Jollyes pet store in Bedford bans sale of pet rabbits over Easter

Jollyes in London Road is putting a temporary bunny ban in place over Easter

The move by the chain in Alban Retail Park is to avoid impulse purchases that might lead to unwanted bunnies being abandoned later

Rabbits will not be on sale from tomorrow (Thursday, April 1) to Monday, April 5 to remove the temptation.

Jollyes commercial director, Chris Burns, said: “Rabbits are one of our most popular pets, but a bunny is not just for Easter and we don’t want to see these lovely animals abandoned once the holiday is over.

“Rabbits are very intelligent and a lot of fun, but they can live for over 10 years so it is a big commitment and we encourage people to do their research and make sure they know what’s involved.”

Jollyes is also making sure pampered pooches don’t miss out on the seasonal fun by selling dog-safe Easter eggs and treats. It says new owners who bought their pets during lockdown should be aware that chocolate contains theobromine which is toxic for dogs.

Jollyes’ buyer Natasha Wisbey said: “We all enjoy tucking into delicious Easter eggs and treats at this time of year, but not everyone knows that chocolate can make your dog poorly and can even be fatal.”