According to the 2024 PAW Report, in the UK there are an estimated 800,000 pet rabbits, with 2% of UK adults owning a rabbit. Compared with the 10.6 million dogs and 10.8 million cats, this figure may seem less significant, however, rabbits have become one of the most abandoned pets in the UK. It is thought that since the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly 100,000 rabbits end up in rescue shelters each year. This has led to rescue organisations being unable to cope, with a 48% rise in unwanted rabbits taken in by the RSPCA alone in 2022, with decreasing rates of rehoming year on year. The cost-of-living crisis has led to a rabbit abandonment crisis, making it increasingly important to consider adopting a rabbit in need of loving home.

This Rabbit Awareness Week, here at Bunny Bistro, we are donating a huge bundle of products along with 20% of sales on our RAW: Happy Hoppy Bunny Bundle to a rescue of your choosing to support their amazing work, as well as highlighting the importance of adoption. As a company that cares about providing the best for bunnies across the UK, we want every rabbit to have the happiest home possible. In this blog we will discuss some of the reasons why adoption is so important if you are considering getting your own bunny.

Unlike Scotland, in England there is currently no specific legislation that regulates the breeding of pet rabbits. This means that anyone can breed as many litters as they please, with no welfare inspections. Meanwhile in Wales and Northern Ireland, there are statutory Codes of Practice, but they are not legally binding.

The lack of important legislation means that thousands of baby rabbits end up housed in unsuitable accommodation, alone, with a poor diet. It also leads to rabbits being mis-sexed when sold, causing accidental litters that are either abandoned, surrendered to shelters, or sold online. Legally, pet shops must be licensed to sell rabbits and other small pets, but if a breeder sells their rabbit litters online, they do not require a license to sell. With the surge in breeding, and online sales, this has only become an increasingly worrying problem as there has been no regulation on who is breeding the rabbits and who they are selling them to.

The easy answer is no. Whilst rabbits can be great, loving pets, there are numerous reasons why they are not a good pet for kids, especially younger children. Rabbits are often viewed as cuddly animals that are easy to look after, but the reality is bunnies are prey animals, meaning they are easily spooked. Most rabbits do not like being picked up, as this causes them a great deal of stress, and will kick or bite to escape.

Whilst you can build a loving, trusting relationship with your rabbit, this will take time and a lot of patience. One common reason rabbits are given up to shelters is that kids get ‘bored’ of their pet, leaving the parents with the 10-12 year commitment.

Whilst you may have heard that dogs are for life, not just for Christmas, the same goes for rabbits at Easter time. Whilst the Easter bunny may bring joy to kids all over the country, it is a bleak time of year for domesticated rabbits. According to the animals rights group PETA, around 80% of rabbits purchased over Easter are either abandoned or have died within a year. This has led to larger pet stores suspending their sale of bunnies over the Easter holidays to protect the welfare of bunnies nationwide, potentially saving thousands of lives. Instead of buying a pet bunny at Easter, maybe buy that chocolate bunny instead.

Whilst the obvious reason for neutering your rabbit is to prevent unwanted litters, there are several reasons why it is a necessary step to take as a bunny owner. Rabbits are social animals and thrive when they have one or more companions. When living as a pair, they are happier and less stressed, helping them to live a longer life. Neutering is essential so that bunnies can live together happily, as unneutered rabbits can be incredibly territorial. Males are likely to spray urine to mark their territory, as well as scattering poops. Meanwhile, females have ‘phantom pregnancies’ which can be very stressful. On top of this, unneutered rabbits will often develop cancer, with 80% of unneutered female rabbits developing uterine cancer by the age of five.

Neutering rabbits can be expensive, often leading to owners not going through with this essential procedure. However, a good rescue centre will neuter all rabbits before adoption, meaning that this added stress is already out of the way. Also, if you are looking for a companion for your solo rabbit, shelters will often allow your bunny to go on ‘dates’ to find their perfect match. They will also often help you with the bonding process.

Rabbits are wonderful, loving pets that can be a great addition to your life. However, there are a lot of important considerations when thinking of taking them on. Adopting rabbits from an animal shelter helps to give them the happy home they deserve. Over Rabbit Awareness Week, we will be asking our amazing community of rabbit owners to help pick a deserving rabbit charity so that we can send them a mega Bunny Bistro care package to support their amazing work and give those bunnies some delicious food.