Parliament Workbench

Petition · PE01561 · Session 4

Pet Rabbit Welfare

Closed Submitted 25 Feb 2015 Rural Affairs
Signatures
1
2,043 online signatures with a country
Comments
104
Considered
3 meetings
in the Official Report

What it asks

Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to:
Introduce a licensing regime for sellers of young rabbits similar to that for young cats and dogs.
Initiate a ban on pet shop sales via the implementation of Ordinances Protecting Rabbits as is operational in numerous States & Cities in Northern USA & Canada.
Create minimum standards for rabbit related products, such as housing and feed.
Make one body responsible for overseeing and enforcing pet shop licensing regulations, e.g. the SSPCA.

What the petitioner did first

We have actively campaigned for over 2 years for improved rabbit welfare.
We undertake regular awareness & educational events.
We undertake secret shopper style activities in our pet shops & other areas which have shown numerous areas of concern surrounding welfare practises & living standards.
We have met with several MSP's & MEP's to look at ways to bring about change.
We have a seat on the Cross Party Group on Animal Welfare Committee at the Scottish Parliament; we are joined by Rachel Todd, COE of RWAF(Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund) & our Charity Patron and Veterinary specialist in Rabbit Health, Elisabetta Mancinelli, DVM, CertZooMEd, MRCVS Dipl. ECZM (small mammal) as a much needed voice for pet rabbits.
We have met with officials from the Scottish Government's Animal Welfare division to discuss our concerns & various measured that could be undertaken to improve in the overall Rabbit Welfare situation. As such we are now Stakeholders for Rabbit Welfare for future discussions & plans.
We have met with the Scottish SPCA to look at ways to improve on the current situation.
We collaborate with other Rabbit welfare organisations & like minded groups
I have set up petitions seeking changes to rabbit welfare legislation. Online we have 4,800 signatures and, including the hardcopy petition, we have over 6,000. https://www.change.org/p/scottish-parliament-the-uk-government-as-a-whole-implement-urgent-pet-rabbit-specific-welfare-laws-in-the-uk

Where it was considered

Official Report
  1. 12 May 2015
    Public Petitions Committee
    New Petitions
    1 mention
  2. 27 Oct 2015
    Public Petitions Committee
    Continued Petitions
    1 mention
  3. 12 Jan 2016
    Public Petitions Committee
    Continued Petitions
    1 mention

Signatures by country

2,043 online signatures
  1. England688 33.7%
  2. Scotland388 19%
  3. United States304 14.9%
  4. United Kingdom298 14.6%
  5. Canada51 2.5%
  6. Australia42 2.1%
  7. Ireland28 1.4%
  8. Netherlands28 1.4%
  9. Wales26 1.3%
  10. Germany22 1.1%
  11. 43 other countries168 8.2%

Comments

104 comments, oldest first
104 comments · showing 1–50
  1. andrea weeding 27 Feb 2015
    Many thank-you's to the person organizing this petition, from rabbits every where, especially the 67,000 rescued rabbits in this country, enough's enough, the ignorance and cruelty needs to end for these poor, wonderful, creatures. Because they deserve better. Thank-you to the Scottish Parliament for addressing this important animal welfare issue too.
  2. Sandra Harvey 27 Feb 2015
    My house rabbits have given me endless joy over ten + years. Rabbits deserve to be well looked after, not stuck in a small hutch at the bottom of the garden to freeze or die of heat stroke. As pets rabbits are wonderful company and more than reward time and effort of their owner.
    Bunnies deserve Better!!!
  3. Louie b.Free 27 Feb 2015
    thank you so very much for your consideration of this important , humane issue
  4. LINDA BADHAM 27 Feb 2015
    THE LAWS NEED TO BE CHANGED TO PROTECT RABBITS AND ALL ANIMALS FROM HARM !! THEY SUFFER IN SILENCE.
  5. Delores Lowis 27 Feb 2015
    Rabbits should never be sold in pet shops. They are a delicate being who requires a very special home.
  6. Lesley McCulloch 27 Feb 2015
    I just think all animals should have rights and protection it's the least they deserve, they have no voice and no choice so we need to do the right thing for them
  7. Craig Melter 27 Feb 2015
    This is an opportunity to show the world you are more civilized and honorable than the US. Please act in support of bunny lovers and animal rights supporters of the world.
  8. Hazel Nicholls 27 Feb 2015
    These beautiful animals have feelings and needs just as we do and other
  9. Annamarie gammon 27 Feb 2015
    I believe all pet shops should have more rules set out to people when they want a pet rabbit, they should be asked if they have the room and time and space, and the money to spend on a pet rabbit.
  10. Sue Hardie 27 Feb 2015
    Yes they are expensive pets. Just paid almost £90 for 2 injections.
  11. Deborah Cowan 27 Feb 2015
    Until there are no more unwanted animals in shelters, particularly rabbits, they should be unquantifiabley banned from being irresponsibly bred and sold to people who are unaware of the special needs that rabbits require to be cared for adequately. No animal should be seen as a novelty item.
  12. sue peters 27 Feb 2015
    very worthy cause and needs to be supported enough rabbits and animals in general should not be sold in pet shops ever
  13. Ann Marie 27 Feb 2015
    signed
  14. richie tait 27 Feb 2015
    you need to also stop the selling of buns and other small furries in garden centres
  15. LIINDA BOYCE 27 Feb 2015
    these little bunnies deserve much more compassion than what they get they are neglected and they don't deserve it they are so cute
  16. dj powers 27 Feb 2015
    please sing!!
  17. Samantha S Reeves 27 Feb 2015
    Rabbits are truly wonderful and inquisitive animals, they deserve these rights!
  18. Jay Evans 27 Feb 2015
    Rabbits deserve as much help as any other pet, if not more. The amount of rabbits I myself looked after which were mainly due to neglect, should never have happened. These are adorable little creatures who are not meant to be children's pets and should not live in a small hutch down the bottom of the garden.
    Give rabbits the love, the proper food, the proper accommodation and a partner or two and you will find that they become your loyalist friend. Please help them, they desperately need it.
  19. Pamela Boulden 27 Feb 2015
    Thank you for caring. This is an issue close to my heart.
  20. Rita Malecki 27 Feb 2015
    I also would like to see all hutches without runs banned. they rabbit needs to jump and run in their home. if they can't it's not big enough.
  21. Maggie Allinson 27 Feb 2015
    Rabbits are so misunderstood, they are beautiful sociable little animals who make wonderful house pets
    - too many are neglected and spend their lives sad and lonely
    - bunnies deserve better!
  22. Amy Sherman 27 Feb 2015
    Its about time that rabbits and other smaller animals have equal rights as cats and dogs!
  23. Bryony Darnell 27 Feb 2015
    Come on Scotland! Rabbits should be on a par rights-wise with cats and dogs. They are fragile special creatures whose needs are often misunderstood. They need legislative protection
    - please help...
  24. Julie Goldsack 28 Feb 2015
    Many parents need to realise pets are not simply play things for children, and need the correct care and living conditions. This petition will hopefully help.
  25. Danielle Brinkley 28 Feb 2015
    this should be the case everywhere!!
  26. karen forey 28 Feb 2015
    It makes me so sad to see rabbits being neglected,people need to realise that they take a lot of looking after if they are to be healthy and happy,so many end up abandoned as owners cant be bothered,I have had three rescue bunnies,I adored them,please help us protect rabbits from any further harm.
  27. Colleen Fox 28 Feb 2015
    Keeping rabbits in little hutches is downright cruel. Rabbits need freedom to exercise and be rabbits.
  28. Rebecca Lee 28 Feb 2015
    This is so important because rabbits make wonderful pets. But they are less vocal than dogs and cats so need our protection more
  29. catherine Irvine 28 Feb 2015
    Stop breeders from breeding there are thousands needing homes from adoption centres
  30. Jacqueline Reeves 28 Feb 2015
    a hutch is not enough
  31. nandalal prabhu 28 Feb 2015
    I would like to see the rabbit hutches banned world wide.
  32. JACQUELINE MCKAY 1 Mar 2015
    GIVE BUNNIES THE PROTECTION THEY DESERVE
  33. Bettina Ashton 1 Mar 2015
    This must end, rescues are heaving and people really are ignorant about the care and behaviour of rabbits. Show England their not taking action despite the public urging them too for years now, reveals how archaic and ignorant that DEFRA is too and that Scotland is knowledgeable and progressive.
  34. Bianca Diaz 1 Mar 2015
    Please listen!
  35. lynn sedgwick 1 Mar 2015
    I have a house rabbit and I've kept rabbits for most of my life. It's great to hear that finally it's being understood that rabbits have feelings and need lots of space and love.
  36. Andrew Lee 1 Mar 2015
    It's about time that Rabbits were afforded the same rights and protection that other domestic animals are afforded, widespread ignorance concerning their proper care and a lack of guidelines surrounding housing, toys and food leads to rabbits living (and dying) in extremely poor conditions.
    Failure to do something about this is nothing short of tacit complicity in the widespread neglect and mistreatment of these wonderful (but helpless) animals.
  37. Laura Watkins 1 Mar 2015
    please
  38. Margaret Bradburne 1 Mar 2015
    I have had pet rabbits for many years and they are playful,clever ,loving creatures.They need space and toys.At least 6ft to live
  39. Louise Barber 1 Mar 2015
    Rabbits are suffering great cruelty and they are gentle, beautiful creatures. Please help stop their suffering. Please.
  40. Sadie Dempsey 1 Mar 2015
    Rabbits are gentle, affectionate creatures, who love to be cuddled. They must be allowed freedom to exercise, ideally grazing in a secure garden. Sadly, when the novelty wears off, many are left to rot, all alone in cold, tiny hutches. Heartbreaking.
  41. valerie nordberg 2 Mar 2015
    I agree that rabbits, rats, mice, hamsters etc. get far less attention than larger animals so their need for protection is comparably greater. But all animals should receive the same respect and care in need.
  42. carolyn foy 3 Mar 2015
    You wouldnt keep your dog or cat in a box why a rabbit pet shops and breeders need to educate buyers before selling on to un knowing owners
  43. Evie Gordon-Longley 5 Mar 2015
    Those who have rabbit companions will tell you that it truly is the same as having a dog or cat companion. There is every reason to bring in laws to give rabbits protection. The powers that be could set a fine example for children to enable them to learn about compassion and responsibility. Please ask anyone who has creature companions to sign this petition.
  44. Judy A Makowski 5 Mar 2015
    All animals need our protection from bad breeders, pet shops that don't know how or don't to take proper care of them. As a society we are known by the way we treat our animals, our children and our aged citizens. Please pass this. It could be the impetus all the world needs
  45. Eric Nelson 5 Mar 2015
    Rabbits deserve good care and protection just as do any other animal in captivity! Thank you for ensuring all rabbits in Scotland will have these minimum protections and comforts.
  46. Cheryl Gehrke 5 Mar 2015
    Rabbits need and deserve the same care in their lives as dogs or cats. They are very sweet and good animals who have great personalities and can give love just as any other animal can. They suffer greatly when they are sold or given to someone who is not interested in their welfare and won't care for them properly. I would like to see rabbits banned from pet shops and from any other stress inducing place. I would like to see people getting rabbits take a course on how to care for them properly. Any one dumping a rabbit should be jailed and fined.
  47. Alison Pearson 5 Mar 2015
    Having been involved with local rescue centres for nearly 30 years I am ecstatic about this petition, and want to see an end once and for all to animals being sold in pet stores and online.
  48. Susan Peters 5 Mar 2015
    very outdated practice selling any animal from Pet Shops
    - should be banned
  49. Scott Inman 5 Mar 2015
    Thank you for stepping up and defending the rights of rabbits! Hopefully the rest of the world will wake up and join this movement. Makes me proud of my Scottish heritage!
  50. Patricia Cora 5 Mar 2015
    Please advocate the below
    - we are all connected.