Hay Update

I picked up my 50 lb box of Oxbow hay yesterday. It looks great: nice and green and fragrant. I was pleasantly surprised to be refunded almost $6 for my purchase, but this has lead to some internal conflict. In my previous post "Small Pet Supplies Rant" I mentioned that Pet Supplies Plus and Small Pet Select sell 50 lb of hay for the same price. Because of this I was going to buy my hay from Small Pet Select in the future. I would like to support a small business dedicated solely to the well being of small animals, especially rabbits, but I also like to save money.

Quite the predicament. Any suggestions?

An added benefit to buying from Small Pet Select is I don't have to get depressed whenever I see bunnies for sale at the pet store (although Pet Supplies Plus seems to be not as irresponsible as Uncle Bill's). I saw these little guys the were on "sale". I really hope they end up in good homes, I wish I could save them all. They seemed so happy, the little flopped one was grooming his/her dutch friend and flopped over making a little bunny ying yang. I couldn't help snapping a pic even if it made me sad. Good luck little guys!

Pet Store Problem

So lately I've buying my rabbit supplies at Uncle Bill's Pet Center, a local chain of pet stores in Indianapolis. It is convenient because it lies in route to my grocery store, but whenever I go there I'm overcome with dread. This store is full of animals! especially bunnies.. half a dozen in each glass cage and there are usually 4 to 8 of these designated to rabbits alone. There are others for guinea pigs and chinchillas as well as wire crates with puppies etc. In fact I feel comfortable estimating that no more than half of the square footage is dedicated to the supplies you need for the pets. On all my visits there has never been more than 2 of the large bags of Oxbow timothy hay (the small ones would hardly last a day).

Another problem I have is the lack of info about the pets available. I've noticed that even the national pet store chains have begun posting basic facts and care information on enclosures.

I would like to add that I don't know much about Uncle Bill's Pet Centers policies and what not, but it has made me concerned on a larger scale. Is there any legislation (passed or in the process) which requires pet stores to educate patrons bringing an animal into their home? If not there should be, because I doubt the majority of people do the research themselves. I'm not saying this would eliminate the problem of abandoned and neglected pets, but it is something to think about (and maybe get the ball rolling), especially with Easter coming up (which all bunny lovers know is just a few months prior to an influx of unwanted rabbits in shelters).