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Man Builds ￡10,000 Rabbit Hutch
Log cabin-inspired custom hutch has mezzanine level, CCTV, and a fan.

When hutch builder Jason Batterbee of Dersingham near King's Lynn wanted a new project, he thought a new hutch for his pet rabbits Hunnie and Runnie would be just the thing. However, he has taken this particular project a little further than is the case with most hutches.

“The basis for it went out of the window. I get carried away, but I think more is better for them and the bunnies have got a life of luxury.” Mr Batterbee says.

After around nine months of work fitted in around other commitments and over ￡1000 in raw materials, Hunnie and Runnie's new hutch is a two-bedroom special inspired by a log cabin. Features include a roof made of cedar wood, a mezzanine level, stainless-steel guttering, a fan, and a CCTV system accessible from inside the Batterbee's home. According to Mr Batterbee, everything was handmade specifically for the project. It is this sheer quantity of skilled workmanship that he believes justifies the designer price tag.

But Mr Batterbee is not finished. “I've had the idea of possibly putting in some radiators for them – stainless steel of course – which we can heat via solar panels,” he says, before adding “It can be improved and I've got some other ideas, but the boss [wife Mairi] will have to say yes or no.”

However, it is not only the Batterbee's rabbits who are getting the luxury treatment – the family's two pet iguanas have the sounds of the jungle played to them by iPod.



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Defra shares new Sanitary and Phytosanitary guidance

News Story 1
 Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.

The agreement, which will change the movement and trade of animals and related products, could see reductions in checks, paperwork and certification. As well as describing regulatory developments, the advice highlights the importance of animal ID, registration and traceability in disease control and other compliance arrangements.

The guidance can be found here. More detail is expected as negotiations progress. 

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News Shorts
Lords Committee opens Pet Parasite Medication inquiry

The House of Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee will launch its inquiry into Pet Parasite Medication (PPM) on Wednesday (3 June).

Focusing on treatments containing fipronil and imidacloprid, the inquiry will seek to understand distribution pathways and the impacts of PPM use and non-use on biodiversity and human health. It will also cover current regulation, monitoring, and the potential implications for pets and their owners.

The committee will hear evidence from environmental non-governmental organisations and research institutes. The public can follow the proceedings live on Parliament TV or in person in the Palace of Westminster.