The sale of rabbits over Easter has been banned by one of the biggest pet retailers in the UK.

Pets at Home, which has stores in Cheltenham and Gloucester, said it wanted to help put an end to impulse buying that had led to nearly 70,000 rabbits being given to animal shelters every year.

It suggested that the focus on lovable 'Easter bunnies' meant children wanted rabbits over the Easter period, but the animals were abandoned once the novelty had worn off and they weren't prepared to look after them properly.

As a result, Pets at Home customers will not be allowed to buy or adopt a rabbit at any of its shops between Good Friday and Easter Monday.

Pets at Home CEO Peter Pritchard said: "We pride ourselves on putting pets before profit so we've taken the decision not to sell rabbits during the upcoming Easter weekend.

"Nor will customers be able to adopt rabbits in need of rehoming from our in-store adoption centres."

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Picture credit: pixabay

Readers' comments:

Blackberry Boarding, Hardwicke: We board small animals, namely rabbits and guinea pigs, and are always being asked about rehoming.

This is a great start and we hope other pet-selling retailers follow this act of care for these small animals that so quickly become the throw away pet.