Rabbit Welfare; The Horrible Truth
Bunny care has come a long way but there is still a way to go. Please do not be fooled into thinking a rabbit is a cheap or easy pet. They are very rewarding and loving but also cost a considerable amount of money and time to care for properly, just like a dog.
Did you know rabbits are the 3rd most popular pet in the UK but the MOST mistreated pet of all?
I personally think this is because they are:
Did you know rabbits are the 3rd most popular pet in the UK but the MOST mistreated pet of all?
I personally think this is because they are:
- Misunderstood – rabbits love to play and need a suitable home (see Ideal Bunny Homes), they are not the equivalent of a pet hamster in terms of time and cost and this is what pet shops/some breeders are failing to put across to prospective bunny parents;
- Bred unscrupulously by SOME pet shops & breeders as a "business" resulting in painfully shy unsocialised buns who could be in their 2nd or 3rd home by the time they are ‘purchased’ (a babies experiences will affect them for the rest of their adult lives and effects their behaviour, like all animals);
- Incorrect information given to prospective bunny parents (in the hope to sell, sell, sell by pet shops or breeders or perhaps even by inexperience of the breeder) e.g. I was told just last week by Pets for Homes that two male rabbits are fine to live together with no mention of the neutering required!!! Grrrrrrrrr. Neutering two brothers asap could ensure they live happily together but why risk it? The pet shop likely doesn't even know if they are actually siblings. Pet shops should be advising people to buy two females or a male and female, neutering essential and required immediately before fighting and serious injury occurs. Infuriating. I have also recently heard that pets at home are now insisting owners buy TWO rabbits!! Even first time bunny owners. This is just NOT on (February 2020). A first time bunny owner should be allowed to gradually ease into bunny parenthood. Also, rabbits are mad expensive and TWO are even worse. I have no end of pairs of rabbits (not mine!) come to me as rescues because their owners purchased them spur of the moment from pet shops and actually cant afford their care/vaccinations/operations. I have people email and instagram me constantly that they have "accidentally" allowed one of their bunnies to get pregnant and they need advice. It is clear that pet shops have a completely unrealistic idea of reality unlike people like me living rabbits day in and day out. This is disgusting and no owner should be forced to buy two rabbits. Rabbits are not like chinchillas/guinea pigs/rats who can live together without operations; they are really very complicated and unfortunately some people can not be bothered with what it takes to care for them (as it was not drilled into them at the time of a sporadic purchase).
- Just like a dog, if conditions are not right for a bun, ‘bad’ behaviour will ensue, resulting in people feeling they are not able to keep their bunnies anymore. Through no fault of the rabbits, it becomes unable to find a home because people did not do enough research before purchasing him/her. Early neutering and spacious housing is the key to happy bunnies with regular interaction for mental wellbeing. This is not made clear by pet shops/breeders. Pet shops read off lists and think this is a substitute for KNOWING the animal they are raising.
- If you are not breeding, have your pet neutered. Small enclosures are another HUGE factor of bad rabbit behaviour, especially biting and lunging. This can easily be rectified but should be PREVENTED with simple information given to potential owners well in advance...
- The Sheer nature of pet shops, in my opinion, encourage bunny owners to buy on a whim. You can walk into a pet shop and purchase a bunny there and then after a mad idea came to you. There is no cooling off period for your moment of spontaneity (pet shops have even been known to say they have no room to take an animal they have sold back!!). No one can buy one of my buns like this, you will have a minimum of 4 weeks to wait. Unwanted bunnies can be returned, deposits can be returned, please do not take a bunny you do not truly want.
- Mixed Breed bunnies from pet shops. If you do not know the size your adult bunny will be, how can you plan its living space? Most baby bunnies I see in a pet shop are the size of my adult mini lops! At no point does the pet shop warn customers that none of their hutches are big enough for their own baby rabbits. I see often a lot of "mini lop" breeders breeding rabbits far too large to be anywhere near "mini lop" size (even too big for a dwarf lop). Do your research! It is very hard to get hold of a mini lop of good breed standard and you should expect a considerable waiting time. This is not a problem if you are not intending to show but you should see the parents to know the rough size your baby will be (to plan for housing) and bear in mind the price you are paying a breeder (often over the top for what is often a pet shop quality rabbit). Show breeders charge £50-60 a rabbit (vaccinated or unvaccinated), you shouldn't pay any more than this from any breeder, regardless of colour or area (this excludes very large breeds of course, who cost a considerable amount more to feed).
The Solution
The above is preventable if people are educated before committing to bunny ownership. Rather than purchasing rabbits on a whim (which in my opinion, shouldn't be possible) thorough research should be undertaken beforehand and a knowledgeable, experienced breeder should ensure each family is fully aware of their duties as a rabbit owner.
A rabbit has rights as a living animal and the adults responsible for the rabbit should ensure he/she lives in an environment which is mentally stimulating with adequate room and exercise opportunities, provide a complete and nutritionally appropriate diet (grass based pellets including daily green leafy veg/forage & unlimited hay & water) and should not live in discomfort, pain or suffer from abuse/neglect.
As an ethical BRC registered breeder I make sure I follow The Five Freedoms, as shown below.
A rabbit has rights as a living animal and the adults responsible for the rabbit should ensure he/she lives in an environment which is mentally stimulating with adequate room and exercise opportunities, provide a complete and nutritionally appropriate diet (grass based pellets including daily green leafy veg/forage & unlimited hay & water) and should not live in discomfort, pain or suffer from abuse/neglect.
As an ethical BRC registered breeder I make sure I follow The Five Freedoms, as shown below.
I will always make sure prospective bunny owners are aware of their new bunnies needs.
Thank you for reading this article. We can all spread the word for those who have no voice. Rabbit welfare is down to us in everyway, from being responsible in our decisions and commitments to speaking out for those with no voice.
If you have any feedback please contact me using the details HERE.
Thank you for reading this article. We can all spread the word for those who have no voice. Rabbit welfare is down to us in everyway, from being responsible in our decisions and commitments to speaking out for those with no voice.
If you have any feedback please contact me using the details HERE.