I thought this was a really clever way of using current events to highlight a great pet-friendly campaign. Enjoy !
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This year sees the magical combination of Royal Wedding and Chinese Year of the Rabbit! The Rabbit Welfare Association (RWAF) is taking a different twist on the Royal Wedding, asking rabbit owners to use the marriage vows as a reminder of the life long promises we should make when we take pet rabbits into our lives.
There is much more to keeping rabbits than many people realise, says Rae Todd, RWAF Chief Executive. People need to think long and hard about the responsibilities involved before they make the jump into rabbit ownership. Just as with a marriage, they should think of it as a lifetime commitment - to love and protect, in sickness and in health, for a lifetime.
A Rabbit Owners Promise
LOVE - Rabbits need companionship, says Rae, and, just like William and Kate, are happier when they are together. Ideally this should be in neutered mixed-sex pairs or compatible groups.
HONOUR - Honour your commitment to your rabbits, including spending an hour every day to feed and care for them, regularly cleaning out their accommodation and ensuring they are happy.
OBEY - Obey the law, Rae warns. The Animal Welfare act outlines what responsible pet ownership involves. For rabbits, this means companionship, daily exercise and good appropriately sized housing as well as providing the right diet and plenty of hay and water.
IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH - Rabbits need vaccinations as well as careful observation that their teeth are healthy, nails and coat are in good condition and they are eating all their food. Remember to check their bottoms daily for fly strike too. If you are ever worried about the health of your rabbits, you should immediately take them to a rabbit savvy Vet.
AS LONG AS YOU BOTH SHALL LIVE - Rabbits can live for up to 10 12 years. This is a long term partnership!
The old notions that rabbits are cheap and easy childrens gifts are giving way to a greater understanding that they are demanding pets that require a considerable amount of attention and money. They should not be kept in a small hutch at the end of the garden. The RWAF has run a successful campaign emphasising that A Hutch is Not Enough. As a result there is a greater understanding that rabbits need interaction and enough space to be able to both hide securely and exercise actively.
Anyone who wishes to help the Rabbit Welfare Association improve the lives of domestic rabbits can visit http://www.rabbitwelfare.co.uk/ and join the association. Annual membership includes subscription to the quarterly magazine Rabbiting On. The website also provides a host of information about what rabbits need to live the lives they deserve. In the meantime, the RWAF hopes everyone enjoys the extended royal wedding bank holiday and encourages all rabbit owners to use the royal vows as a reminder that taking on pet rabbits is an equally big commitment.
The Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund (RWAF) is a registered charity, No 1085689 and is the official charity of the Rabbit Welfare Association which has about 3000 members. It is dedicated to improving the lives of domestic rabbits kept as pets in the UK.
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Your bunnies are lovely! I grew up with a huge Northumberland rabbit, named Thumper. He was white and had pink eyes (an albino). My sister, and two brother's were lucky to have been brought up with pets...1 rabbit, 1 guinea pig, 2 cats, 1 dog, 2 budgies, lots of hamsters, gold fish, tropical fish and also a tortoise! I have four children and they love our labrador and 2 moggies. They have been pestering me for a bunny but I'd want to keep it indoors and I dont think the dog and two cats would leave it alone!
ReplyDeleteOh and talking about Chinese New Year - it is my year this year as I was born during the year of the rabbit!!!!
these bunnies are cute :)
ReplyDeleteSome really helpful comments, that I will share with my little niece who has just received a pet rabbit.
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