Burgess Excel is marking 20 years of Rabbit Awareness Week by donating food to 20 rabbit rescues across the UK, as centres continue to face growing pressure.
This initiative will see Burgess Excel provide each rescue with 20kg of hay and 20kg of rabbit nuggets – 800kg of food in total – to support the day-to-day care of rabbits who are waiting for new homes.
Rescues including Beech Tree Bunnies in Leicestershire, Beloved Rabbits in Glasgow, Ivy Dene Rabbit Rescue in West Yorkshire, Rabbit Residence Rescue in Bedfordshire and Woodgreen Pets Charity in Cambridgeshire are among those set to benefit.
The support comes at a time when many centres are stretched, taking in large numbers of rabbits while managing rising costs and more complex health and behavioural needs.
Alice Mae, founder of Hop in Your Step, a rabbit rescue in Dorset, said: “We see lots of rabbits coming into rescue who haven’t had the right start. Diet is a big part of that. It’s not unusual for us to take in rabbits that have been fed muesli-style mixes or haven’t had enough fibre in their diet, and that can lead to real health problems, including dental issues or digestive stasis.
“Support like this makes a genuine difference to us as a rescue. Food is one of our biggest ongoing costs, and caring for large numbers of rabbits, it quickly adds up. Having that support means we can keep doing what matters most, helping rabbits recover, rehabilitate and find the right homes, while making sure they’re having all their welfare needs properly met.”
This year’s Rabbit Awareness Week campaign focuses on ‘Feeding Bunnies Better’, encouraging owners to rethink what goes into their rabbits’ bowls.
Suzanne Moyes, deputy managing director at Burgess Pet Care, said: “Rabbit Awareness Week has always been about improving rabbit welfare through practical advice and support, education and outreach, but this year we also wanted to recognise the pressure rescues are under.
“By supporting 20 rescues to mark 20 years, we’re hoping to back up our support of Rabbit Awareness Week with practical action for rescues and the absolutely brilliant people who run them. There are brilliant volunteers up and down the country who are dedicating so much time and effort to supporting rabbits in need with the care, nutrition and support that they need.”
