How owners' ignorance sentences pet rabbits to a life of misery in cramped hutches with poor food

By JAMES TOZER

Saved: The RSPCA has rescued a shocking 33,000 rabbits over the past three years, with 250 owners convicted of cruelty in that period


They are seen as low-maintenance animals, happy with a hutch full of sawdust, a bottle of water and half a carrot.

But the nation of Watership Down and Peter the Rabbit is condemning its third most popular pet to what too often are dull, unhealthy and short lives, experts said yesterday.

They revealed that up to three quarters of Britain’s two million pet rabbits are being badly treated by owners who are ignorant of their basic dietary and lifestyle needs.

And they said the pet shop industry bore responsibility for continuing to sell unsuitable, cramped hutches to unsuspecting owners.

As a result, the RSPCA has rescued a shocking 33,000 rabbits over the past three years, with 250 owners convicted of cruelty in that period.


Cramped: Experts say the pet shop industry bore responsibility for continuing to sell unsuitable, cramped hutches


The situation is so bad that some animal shelters won’t rehome them as pets for children.

According to a new survey, more than two thirds of owners believe carrots are a key part of a rabbit’s daily diet.

In reality, they should only be given occasionally in small amounts, if at all, as they are high in sugar and can lead to obesity or digestive problems.

Six out of ten were unaware that rabbits are intelligent and social creatures who need lots of mental stimulation, while almost half didn’t know they required large amounts of space in which to exercise.


source: dailymail