I am so mad!! (Pet store experience...)

I am furious!! And it's hard to get me that angry...but when it comes to treating animals properly, I get pretty riled up. Yesterday my husband and I went to Critter Corrner -- the pet store in Leonardtown. They had about 6 or 7 tiny little baby rabbits...all white (some lop) about 8 weeks old. We were enjoying looking at them for quite awhile...we have 2 buns of our own and always enjoy seeing baby bunnies.

Our trip ended on an extremely sour note. I, who am usually very calm, easy going and friently, got into it with an employee in the pet store. He was just a stupid high school kid... My husband and I were getting ready to leave when this employee rushed the rabbit tank at full speed. The rabbits saw him and ran and huddled together at the back of their tank. He grabbed one of the babies by it's hind legs and held onto its legs while it was desperatly trying to kick and run away. Then he would grabbed it and laughed while it was struggling to get out of his grip. We were walking away when this happend and I ran back and gave him a piece of my mind. Told him to stop it and that he couldn't handle a rabbit safely like that. He gave me this "look" and told me he worked there...I told him that the rabbits could easily injure their back when he handled them like that. (Not to mention that they can have heart attacks from being scared.) He told me that I couldn't tell him what to do...nice huh? The rabbits were about 8 weeks old and they were all terrified of this boy. If we could have taken all of them home, we would have just to get them away from this guy. My husband told an employee at the front of the store about what this kid was doing and the lady just looked at Dave and gave him the "SO?" look. Nice, huh? I guess the animals are just a product that the store couldn't care less about. I also pointed out to the girl that the rabbits had no drinking water left (many of them kept checking the bottle and it was dry) and I waited around til it was filled back up. We were pretty mad by the time we left. I don't think we'll be going back any time soon. But what was I supposed to do? Wait around while these obviously thirsty animals suffered under this guy's ways or speak up?

Okay, I'm sure this thread is going to get it's fair share of "rabbit for dinner" jokes, but I just wanted to let others know about my experience with Critter Corner. Was I out of line by speaking up?

[BuddyLee (Premo)]

I remember when this place first opened. It was fairly nice. The last few times I've been in it wasn't so pleasant looking for the animals. This is the sad story of most pet stores though. If this is a serious issue with you I would contact a local official. Perhaps the health department could check on things for you.

[Wickedwrench]

I used to buy a lot of fish from that place until about two years ago. I dumped a bunch of them in my tank at home and whatever disease the new ones were toting killed the whole bunch. A week later I went in there and they had sign on the tanks not to dump their water in your tank at home. Gee thanks.

As for the rabbits, they probably don't look at them as anything more than snake food. I know guys that purchase those baby bunnies and baby mice to feed their pets at home.

[Oolong]

Originally Posted by bhanks

The rabbits saw him and ran and huddled together at the back of their tank. He grabbed one of the babies by it's hind legs and held onto its legs while it was desperatly trying to kick and run away. Then he would grabbed it and laughed while it was struggling to get out of his grip.

I also pointed out to the girl that the rabbits had no drinking water left (many of them kept checking the bottle and it was dry) and I waited around til it was filled back up.

[Nickel]

bhanks, I don't know how it would work, but I know of a bunny rescue that a coworker adopted 3 bunnies from. Maybe you could notify them and they could do something about it. You're right, that is wrong that they're doing that, and the number one reason I don't go into pet stores...I feel the need to leave with every animal in there. Anywho, I can't remember the exact name or website that my coworker went to, but here's a link to Rabbit Rescues categorized by state.

http://www.rabbithaven.org/BunnyLink...teListings.htm

[vraiblonde]

Isn't there a manager around that place that you could complain to? Although I suppose if they're meant to be some snake's dinner, it probably doesn't matter how they're treated. But you have to wonder about some kid that would torment an animal like that, food or no food.

[vraiblonde]

Originally Posted by Wickedwrench

I know guys that purchase those baby bunnies and baby mice to feed their pets at home.

Snakes have to eat too.

[Sharon (Premo)]

I used to have snakes but I never fed them rabbits because mice and rats were cheaper. I had a lop-earred bunny once too; snakes and rabbits are mostly cage animals, along with hamsters & guinea pigs. They're not much fun like a dog is.

[krankykrab]

That pet store is disgusting! It is filty! The smell will can send you right back out the door. I feel sorry for the poor people who live above it in those apartments, can you image? That smell rising up to the next level??

They (or use to) keep this huge turtle in this little 3x3x3 wooden box, the poor thing can hardly move. Also they have these huge snakes in 4 foot long boxes, no where to move and really extend their bodies at any time. Why keep an animal like that? What kind of life is that?

Don't pet stores have some kind standard they have to keep? who is making sure they are aloud to have the animals they possess? Who is regulating the well being of all those animals? I am sure that store would get a failing grade!

[vraiblonde]

Originally Posted by David

How would you like to spend your entire life at the end of a chain or in a wire cage?

HELLO!!! I'm married with children!!!

Rodents and snakes are weird pets anyway. Like Sharon said, dogs (and cats) are more fun.