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'All ears': a questionnaire of 1516 owner perceptions of the mental abilities of pet rabbits, subsequent resource provision, and the effect on welfare

By S. A. McMahon, E. Wigham

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Category Journal Articles
Abstract

Pet rabbit welfare is a hidden crisis: Inappropriately housed, fed, and not routinely provided healthcare—rabbits can often suffer painful conditions and shortened lifespans. This study provides novel understanding of owners’ perceptions of rabbits’ mental capabilities; how this impacts their husbandry; and subsequent effects on rabbits’ welfare. A survey was designed to investigate owner and rabbit demographics, owner perception of rabbits, resources provided, and rabbit behavior. Distributed online and by the Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund, the survey received 1516 responses. It was found that increased owner perceptions of pain, emotions, and intelligence resulted in increased likelihood of providing a partner, increased enrichment variation, and a more appropriate diet and type of housing. Welfare scores were associated with diet, housing, variety of enrichment, and time spent with owners. These results suggest that a practical approach to improving the welfare standard provided to rabbits may be to target improving owner perceptions of the species’ intelligence, emotionality, and experience of pain. This information would be beneficial in tailoring public education programs to increase provision of welfare enhancing resources, improve the human–animal relationship, and thus improve the welfare standards for this species.

Date 2020
Publication Title Animals
Volume 10
Issue 10
ISBN/ISSN 2076-2615
Publisher MDPI
DOI 10.3390/ani10101730
Author Address School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK.2178174M@student.glasgow.ac.uk Ellie.Wigham@glasgow.ac.uk
Additional Language English
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Tags
  1. Animal behavior
  2. Animal nutrition
  3. Animals
  4. Animal welfare
  5. Attitudes
  6. Behavioral research
  7. Diets
  8. Emotions
  9. Enrichment
  10. Feeds
  11. Housing
  12. Lagomorpha
  13. Leporidae
  14. Life
  15. Mammals
  16. Mental ability
  17. Nutrition
  18. open access
  19. opinions
  20. Pain
  21. pet care
  22. Pets and companion animals
  23. Psychiatry and psychology
  24. quality
  25. rabbits
  26. Relationships
  27. Science
  28. social anthropology
  29. Social psychology and social anthropology
  30. vertebrates
  31. Veterinarians
  32. Zoology
Badges
  1. open access