National Campaign Urges Petland To End The Sale Of Rabbits As Shelters Face Growing Crisis

The founders of the Stop Rabbit Sales Coalition, the Rabbit.org Foundation, have launched a nationwide campaign demanding that Petland, the largest national pet store chain still selling rabbits, end the practice once and for all.

The coalition represents a network of more than 100 rabbit rescues, shelters, and animal-welfare advocates nationwide. Their message is clear: Petland’s continued sale of rabbits is fueling an escalating shelter crisis, leaving countless animals abandoned, neglected, or euthanized each year.

“Every rescue in our network is seeing the same pattern—rabbits sold as novelty pets, then surrendered, dumped, or neglected once the reality of care sets in,” said Paige K. Parsons, founder of the Rabbit.org Foundation. “Petland’s business model pushes animals into a pipeline of suffering that local volunteers and shelters are left to clean up. It’s time for that to stop.”

Petland currently operates nearly 90 franchise stores across more than a dozen states. Despite mounting public pressure, the chain has refused to shift toward an adoption-focused model. Meanwhile, major retailers like Petco and PetSmart are partnering with rescues to host adoption events, helping to find homes for animals in need.

Animal-welfare organizations argue that it’s time for Petland to follow suit. Ending rabbit sales would not only modernize the company’s business model but also align with the public demand for responsible pet ownership and adoption-focused practices.

The Stop Rabbit Sales Coalition emphasizes that this isn’t just a matter of corporate image, it’s about saving lives. Overwhelmed rescues report an alarming surge in surrendered “Easter rabbits” each spring, many arriving sick, under-socialized, or traumatized from commercial breeding operations.

For advocates, this moment is an opportunity for meaningful change. The cruelty of the pet trade has long been exposed, but real progress requires collective action. As the Rabbit.org Foundation emphasizes, compassion starts with choice, and it’s time for Petland to make the right one.

To support the movement, the Rabbit.org Foundation is urging compassionate consumers to:

• Sign and share the petition HERE!

• Contact local Petland franchise owners to voice their opposition to animal sales

• Choose adoption over purchase when bringing a rabbit—or any pet—into their homes.