Domestic rabbits are among the most poorly housed companion animals in the UK, with millions kept in hutches far too small to meet their behavioural and social needs.
Pet rabbit welfare is one of the most widespread companion animal welfare failures in the UK. The traditional image of a rabbit in a small hutch is fundamentally incompatible with what rabbits need for good welfare. Rabbits run at speeds of up to 35 mph, need to stand fully upright and require social companionship to thrive. The Rabbit Welfare Association campaigns for minimum housing standards that reflect actual rabbit needs rather than commercial hutch dimensions. Diet is also a critical welfare issue: many pet rabbits are fed grain-based mixes that cause dental disease, rather than the predominantly hay-based diet they require for gut and dental health.