Rabbits are among the most mistreated companion animals in the UK and Europe, frequently kept in conditions that cause chronic suffering through inadequate space, diet, and social isolation.
The disconnect between the welfare needs of domestic rabbits and standard pet-keeping practice is stark. Rabbits have been sold as low-maintenance, child-suitable pets for decades — an image entirely at odds with their complex social, spatial, and dietary needs. A rabbit kept alone in a small hutch with a bowl of muesli mix is experiencing multiple simultaneous welfare failures. The good news is that education is effective: owners who understand rabbit needs can dramatically improve quality of life at modest cost.