Pet rabbits are among the most misunderstood companion animals. Their complex social and physical needs are frequently unmet, causing significant welfare problems in millions of homes.
Pet rabbit welfare represents a persistent public education challenge. The image of a rabbit in a small hutch as a low-maintenance starter pet is pervasive but profoundly incorrect. Rabbits housed in inadequate conditions without companionship, adequate space, or appropriate diet suffer chronic physical and psychological welfare problems. Dental disease from inappropriate diet causes persistent pain. Social isolation causes depression and anxiety in a species that would naturally live in social groups. The lack of movement in confined hutch systems prevents natural behaviour and causes physical deterioration. The gap between how rabbits are perceived and what they actually need has maintained a welfare problem affecting millions of animals across the UK, USA, and beyond.