Pet people can indeed drive the breeders out of the pet market. You need a thick skin or at least a willingness to roll with the punches. You need to spell out what your return policy means and what it entails. I've learned over the years that all you can do is do your best and there will always be people who will complain. BUT if you work hard it and cultivate your people, it does help in the long run. Not always, but more often than not.

I do find it annoying when people buy a rabbit and then three days later you find that exact same rabbit posted on Kijiji as free to a good home and it's like HUH? Or they are trying to get $100 for the $30 rabbit. It's like okay..you were all googoogaagaa about that bunny three days ago...what happened????

I normally refuse to sell to pet people, I sell mostly at shows to other show people, and am very happy to help other breeders, particularly 4h kids. But I detest dealing with the pet crowd who humanize rabbits or any animals, annoys the heck out of me. I did have an opportunity to sell some pet rabbits this past summer from the fair, and I did so, but I don't give out peds, or contact information, the rabbits were 4 months old, no baby issues, talked about proper feeding etc. But that was it, I don't suggest spaying or nuetoring, as I think its rough on a prey animal. I would take rabbits back if someone wanted me to but their going straight to the auction. I don't do rescue, I don't rehome, while I have pet rabbits that we adore I see most of them them as livestock. I think in a way we're doing the rabbit community a disservice by catering to pet rabbit people, and its proving to be our downfall. In the Debe Bell case the judge refused to allow the rabbits to referred to as 'livestock', which is what they are. I'd beginning to feel that perhaps I should just eat all of my culls instead of sending them to pet shops,as they then end up in pet homes, with bunnie huggers who are then going to try and pass laws to elevate rabbits to the level of cats and dogs and destroy our rabbitrys and stop us from breeding and showing. Its all a vicious circle. Perhaps thats what we as breeders should do, stop petting out rabbits, as it appears we're only shooting ourselves in the foot.