#United States #Chicago #Rabbit.org #Petland #Chicago Rescues

Chicago Rescues Unite to End Rabbit Sales at Petland

In an unprecedented move, rabbit rescues in the Chicago area have come together to support the national Stop Rabbit Sales campaign initiated by the Rabbit.org Foundation. This coalition of over 100 rescues is making a strong call for Petland to halt its live rabbit sales, which they argue contribute significantly to animal abandonment and overcrowding at shelters.

The alarming truth shared by these rescues is that many rabbits sold at retail stores end up in dire situations. According to Rachael Sanders, the Director of the House Rabbit Society of Chicago, the litany of issues stemming from these sales creates a scenario detrimental to both rabbits and rescues. "Petland has become a major source of rabbits that later find themselves abandoned or in crisis. Many of the rabbits arriving at rescues are thin, ill, or suffering from neglect after being surrendered or found outdoors," Sanders stated. She further described how many pet store customers purchase rabbits without fully understanding their needs, leading to what she refers to as ‘rabbit explosions’—the overproduction of offspring due to unspayed or unneutered pairs, which then complicates rescue efforts.

The urgency of the matter came to light during two separate hoarding cases linked to rabbits purchased from Petland. In May 2021, an emergency response team discovered 47 rabbits living in unsanitary conditions in a Schaumburg hotel room. The initial pair of rabbits had been bought from a Petland store. The chaos continued into July 2023, when another similar case revealed over 40 rabbits, again tied back to a Petland purchase. These incidents underline the direct connection between retail sales and systemic neglect among pet owners.

Efforts to rescue these rabbits also present considerable hurdles. For instance, Red Door Animal Shelter reported that over 330 rabbits are currently on an owner-surrender waitlist, with about 22% of these shelter occupants traced back to Petland Hoffman Estates. The emotional and financial strain this situation imposes on these small nonprofit organizations cannot be overstated. Musical chairs of adoptions become a survival strategy for the rescues as they manage the influx of animals.

With the rising number of abandoned rabbits across the U.S., which the ASPCA identifies as the third most commonly abandoned animal companion, many shelters lack the appropriate knowledge or resources to provide necessary care. This crisis of care was reiterated by Paige K. Parsons, founder of the Rabbit.org Foundation, who voiced her concerns about small rescues being overwhelmed by the cascade of impulse purchases followed by neglect.

The coalition of rescues is urging Petland to forge partnerships with these organizations for adoption events rather than selling rabbits. This model, successfully adopted by retailers like Petco and PetSmart, offers extensive adopter screening, education, and post-adoption support—elements currently missing from the retail sale model.

Significantly, public support for these efforts is gaining traction, reflected in a petition that has amassed over 6,000 signatures calling for Petland to cease its rabbit sales. Furthermore, 140 media outlets have covered the story, amplifying awareness addressing this pressing issue.

As advocates call for change, they encourage the public to visit change.org to sign the petition and learn more about their initiatives at rabbit.org/activism/petland-chicago. Each voice counts in this urgent plea for animal welfare—one that speaks for the voiceless rabbits caught in a cycle of neglect and abandonment due to retail sales practices.

Through collaboration, education, and community engagement, these rescues are not only seeking to help the rabbit population but to change perceptions about adoption versus retail sales. They strive to create a future where every rabbit has a safe shelter and a loving home.