Caring for rabbits

How to ensure the needs of our rabbits are met

 

Housing
Diet
Behaviour
Companionship
Healthcare 

 

Our responsibilities

Did you know that anyone responsible for rabbits has a legal obligation to provide good welfare for them? The Animal Welfare Act 2006 places a legal duty of care on owners and keepers of all animals, including rabbits:

“A person commits an offence if he does not take such steps as are reasonable in all the circumstances to ensure that the needs of an animal for which he is responsible are met to the extent required by good practice”.

Five specific welfare needs of animals are outlined under Section 9 of the Act, and these must be met to comply with the law. Bunnymad's care information pages correspond to the Five Welfare Needs:

Housing

“its need for a suitable environment” 

Diet

“its need for a suitable diet”

Behaviour

“its need to be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns”

Companionship

“any need it has to be housed with, or apart from, other animals”

Healthcare

“its need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury, and disease”

 

We think that learning about wild rabbits is key to meeting each of the Five Welfare Needs for our rabbits – it helps us to understand our rabbits’ natural requirements. If we know how wild rabbits live and recognise that domestic rabbits are similar in nature, we are more likely to be able to provide a suitable environment, appropriate diet, sufficient enrichment to allow normal behaviour patterns, suitable companionship, and to keep our rabbits healthy. Follow the link to read our page about our domestic rabbits’ wild ancestors: Wild rabbits.