We, the undersigned, call on Petland to immediately cease the sale of live rabbits in all its stores. Rabbits sold by Petland are often sourced from abusive rabbit mills like Wagner Farm and have been subjected to severe neglect and cruelty. Documented cases, including employee abuse and the 2019 Humane Society investigation, have shown that Petland is complicit in animal suffering. It's time for Petland to adopt ethical practices and end the sale of live rabbits.

 
Who is Impacted?
Rabbits sold at Petland endure unimaginable suffering. Many are sourced from rabbit mills such as Wagner Farm, where HSUS investigations have uncovered horrific conditions, including rabbits kept in filthy, overcrowded cages, many of them sick or malnourished. These animals often arrive at Petland already compromised, only to face further neglect.

Petland’s in-store conditions are equally disturbing. In one well-known case, an employee at a Petland store in Akron, Ohio was convicted of animal cruelty after she admitted to drowning two rabbits under orders from her manager. Despite public outrage and the eventual closure of that location, this incident exposed the systemic lack of oversight and care for animals within Petland stores.

Moreover, a 2019 Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) undercover investigation revealed shocking abuse at a Maryland Petland store. The investigation documented two store managers mistreating and abusing rabbits. Both managers were charged with animal cruelty, underscoring the fact that Petland’s standards do little to protect these vulnerable animals from harm. Despite this damning investigation, there’s no indication that Petland has taken meaningful action to prevent such abuse from happening again.

What is at Stake?
If Petland continues selling live rabbits, the pattern of abuse, neglect, and overbreeding will continue. Every rabbit sold supports a cycle of cruelty, from the unethical breeding practices of rabbit mills to the widespread neglect these animals face after impulsive purchases.

When rabbits are bought from Petland, many end up surrendered to shelters or abandoned when caregivers realize how complex their needs are. Shelters are already overwhelmed, and many rabbits face euthanasia due to overcrowding. Petland’s refusal to stop selling rabbits directly contributes to this heartbreaking situation.

However, if Petland ends live rabbit sales, it could dramatically reduce overbreeding, cruelty, and the burden on shelters. By shifting its focus to adoption partnerships with local rescues, as companies like Petco have done, Petland can help animals find loving, responsible homes instead of profiting from their suffering.

Why is Now the Time to Act?
This is an urgent crisis. With the holidays on the horizon, the number of rabbits bought impulsively at Petland is set to rise again, only to be abandoned once the novelty wears off. Rabbit rescue groups shelters in general are overwhelmed by abandoned rabbits. These animals will continue to suffer unless Petland changes its practices.

The evidence of cruelty is undeniable—from the shocking 2019 HSUS investigation, where two store managers were charged with abuse, to the earlier case in Akron where an employee was convicted of drowning rabbits. Petland has repeatedly demonstrated a pattern of indifference to animal welfare. By ending rabbit sales now, Petland can begin to repair its damaged reputation and align with the compassionate standards of other retailers like Petco and PetSmart, who have already made the ethical choice to stop selling live rabbits.

What Else Can I Do?

• Boycott Petland.
• Share this campaign on social media and in person with your friends.
• Share other instances of cruelty or sick animals at Petland with us.
• For more details about this campaign, see our Petland Rabbit Sales activism page at Rabbit.org Foundation.
• If you are a rabbit rescue organization, please join the Rabbit.org Foundation's Alliance to Stop Rabbit Sales. 
  
  

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