How to ensure the needs of our rabbits are met
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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.
For guidance on how to meet each of these Five Welfare Needs for a rabbit, click on the links below:
“its need for a suitable environment”
“its need for a suitable diet”
“its need to be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns”
“any need it has to be housed with, or apart from, other animals”
“its need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury, and disease”
Learning about wild rabbits is key to meeting each of the Five Welfare Needs listed above – it’s the best way 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, enrichment to allow normal behaviour patterns, companionship, and to keep them healthy. Follow the link below to learn about our domestic rabbits’ wild ancestors:
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