Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.

Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Rabbit hutch petition reaches 100,000 signatures
The petition aims to ban the sale of cruel rabbit hutches in the UK.

The petition calls for a legal minimum size for pet rabbits' houses.

A petition to ban the sale of inappropriately-sized rabbit hutches has amassed over 100,000 signatures.

Started by the Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund (RWAF), the petition states: “We want to ban the sale of inadequately sized hutches and introduce a legal minimum requirement for rabbit housing, giving rabbits the space they need to prevent painful, and often fatal, health issues from developing.

“We WANT A MINIMUM area of 10ft x 6 ft x 3ft / 3m x 2m x 1m at all times - and part of that should be a 6ft shelter.”

The RWAF is calling on the UK government to enshrine the first Good Practice Code for rabbit welfare in law, and to mandate a legal housing size for pet rabbits. 

Rae Walters, RWAF director, said: “Whilst we are incredibly pleased that so many people have been moved to sign our petition, we still have much work to do. 

“Until we see a change in the legislation with the adoption of the good practice codes for the welfare of pet rabbits, it remains the case that hundreds of thousands of pet rabbits in the UK are housed in dreadful conditions where they can’t express their natural behaviours.

“These poor creatures are often stuck in a tiny hutch for 24 hours a day where they can’t even stand up straight.
They are forced to eat, sleep and toilet in the same cramped space which is both physically and emotionally crippling to pet rabbits, resulting in damaging effects on their health and wellbeing – and even premature death.

“Many people don’t realise that although there is a legal housing size requirement for meat and laboratory rabbits, there is currently no law for keeping pet rabbits.

“Until unsuitable accommodation is removed from sale, people will continue to wrongly believe that a small hutch in the garden will suffice."

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NSA webinar explores sheep tailing and castration

The National Sheep Association (NSA) is to host a free webinar on the castration and tail docking of lambs.

The webinar, 'Understanding the tailing and castration consultation: A guide for sheep farmers', will be hosted online on Monday, 2 March 2026 at 7.30pm.

It comes during a government consultation into the methods used for these procedures. Farmers are encouraged to engage before the consultation period closes on Monday, 9 March 2026.

The webinar offers clear and actionable guidance to support farmers to contribute meaningfully to the consultation and prepare for potential changes.

On the panel will be former SVS president Kate Hovers, farmer and vet Ann Van Eetvelt and SRUC professor in Animal Health and Veterinary Sciences Cathy Dwyer. Each panel member will utilise their own specialism and expertise to evaluate risks and outcomes to sheep farming.

Find out more about the webinar on the NSA website.