Rabbits are a quintessential fixture of family homes, being a great first animal for children to dote on, and learn responsibilities as owners of domestic creatures. While rabbits constitute only 2% of the UK’s domestic animal population, that statistic still describes over 1 million fluffy bunnies – fluffy bunnies that require the right kind of treatment. Rabbit Awareness Week seeks to address rabbits and their treatment each year, with engagement and advice firmly in mind.
What is Rabbit Awareness Week?
Rabbit Awareness Week, or RAW, is an annual week-long event organised by the Rabbit Awareness Action Group, which primarily takes place in digital spaces. The week sees local action groups and veterinary experts put on virtual events in service of each year’s theme. 2023’s RAW took place between the 26th and 30th June, with the theme “Neutering: Protect and Prevent”.
What is Neutering?
For the uninitiated, neutering refers to a medical procedure wherein a domestic animal is prevented from being able to produce offspring. For male rabbits, this involves removing the testicles; for female rabbits, the ovaries and womb are removed. RAW’s focus on neutering aims to illustrate the importance of this simple procedure in enabling a better quality of life for rabbits.
Findings from Rabbit Owners
A survey conducted following Rabbit Awareness Week revealed its impacts, as far as participants were concerned. The statistics showed that more than half of the surveyed rabbit owners had downloaded a RAW pack from the RAAG, and that that a third had learned something new about the neutering process. Eight per cent of rabbit owners are now considering neutering for their own animals.
What Do the Professionals Think?
“The objective of this year’s RAW campaign was to raise awareness about neutering and its importance for rabbits’ health and welfare,” said in-house veterinarian for Burgess Pet Care, Dr Suzanne Moyes. This not only encompasses essential considerations, such as providing a balanced diet that includes feeding hay for rabbits and other small animals as well as fresh vegetables, but also relates to the social part of the equation: “allowing your rabbits to live safely in pairs or groups […]is a fundamental recommendation for a healthy rabbit.”
Doctor Moyes continued: “there’s always more to do when it comes to helping the UK’s rabbits live happy and healthy lives and we’re committed to continuing with our mission to make a real difference to these often misunderstood animals.” To this end, Dr Moyes and other veterinary professionals see RAW as a success story in the making – with 98% telling the survey that they believed RAW to have had a positive impact on rabbit care in the UK.
In Conclusion
Rabbit Awareness Week, then, appears to have made a real difference when it comes to rabbit care in the UK. While the statistics regarding rabbit owners considering neutering might seem somewhat small, a near-10% increase amongst UK rabbit owners is a serious result for the RAAG, and for the comfort of rabbits nationwide.