Pet rabbits are frequently among the most neglected companion animals, kept in conditions that cause chronic welfare harm through ignorance.
Rabbit welfare is chronically compromised by a combination of misinformation, inadequate industry standards, and the perception of rabbits as low-maintenance starter pets. The classic hutch sold in pet stores provides a fraction of the space rabbits require for normal locomotion, social behavior, and psychological wellbeing. Solitary housing causes depression and stereotypic behaviors in social animals evolved to live in social groups. Dental disease from inappropriate all-pellet diets causes chronic pain that manifests as reduced appetite, drooling, and weight loss. The commitment to rabbit welfare requires understanding these as complex social mammals requiring more care than commonly assumed, housing that allows genuine freedom of movement, appropriate grass hay-based diets, social companionship, and regular veterinary care including dental examination. Public education about genuine rabbit needs is one of the highest-priority interventions for reducing companion rabbit welfare suffering.