Rabbits are among the most misunderstood companion animals, with their welfare needs frequently unmet due to misconceptions about their housing, diet, and social requirements.
Rabbits kept in small hutches with inadequate companionship, diet, and veterinary care suffer chronic welfare problems including dental disease, obesity, gastrointestinal stasis, and psychological distress from social isolation and inability to express natural behaviors. The image of a rabbit as a simple low-maintenance pet in a small hutch is fundamentally incompatible with rabbit welfare needs. Rabbits require bonded companions, large exercise areas, hay-based diets, and regular veterinary care to achieve good welfare.