Meeting the five welfare needs of pets

The People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) has launched a challenge for rabbit owners, aimed at encouraging them to meet their pets' five welfare needs.

With a population of 1.7 million in the UK, rabbits are the country's third most popular pet. However, concern still surrounds lack of owner knowledge.

In response, the PDSA has launched its Rabbit Welbeing Challenge, alongside pet food manufacturer Burgess Excel.

The challenge has been designed to teach owners about their duty under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to meet their rabbits' basic welfare needs.

This includes ensuring they live in a suitable environment, have a suitable diet, can exhibit normal behaviour patterns, are housed with another rabbit and apart from other animals where possible, and are protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease.

Rabbit owners who sign up to the challenge will take a monthly quiz to find out how well they are meeting their rabbits' needs and will be given advice as they go.

Those who complete the challenge will be presented with a certificate and will receive monthly vouchers and money-off coupons for Burgess Excel. They will also be entered into a prize draw to win an iPad Mini.

Sean Wensley, senior veterinary surgeon at the PDSA, said: "Sadly, rabbits' welfare needs are all too frequently not met. Problems include poor diet, a cramped living environment and a lack of companionship.

"Most owners want their pets to be healthy and happy, and this challenge will help rabbit owners tackle some of the preventable health and welfare problems that we commonly see as vets."

Click here to join the PDSA Rabbit Wellbeing Challenge.