The Companion Animal Sector Council's (CASC) Health & Welfare Strategy for Rabbits in England has been relaunched, and is now called  the Rabbit Welfare Stakeholder Implementation Group (RWSIG).

Its stakeholders include the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWAF), the Pet Industry Federation (PIF), Peter Scott (CASC), the RSPCA, the British Rabbit Council (BRC),  Dr Nicola Rooney (University of Bristol) and Richard Saunders (representing both RWAF and the British Zoological Veterinary Society Association).

Towards the end of last year, the RSPCA, in conjunction with a team of researchers from the Animal Welfare and Behaviour Group at Bristol University, produced some vital research into domestic rabbit welfare.  

This research is yet to be peer-reviewed for publication in international scientific journals so its findings have not been released, but it provided scientific evidence of a number of key welfare issues faced by pet rabbits on which we can base recommendations.

The research prompted a meeting of the Rabbit Welfare Stakeholder Implementation Group (RWSIG), in which the existing CASC document was reviewed in conjunction with the RSPCA study and findings of a report produced by the PDSA, and a way forward agreed.

An updated Rabbit Welfare Strategy draft is in progress and comprises of 10 evidence-based aims covering different priority areas to most improve rabbit welfare. Each of the aims comprises numerous actions with short, medium and long term targets wherever possible and the document will be the basis for joint working by all interested parties across the domestic rabbit spectrum. Any stakeholders and interested parties will be invited to take part in the work and implementation. A workable document is planned for circulation by the autumn of this year.

Anybody who would like to be a consultee for this work should get in touch with the RWSIG via the RWAF at hq@rabbitwelfare.co.uk.