Rabbit Awareness Week
Rabbit Awareness Week (RAW) 2022 runs from 27 June to 1 July and this year’s theme is environment.
RAW is an annual campaign that aims to educate rabbit owners on all aspects of their care.
Animal charities across the country have once again teamed up for RAW to raise the profile of rabbits and help owners do the very best for their bunnies.
Our 2022 PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report highlighted that rabbits can still sometimes be the forgotten pets; often left living alone, in a small hutch at the bottom of the garden.
When we asked rabbit owners to identify which image most closely resembled their pets’ living space, 19% of owners selected images of small hutches with little or no run space. This means that an estimated 190,000 rabbits are living in inadequate housing conditions.
Wild rabbits have the freedom to roam and live with other rabbits as a colony, grazing continuously. Yet 46% of pet rabbits spend between 11 and 23 hours a day in a hutch.
We’re working extra hard to shine a light on the housing and space our bunny buddies need to help them have a happier future.
The year’s theme is focussing on improving rabbits’ environment. Providing owners with the information they need to give bunnies a home that promotes health, happiness and safety.
Find out more about setting up a suitable home environment for rabbits.
What all rabbits need
Find out more about rabbits’ 5 Welfare Needs – what they need to live happy and healthy lives!
Health
You need to keep your rabbits healthy! This mean taking them to the vet when they're poorly and giving them a regular check over at home.
Company
Rabbits can get really sad and depressed on their own, so giving them the right bunny buddy is super important in keeping them happy.
Diet
Feeding your rabbits the right food does more than keep them in shape. It can also keep their teeth healthy (because they never stop growing!).
Home
Your bunnies need the perfect home where they can run, play and be safe from predators or bad weather. Rabbits need a lot of space!
Behaviour
Your rabbits need to, well, be rabbits! They should have everything they need to run, jump, dig and forage otherwise they'll get unhappy and bored.
Our advice
Looking for advice on all things rabbit-related? You've come to the right place! Our vets have put together loads of free guides for bunny owners!