Rabbits are among the most misunderstood companion animals. Traditional hutch housing often fails to meet their behavioral and physiological needs, causing chronic suffering.
Most pet rabbits in traditional hutch environments suffer from a constellation of welfare deficits: inadequate space, inappropriate diet, social isolation, and lack of mental stimulation. These are not exotic needs but fundamental requirements for a species that naturally ranges widely, grazes continuously, and lives in social groups. Dental disease — caused largely by feeding pellets and mixes instead of unlimited hay — is painful and progressive. Loneliness in a solitary rabbit produces stress behaviors that owners often mistake for docility. The perception of rabbits as low-maintenance pets is largely responsible for these welfare failures; in reality, rabbits require as much care as cats or dogs.