Where to Buy a Rabbit?
So you want a new pet? The best place always to buy a rabbit is directly from a private, hobbyist or show rabbit breeder but this may not always be possible and therefore many rabbit owners buy their first rabbit from a pet shop. However, it should also be remembered when looking to buy a pet rabbit that many rescue homes also have rabbits looking for new homes.
Private, Hobbyist, and Show Rabbit Breeders
The advantages of buying a rabbit from a private, hobbyist or show rabbit breeder is that breeding has usually been carefully planned and thought through with regard to producing robust, healthy rabbits of good temperament. Show breeders, in particular, will have purebred rabbits and will have aimed to produce rabbits that are of good size and a good example of the breed in accordance with the breed show standard, with the intention of keeping some of the young rabbits themselves for showing and selling the surplus rabbits that they don't keep.
Private, hobbyist or show rabbit breeders also regularly handle their young rabbits and so any rabbits they sell are usually confident about being handled. There is also have the opportunity to see the parents and be given the exact date of birth of the rabbit it is intended to purchase.
You can e-mail me and I will try to find a breeder in your area. Another great way to find breeders in your area is to contact the ARBA and ask about breeders in your area. If you are looking for a specific breed, you can look at the specialty club's web site for a listing of breeders or contact the secreatary about breeders in your area. Information about breed specialty clubs can be found on the ARBA web site as well.
Rescue Organizations
Another option when seeking to buy a rabbit is to obtain one from a rescue organization. This is especially a good option when looking for a house rabbit, or just one for a pet, but not the best suggestion if looking to start in breeding and/or showing. Many rabbits unfortunately become abandoned or homeless through no fault of their own every year due to the owner's inability to care for the rabbit properly, or a change in their circumstances.
Rabbits will have usually had a veterinary check on arrival at the rescue organization and treated for any ailments to ensure they are healthy before being offered for rehoming. Often their temperament will also have been assessed to ensure their suitability as a pet for a new owner.
Depending on the rescue organization any potential owner may be required to complete a series of forms, be interviewed or even receive a home visit to assess their suitability as a potential rabbit owner. The rescue organization's primary concern is to ensure the correct placement of the rabbits in their care with a suitable new owner able and committed to caring for the rabbit properly.
Click here for a search of rescues that have rabbits available in your area.
Pet Shops
Many pets shops also sell rabbits and this is often where many people buy their first pet rabbit. Although some pet shops may acquire their rabbits from private breeders, the majority obtain their rabbits from commercial breeders to ensure a constant supply. Rabbits supplied by commercial breeders are usually the result of mass breeding programs aimed at quantity rather than quality and bred purely for profit. The rabbits have not usually been handled any great deal before or after arriving at the pet shop and no information regarding their date of birth, parents, etc is known by the pet shop.
If buying a rabbit from a pet shop it is important to find a pet shop where the staff are confident in determining the sex of rabbits, and that males and females are housed separately to avoid buying a pregnant rabbit.
Any potential purchaser that is unhappy with the overall condition of the pet shop, the condition of the rabbits offered for sale, or the lack of knowledge of the pet shop staff should look elsewhere to buy a rabbit. It is no fun buying a unhealthy, pregnant or weakly rabbit and then dealing with the problems this presents afterwards - it can cause a lot of heartache, not to mention additional finances.
Although pet shops selling pets are licensed in most countries there are times when a potential purchaser may encounter a shop where the conditions that the rabbits are kept in or the condition of the rabbits offered for sale may cause extreme concern. In such cases a report can be made to an Animal Welfare organization or the local authority for investigation.
In spite of some quality pet stores in the world, Liberty Acres highly discourages buying rabbits from pet stores, and even more so discourages aquiring pet rabbits through carnival or fair games. Rabbits should be carefully thought out and planned pets, not prizes. Are you really ready to commit to care for a rabbit for 10 years or so?
