I wasn't going to post here, because I wasreally put off by the attitude about adopting and pet stores, howeveras a pet store manager, I've found that I feel the need to defend thesesituations in general.
FirstI just wanted to say that while Holland Lops aregenerally wonderful rabbits, personality is really an animal to animalthing, with any animals. My Holland has a realattitude. She's ok with me, but hates everyone else and allmy buns except my Mini Lop buck.
Second, as for pet stores, at my store, the rabbits are kept betterthen those at some breeders and pet owners that I know. I'veseen breeder facilities that are a mess. Our rabbits get timeout of the cage every day, twice a day and have a clean cagedaily. They get a high quality food, fresh water, hay andgreens. We get them from a variety of sources, but they allthe breeders have been checked out and the animals are vetchecked. I understand that many people have had bad pet storeexperiences, but not all pet stores are bad. Sage, my MiniLop, is a pet store bunny and he is simply wonderful. If youresearch and find a responsible pet store, you can get wonderful adviceand a great animal.
Third, there are so many wonderful rabbits, well animals in general,who just need a good home. They may be a bit older, but theyare typically spayed or neutered and have had good vet care.Possibly the biggest plus, in my opinion, is that the personalities ofslightly older animals do not change. I always recommend topeople who are new to animals such as rabbits and ferrets that theyadopt a slightly older animal because the hormones have had a chance toset in and settle down. Also, you miss that "terrible two's"stage when most people decide these aren't the animals for them andthat's why the animal is in the shelter in the first place. Ihave seen babies that are just so sweet turn into monsters when theirhormones set in and then become sweethearts again once they have beenspayed or neutered and had a chance to settle down.
I'm sorry if this offends, but it's something I feel very strongly about.
Jen