RAW veterinary resource pack released
RAW is taking place from 26-30 June 2023.
A free Rabbit Awareness Week (RAW) resource pack is now available for veterinary practices to download. It includes rabbit care guides, health logs, social media help guides and printable colouring sheets to enable practices to organise their own events during the week.
RAW is taking place from 26-30 June and its organisers are urging practices to get involved. This year’s theme is ‘Neutering: Protect and Prevent’.
With approximately 80 per cent of unneutered female rabbits developing cancer of the womb by the age of five, the theme aims to educate owners that neutering helps rabbits to live longer, healthier lives.
RAW is being organised by Burgess Pet Care along with a number of experts, including the RSPCA, Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund, Woodgreen Pets Charity, Blue Cross and Raystede.
Dr Suzanne Moyes, deputy managing director at Burgess Pet Care said: “We know that the vet community plays an important role in ensuring that owners have access to the right information about rabbits’ welfare needs, which is why we are urging as many practices as possible to support RAW. You can either sign up to receive one of our limited number of free RAW vet packs in hard copy, or you can download a free RAW vet pack. Both are full of resources including rabbit care guides, health logs and printable posters, so that you can put together your own campaign.”
One of the veterinary practices that is getting involved wih RAW is offering rabbit owners discounts on vaccines and neutering, free nurse consultations, a forage walk, informative displays and lots of information about rabbits on its social media channels.
Dr Moyes added: “Given the increase in demand for rabbit ownership in the UK in recent years, it is really important that we educate as many owners as possible, so that these wonderful creatures can live the life they deserve, in the right environment.
“Working with our charity partners the RSPCA, Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWAF), Woodgreen Pets Charity, Blue Cross, and Raystede, we want to ensure that RAW is a great success and that we continue to improve the welfare of rabbits across the country.”
During the week there will be a wealth of activities designed to raise awareness of neutering and its benefits, including veterinary blogs, videos and case studies, that will be shared on the RAW Facebook and Instagram pages.
With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.
