about the animals and cant answer even simple questions.

NinDS · 02/10/2021 19:03

Had a rabbit from there that lived until 9 years and two guinea pigs who lived until 7 years, which is quite amazing! (Guinea pigs were kept indoors) I would certainly buy from Pets at Home again .

Daisy829 · 02/10/2021 19:08

We have guinea pigs from PAH and they are all happy & healthy. We also had really good customer care from them and a follow up call. We purchased a GP from an independent small pet shop & she died suddenly within a week. It was very sad. I would recommend PAH they’ve been great for us.

NeurologicallySpeaking · 02/10/2021 19:15

We have two Guineas from there who are doing well. Also had fish which have been healthier than those from local specialist aquarist. I did see one of our local animal children's farms bred very nice small animals so if we were to get more in the future we would get them from there.

ThirdElephant · 02/10/2021 19:18

Got my hamster from there. Poor thing only lasted a couple of months. I was heartbroken.

WhoWants2Know · 02/10/2021 19:51

I had a pair of rabbits from there that lasted years and years.

But I also know that all the RSPCA branches nearby have rabbits in that are probably in better nick.

Mummysgoingcrazy · 02/10/2021 20:07

We got our rabbit from pets at home, in the adoption section. He's free-roam, we've had him 4 years and he's doing great.