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Rabbit Awareness Week returns for 2025
RAW 2025 will promote the importance of appropriate rabbit housing.
This year’s theme is ‘Happy, Hoppy Homes’.

The Rabbit Awareness Action Group (RAAG) has revealed the theme for this year’s Rabbit Awareness Week (RAW).

The campaign, running from 23- 27 June 2025, will focus on ‘Happy, Hoppy Homes’, promoting the importance of correct indoor and outdoor housing for rabbits.

It is the 19th year of Rabbit Awareness Week, which has been endorsed by the British Small Animal Veterinary Organisation (BSAVA) and is organised by Burgess Pet Care. RAAG says that the results of the latest PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) report highlights the urgency of its theme.

The PAW report revealed that 22 per cent of all pet rabbits were being kept in inadequate housing, such as small hutches or limited run space. This equates to approximately 180,000 rabbits.

The survey also found that just 66 per cent of rabbits were able to move freely between their hutch and their run. This leaves 23 per cent that had to be let in or out by their owner, while nine per cent had to be physically moved by their owner.

Rabbits which were kept in inadequate enclosures were less likely to be able to move freely between their hutch and their run.

Nine per cent of rabbit owners said they had chosen inadequate housing based on advice from a retailer, while seven per cent said they chose it because no larger enclosures were available.

RAAG says that these statistics highlight a need to promote the correct housing environments needed for indoor and outdoor rabbits. This year’s campaign will feature a range of blogs, videos and digital waiting room resources to provide appropriate advice.

RAW 2025 is set to launch at Woodgreen Pets Charity, one of its supporters, and will bring together members of the veterinary community and supporters of RAW.

Julian Hoad, BSAVA president, said: "The BSAVA is delighted to once again be endorsing Rabbit Awareness Week for 2025.

“Despite being the UK's third most popular pet, rabbits are still frequently kept in suboptimal conditions. With the many resources available, we hope this increases the awareness of good rabbit husbandry."

Veterinary practices can download resources and get involved on the RAAG website.

Image © Shutterstock

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Submissions open for BSAVA Clinical Research Abstracts 2026

News Story 1
 The BSAVA has opened submissions for the BSAVA Clinical Research Abstracts 2026.

It is an opportunity for applicants to present new research on any veterinary subject, such as the preliminary results of a study, discussion of a new technique or a description of an interesting case.

They must be based on high-quality clinical research conducted in industry, practice or academia, and summarised in 250 words.

Applications are welcome from vets, vet nurses, practice managers, and students.

Submissions are open until 6 March 2026. 

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News Shorts
Survey seeks ruminant sector views on antimicrobial stewardship

A new survey is seeking views of people working in the UK ruminant sector on how to tackle the challenge of demonstrating responsible antibiotic stewardship.

Forming part of a wider, collaborative initiative, the results will help identify the types of data available so that challenges with data collection can be better understood and addressed.

Anyone working in the UK farming sector, including vets and farmers,is encouraged to complete the survey, which is available at app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk