The BC SPCA and Petcetera continue their controversial business partnership into 2008, which began back in 1997. While part of the deal was that dogs and cats wouldn't be sold, this didn't apply to a vast assortment of other caged animals. After much public pressure, it was announced in March 2007, that Petcetera was selling out its remaining stock of rabbits and that they would only adopt out animals from the SPCA. Through the P.A.W.S. program the SPCA branches were going to supply sterilized rabbits to all Petcetera outlets in BC. Breeders were put on notice.

However, not everything is going smoothly, and a year later the six stores outside the Lower Mainland still stock baby bunnies, keeping the breeders in business. Somehow, Mr. Urbani’s commitment to reducing homelessness and “euthanasia” doesn’t ring true.

There have been numerous complaints to both the BC SPCA and Petcetera regarding the inadequate care of the rabbits at a number of the stores, and out of sheer frustration, members of the rabbit rescue community have adopted some of them. The SPCA has pulled all its animals from the Richmond store, and Petcetera acknowledges that the issues, problems, and logistics of the program are under review.

Meanwhile, two rabbits from the Burnaby SPCA were recently put into the Rupert Street Petcetera store for adoption. Volunteers within the SPCA suggested to management that Martin, a black bunny, was not a suitable choice. Despite objections, he went. Over the course of several weeks, a network of rabbit advocates who monitor the stores, noticed that he was becoming overweight and stressed to the point of pulling out his fur. The SPCA was told and after repeated requests, on March 31st, the bunny was removed. The grey one remains.