Rabbit Awareness Week 23- 29 May 2011

Love, honour and obey your rabbits!
Taking on pet rabbits is like taking wedding vows, you promise to love them for up to 12 years, honour your commitment to them and obey the animal welfare law.

LOVE - Rabbits need companionship. They are happier when they are together. Ideally this should be in neutered mixed-sex pairs or compatible groups.

HONOUR - Honour your commitment to your rabbits, including spending an hour every day to feed and care for them, regularly cleaning out their accommodation and ensuring they are happy.

OBEY - Obey the law.  The Animal Welfare act outlines what responsible pet ownership involves. For rabbits, this means companionship, daily exercise and good appropriately sized housing as well as providing the right diet and plenty of hay and water.

IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH - Rabbits need vaccinations as well as careful observation that their teeth are healthy, nails and coat are in good condition and they are eating all their food. Remember to check their bottoms daily for fly strike too. If you are ever worried about the health of your rabbits, you should immediately take them to a rabbit savvy Vet.

AS LONG AS YOU BOTH SHALL LIVE - Rabbits can live for up to 10 – 12 years. This is a long term partnership!

The old notions that rabbits are cheap and easy children’s gifts are giving way to a greater understanding that they are demanding pets that require a considerable amount of attention and money. They should not be kept in a small hutch at the end of the garden.

Join the Rabbit Welfare Association
Truffle and I are members!

Anyone who wishes to help the Rabbit Welfare Association improve the lives of domestic rabbits can visit website: http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk/ and join the association.
Annual membership includes subscription to the quarterly magazine ‘Rabbiting On’. The website also provides a host of information about what rabbits need to live the lives they deserve.