News
Rabbit Awareness Week 1st - 9th June 2019
Tuesday 9th April 2019
The theme for this year’s Rabbit Awareness Week has been announced and pet food retailers are being encouraged to get involved.
The UK’s leading animal welfare charities and veterinary professionals are asking pet food retailers to help them raise awareness of a deadly rabbit virus strain as they announce the theme for this year’s Rabbit Awareness Week (RAW) campaign running 1st - 9th June 2019.
This year’s Protect and Prevent campaign is urging rabbit owners to get their rabbits vaccinated to protect them against Rabbit Viral Haemorrhagic Disease type 2 (RVHD-2) and prevent the spread of further infection.
As in previous years, RAW presents an ideal opportunity for retailers to reconnect and engage with their rabbit-owning customers, and to make sure they are well-informed on their wider welfare needs.
Commercially, RAW is traditionally a strong week for the pet food retail sector, with hundreds of retailers getting behind the campaign and showcasing their ranges of rabbit foods, housing and care products.
There are 1 million pet rabbits in the UK and 34% of these not registered* with a vet. The lack of some rabbit owners visiting veterinary professionals means the pet retail sector is an invaluable source of knowledge when it comes to ensuring rabbit owners have all the information they need to correctly care for their pets.
The 2019 campaign is looking to build on the success of previous years, as Alex Thorne at Burgess Pet Care, the organiser of RAW explains:
“RVHD-2 has already killed thousands of rabbits in the UK and unfortunately there’s still a huge lack of awareness around the disease. We know how passionate retailers are about animal welfare and this year’s RAW campaign is an opportunity to help save the lives of thousands of pet rabbits by making sure rabbit owners are aware of this deadly disease.
“There are commercial benefits from being involved in a RAW campaign too. RAW is a great chance for pet food retailers to promote their rabbit offering and engage with their local community. We’re extremely grateful for the hundreds of pet food retailers who take part every year to raise awareness of the welfare issues facing Britain’s pet rabbits and hope many more will join us this year to make the Protect and Prevent campaign our biggest RAW yet!”
The RAW website contains lots of useful information to help support pet food retailers with any activity they’re planning, including promotional materials, rabbit ownership guides and free samples.
Pet food retailers can visit www.rabbitawarenessweek.co.uk to request a retail pack for this year’s RAW campaign and share information on any events they’re planning.
Log in to start shopping**, to stock up for RAW or contact your Local Depot.
RAW is a coalition of experts, organisations and welfare charities who actively campaign to improve the lives of UK rabbits. Organised by Burgess Pet Care, official RAW partners include the RSPCA, Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWAF), CEVA Animal Health, Wood Green the Animals Charity, PDSA and Blue Cross.
Social media users can join the conversation online using #RAW2019
*2018 PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report
**Bestpets operate a strictly Trade Only policy. Bestpets Delivered customers can order online. Cash & Carry customers can view online and build a shopping list. All products offered are subject to availability, Government subsidy, Duty Charges & VAT as applicable. Information correct at time of publication. E&OE.