Rabbits are the third most popular companion animal but among the most poorly understood, with widespread housing practices that cause significant preventable suffering.
Pet rabbit welfare is a persistent crisis rooted in widespread misunderstanding of rabbit behavior and needs. The hutch-in-garden model — a small enclosed space with limited activity and social contact — causes immense suffering that owners often cannot recognize because rabbits are stoic and mask illness and distress. Rabbits need companion rabbits (not guinea pigs), large exercise areas accessible at all times (not just supervised playtime), and hay-based diets that naturally wear down continuously-growing teeth. The welfare gap between the common perception of rabbits as low-maintenance starter pets and the reality of their complex needs is one of the largest in companion animal welfare. Educational campaigns and retailer responsibility for providing welfare information at point of sale are critical interventions.