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WAW is proud to support Rabbit Awareness Week 2022, with this year’s theme all about our rabbits’ environmental welfare need.
This year, WAW has seen a massive increase in the number of rabbits coming into our care and enquires from people looking to rehome their pet rabbits. We are often completely full for rabbits and sadly have to turn people away or direct them to other rescues.
Sadly, all species of pet animal fall victim to neglect and abuse to some extent. However, through the course of our work it has become shockingly apparent to us that the UK is in the midst of a serious rabbit welfare crisis.
We are not alone in reaching this conclusion. Recent studies have identified rabbits to be the most neglected and cruelly treated of all pets. As the UK’s third most popular pet, this amounts to a significant number of animals unnecessarily suffering.
PDSA Senior Veterinary Surgeon Sean Wensley, said:
“Despite being the UK’s third most popular pet, with an estimated 1.6 million currently kept, the welfare needs of domestic rabbits are widely misunderstood by their owners.
“Hundreds of thousands of rabbits face an unhappy, lonely existence in cramped accommodation, whilst being fed an inappropriate diet and suffering from a range of painful diseases. We should re-evaluate the ways in which we have traditionally kept pet rabbits and start providing them with what we know they need to lead healthy and happy lives.”
If you are thinking of getting a small furry, then please adopt, either from WAW or another reputable rescue. This will mean you will have all the information and advice you need to ensure your new pets are happy and healthy.
Please think before you get a rabbit:
- They are not good pets for children – they are not cuddly toys.
- They rarely like being picked up or petted.
- They need a lot of space - pet rabbits need to live in an enclosure that is at least 3m x 2m by 1m high.
- A HUTCH IS NOT ENOUGH - they should never be confined to a hutch.
- They must never live alone (they must never live with Guinea Pigs, find out more here).
- They are hard work – with daily cleaning.
- They live for around 10 years.
- They are expensive – housing, annual
- vaccinations, vets, housing, food etc. Caring for a pair of rabbits over their lifetime can cost over £10,000.
Before you get a rabbit, please DO YOUR RESEARCH, here are some helpful links to get you started:
https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-care-advice/ownership/new-to-rabbits/
https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-care-advice/rabbit-housing/
https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-care-advice/rabbit-housing/why-hutch-not-enough/
https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-care-advice/rabbit-diet/