Petcetera is selling out its remaining stock of rabbits and will only adopt out animals from the SPCA.

British Columbia - Starting this week, people wishing to acquire a rabbit pet will be able to adopt one at the Petcetera store for $59.99, which includes a check-up. All adoptable rabbits will have been spayed or neutered.

“That’s all part of the initiative, to reduce the population,” said Richard Kaga, Petcetera vice-president.

He said the SPCA approached the Richmond-based pet store with the idea, which was quickly approved, then details were worked out, staff trained and rabbit breeders given notice that Petcetera was out of the rabbit-selling business.

Petcetera typically sells about 1,000 rabbits a year in its 17 B.C. stores, about 700 in the Lower Mainland alone.

Rabbits will still be available for purchase until the stock runs out but they won’t have been spayed or neutered, like the adoptable ones.

“We will be making prospective owners aware of that,” Kaga said, noting it can cost $100 or more to spay or neuter a rabbit.

But owning a rabbit is not for everyone. Rabbits are extremely sensitive and even a gentle toddler can be too stressful for bunnies. Traumatized rabbits will become frightened when restrained and often end up alone in a cage or abandoned.

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