The Rabbit Awareness Action Group (RAAG), the trusted voice for rabbit welfare, is delighted to confirm that it has already secured over 1600 signatures in support of the first Good Practice Code for rabbits’ welfare in England.
Since its formation just three months ago, RAAG has also helped to keep rabbits’ welfare high on the agenda by circulating over 1000 copies of the Good Practice Code among veterinary professionals and attracting almost 30,000 followers to RAAG’s social media channels.
Led by family-owned pet food manufacturer Burgess Pet Care, RAAG brings together the expertise of the partners behind Rabbit Awareness Week (RAW), who have successfully campaigned to improve the welfare of pet rabbits for the past 15 years.
Dr Suzanne Moyes, Veterinary Director at Burgess Pet Care and member of RAAG, said: “Although we are delighted with the support we have received since the formation of RAAG, we can’t afford to rest on our laurels. The pandemic has seen rabbits’ popularity as a pet increase, but sadly, their five specific welfare needs are often overlooked. These include many rabbits living alone with little stimulation in woefully inadequate housing, and being fed incorrect diets, which can lead to numerous health problems.
“RAAG members intend to build on the group’s early achievements with a series of initiatives planned from early next year, which include using RAW 2022 as a platform to encourage even more owners, retailers, rescues and veterinary practices to sign up to the Code.
“Ultimately, we want to see the Good Practice Code for rabbits’ welfare in England enshrined in law as a framework upon which all owners and key groups, such as retailers and rescues, can build their practices around to ensure a bright future for these delightful creatures,” Dr Moyes added.
Dr Richard Saunders BVSc DZooMed MRCVS. EBVS®, veterinary specialist advisor to RWAF and one of the stakeholders involved in delivering the Good Practice Code, said: “As a huge supporter of rabbit welfare for over two decades, we are delighted to be working with the other RAAG partners so that our collective voice can help to drive forward the group’s objectives in 2022, including championing and raising greater awareness and understanding of rabbits’ five welfare needs, both now and in the future.
“We are really looking forward to getting involved in a number of RAAG initiatives from early next year. In January, RWAF will be taking over RAAG’s social media channels posting about each welfare need across the week, to encourage even more people to sign the RAAG letter, which will help to ensure that good practice guidelines are adopted and become statutory law in the near future.”
For further information and to support the work of RAAG, please visit www.rabbitawarenessactiongroup.co.uk
