‘Rabbit Owners Should First be Specially Trained’

Cuthbert&Dillon said:
Whilst I think it is not going to happen at the very least publicity regarding rabbit needs are being highlighted.
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This is my view too. The publicity is good.

As to the issue of whether it should be something that Government organises, I'm not sure. Too political for this forum, but I would make the point that it's not just rabbits. There is an issue about cats and dogs and the responsibilities to society of their owners, in addition of course to the needs of cats and dogs.

I see there was also mention of greyhound racing and horse racing with jumps. All very worthy stuff, but controversial :D
 
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Yea I doubt that'll happen, it's sad too, I don't like the idea of restrictions like that, don't like that kinda control, but on the flip side perhaps we need them 😩
 
No. It's not just rabbits, and I think this sort of thing just annoys people.

I think the single biggest thing that would change the way people view small pets is to no longer sell them in shops. I think that way change might naturally happen.
 
Omi said:
This is my view too. The publicity is good.

As to the issue of whether it should be something that Government organises, I'm not sure. Too political for this form, but I would make the point that it's not just rabbits. There is an issue about cats and dogs and the responsibilities to society of their owners, in addition of course to the needs of cats and dogs.

I see there was also mention of greyhound racing and horse racing with jumps. All very worthy stuff, but controversial :D
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I think similarly. Where do you draw the line and do you trust the government to do something like this (idk about the UK, but as an American the last thing I want to hear right now is more restrictions and meddling in people's lives 😂).

Pet ownership in general, no matter the species, should be taken seriously by everyone who chooses to keep pets. And I think we've come in leaps and bounds if you compare it to decades past. People spend loads of money on their pets, treat them as family, we access to information on how to care for them, animal medicine is more advanced, etc. Ofc it's not perfect and not everyone does. But it's definitely getting better.

Education is key but not mandatory courses imo. That makes me think of those arbitrary tests that the Denmark government does on Greenlandic mothers, as a way to determine if they deserve to keep their baby or not. That was crazy and eye opening to read about.
 
Thinking about it some more, while I do agree that rabbits are the worst small animal affected by the lack of knowledge out there, I think if you tighten up restrictions for rabbits, there would be a very obvious knock-on effect for guinea pigs. ie. it's too hard to buy a rabbit, so we'll buy a guinea pig.

I would be so happy to see the end of all animals in pet shops, but the first step would probably need to be both rabbits and guinea pigs.
 
I saw this on Instagram and the comments were overwhelmingly positive. However I agree with others here, pet stores shouldn't be allowed to sell animals with no checks either and giving unsuitable information. Appreciate this doesn't stop people breeding and selling privately but if these animals weren't so easily available then people might stop and question why.
 
In 2025 a new law passed a couple years earlier by New York State (not national) became effective that prevents the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits by pet stores. Although most pet stores in my area previously stopped selling dogs and cats due to community pressure, rabbits were still sold in a couple independently owned pet stores. The law was aimed at puppy mills and large irresponsible breeders who were supplying pet stores with unhealthy inbred animals, yet it still does not address backyard breeders or other small pets such as guinea pigs or birds. Also, pet stores may rent space to rescues for pet adoption, though wonder who operates them.

In my opinion it may prevent some impulse buys of pets, especially where pet shops are located in shopping plazas and malls and the pets were displayed in window displays.
 
It also ties in with previous discussions about dog licenses coming back, and new owners having to do some basic training courses. I think the Dogs Trust does now include some training sessions in with its adoptions.

There is still the issue of it basically being optional and those who really ought to participate will just opt out or find a way around it.

I have found that the larger pet shop chains both tightened up their criteria for potential owners in the last few years, although it was by no means foolproof - ie. had to provide proof of suitable accommodation or purchase it from them. It didn't really do much to discourage impulse purchases, especially when they refuse to hold 'stock' for a couple of days for serious buyers /adopters to sort things out for the new arrivals.
 
When I went to the rescue for Duncan and Graham, having completed all forms on line, I had to show photos of the set up. No visit no nothing. I had signed to say they could visit and had a date in the diary, I was going for a meet and greet.
They said I seemed to know what I was talking about. I could only show photos of the purchase of the c+c caging - it wasnt set up and they put the boys in a box and sent me home with them.

I was upset by this and wrote to them, they said that the boxes had been ticked for the home visit completed. I almost felt like I was in a pet shop. I would love to see the law tightened up and training being mandatory.
 
Cuthbert&Dillon said:
When I went to the rescue for Duncan and Graham, having completed all forms on line, I had to show photos of the set up. No visit no nothing. I had signed to say they could visit and had a date in the diary, I was going for a meet and greet.
They said I seemed to know what I was talking about. I could only show photos of the purchase of the c+c caging - it wasnt set up and they put the boys in a box and sent me home with them.

I was upset by this and wrote to them, they said that the boxes had been ticked for the home visit completed. I almost felt like I was in a pet shop. I would love to see the law tightened up and training being mandatory.
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So weird I had the opposite experience recently, sent pics to a few rescues when I was looking for someone to bond with Terry, and because he was in a smaller area than I would've liked they all said no, even when I explained that the size of the pen was temporary due to him still settling in. Ironically I passed a home check for him not long before with no concerns about the same pen when I explained it was temporary!
 
I don't know how it is in the UK, but in the US...I don't think mandatory anything would go well. We're very much about choice, good or bad, and people have trouble with mandatory laws about other people, let alone animals. That's another thing, the way animals are viewed here. I've lived in the North and in the South, and let me tell you, it's very different. In the North, there are exotic vets, doggie daycare, specialized vets, and strict ownership laws. There are also a lot more breed bans. In the South, people let their dogs run around outside, then let them in for the night. Pretty much no real laws about animals down there. I don't think either is right or wrong, so long as the animal is taken care of. I've seen excellent outdoor pets and horrific outdoor pets. Ditto with indoors. But trying to introduce a law like that in rural and Southern areas? The backlash would be huge. I mean, they tried to outlaw liquor here and it resulted in the mafia!

I do agree education is the way to go, but IMO it's got to be nice and gentle (and also free lol. Not everyone can afford extra training). That's one of the things I've loved about this forum. I know I've done wrong things with the bunnies. I gave them Corid when they first got here. I hadn't planned on spaying them, and their hutch is too small. All of that is changing because of the kind, well-delivered advice I got here. If ya'll would've been rude or attacking me about my decisions, I don't know I would've changed. I probably would've just logged off! But because you guys were gentle and patient, I've learned better. I think that's the way to go for pet education. Gentle, kind education goes miles further than immediate mandates. It could be something simple, like a brochure given to pet owners, or telling them before they're allowed to walk away, or adding on some care information in the adoption contract. But when you tell people it's mandatory, they just get rebellious, at least it does here.

Of course, this is all just my own opinion, and I could be wrong! :)
 
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