Petco recently made the compassionate decision to stop selling rabbits and focus entirely on adoption. This change comes after years of pressure from animal welfare groups and the heartbreaking reality of rabbits being abandoned, neglected, or sent to already-overwhelmed shelters. While this shift is a huge victory for animal rights advocates, we need to ensure this policy becomes permanent.

Rabbits, America’s third most popular pet, are often purchased impulsively, especially around holidays like Easter. Unfortunately, many buyers aren’t prepared for the responsibilities these delicate animals require. This leads to what advocates call “bunny dumping,” where rabbits are abandoned outside, left to fend for themselves. These abandoned rabbits often face tragic fates, either becoming roadkill or falling prey to predators¹.

Petco’s Decision Is a Step in the Right Direction

Petco has recognized this issue. In response to pressure from organizations like Rabbit.org, the retailer has now committed to an adoption-only model. Susanne Kogut, president of Petco Love, praised the decision, stating that it aligns with Petco’s mission to improve lives for pets and the people who love them². But we’ve seen this before — Petco made similar promises in 1994 and 2008, only to reverse course later³.

This time, we can’t afford another reversal. Every year, thousands of rabbits are surrendered to shelters when owners realize they can’t meet the needs of their new pet. These shelters, already stretched thin, cannot handle the influx of rabbits who need homes and medical care⁴. The cycle of buying, abandoning, and overcrowding shelters must end now.

Let’s Make This Change Permanent

We have a chance to make a real, lasting change. Petco has demonstrated they’re listening to feedback from animal welfare organizations and their customers. Benjamin Thiele-Long, Petco’s Chief ESG Officer, stated that the company is refocusing on helping the thousands of rabbits that need homes rather than contributing to overpopulation⁵. This policy is a step in the right direction, but we need your help to make sure it stays in place — permanently.

Sign the Petition to Protect Rabbits

With Petco’s wide reach, their commitment to a permanent adoption-only policy can set a new industry standard. By choosing adoption over sales, Petco can help prevent the suffering of countless rabbits, showing the world that compassion should come before profit.

Sign our petition to ensure that Petco stands by this decision and commits to making the adoption-only policy permanent. Together, we can create a future where no rabbit is sold for profit and every bunny gets the loving home they deserve.

Take action today. Sign the petition below to support Petco’s permanent commitment to an adoption-only policy.

More on this issue:

1. Kaleigh Werner, The Independent (24 September 2024), "Petco to stop selling rabbits as buyer’s remorse often leads to ‘bunny dumping."
2. Jonathan Limehouse, USA Today (24 September 2024), "Bunny buyer's remorse leads Petco to stop selling rabbits, focus on adoption only."
3. Rabbit.org (4 September 2024), "Press release: Petco Violates Agreement, Sells Rabbits in the Southern United States."
4. Hamza Fahmy, Fox8 (25 September 2024), "Petco to stop selling its rabbits … again."
5. Aidin Vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle (25 September 2024), "Petco ends rabbit sales nationwide following Bay Area protests."