I saw this on another rabbit forum. It comes from Great Lakes Rabbit Sanctuary, and is an interesting idea about how to approach Petsmart:
One of our volunteers sent us some insight on how best to get your message across to the corporate office of PetSmart:
Hi, everybody!
This struck me as extremely odd, given that the House Rabbit Society is one of the Petsmart Charities. I used to work for Petsmart, and my former boss is now the store manager at the new Petsmart location near my current job (too weird!). So, when I cruised in yesterday morning to buy some bun litter, I asked him about this bunny initiative.
He tells me that they're test-marketing this idea in just a few stores, and that it will"only" be dwarf rabbits. <*giggle*> Not that that makes it the least bit better, but I gotta give himpoints for at least attempting to set my mind at ease. I know what he meant.
My Dad is borrowing my car, so I'll be stranded at work (or "The Plantation", as we like to call it) all day today. Tomorrow, however, I'll go back over and ask him if there's a specific person or persons we should address letters to.
In the meantime, I have a suggestion. I currently work in a department that handles both written and phoned-in complaints. I know from my own personal experience that multi-page rants do NOT get you what you want. They DO bring out people's spiteful side, though: not only does your request get denied, you usually get made fun of for a few hours, too. Threats to refuse to patronize a place will just elicit eye-rolls: for every one personthatdoesn't buying stuff there, there's eight that will. There are no words to describe your individual insignificance in the grand scheme of things. I'm just telling you what really happens here!
Given that, and what I know about the way Petsmart corporate thinks, I would advise a different approach. If you live with a bun -- andespecially if yourbun wasarescue -- write and tell them your furry friend's story. If there was abuse, if there was neglect, or if there was just a lonely little lagomorph languishing at a shelter, tell them all about it. Tell them how your bunny came to live with you, and how he/she has become a part of your life. And send pictures. Good pictures. Show them that your bunny is very much a member of your family -- just like a dog, a cat, or even your kids! Let them see the condos, the piles of toys, the play places just for your bun (and if your bunny has his/her own room, they've really gotta see that!). Show them your bun at play: binkying across the living room; skating across a hardwood floor; investigating the grocery bags; tormenting the cat;trying to fly a plastic bag (my guy's personal favorite pastime); climbing the bookcase; watching t.v.; inspecting your cleaning job; begging for treats; modeling that birthday hat you bought him....whatever your bun is into. And if you have a Senior Bun (8 or older), definitely tell them how your relationship with your wise old friend has grown and changed over the years.
Our goal is to alter their perception of rabbits-as-pets. Pictures and stories give things a depth and meaning that cold hard stats and nasty words never will, in large part because people can relate to them. People forget numbers, but images remain. Think about it.
So, my bunny biographers get those pens,keyboards and cameras going! Hard copies arebetter than e-mails (give them something they can touch; make it real!), but one more thing: if you can help it, try not to use white paper or envelopes. Something with a little color to it will stand out in heaps of mail that cross this person's desk, and likely pique their curiosity. If you're able tosend your lettervia USPS Priority Mail, that's even better: when you've got twenty envelopes on your desk and one of those, something about thosebig Priority envelopes always makes you wanna open them first!
peace, love, and nose wiggles,
Jackie Thorne
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