At Gumtree, we take animal welfare extremely seriously. We work closely with the Pets Advisory Advertising Group, and other organisations to ensure the safe rehoming of animals. As part of our commitment to animal welfare we’re working with the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWAF), the UK’s leading rabbit welfare charity.
The RWAF is calling for a pause on the sale of new rabbits by breeders, retailers, and classified sites. As such, we’re working closely with the team over at RWAF to understand the current rabbit welfare crisis, and the ways websites like Gumtree can take action to support this breeding and sales amnesty.
We typically see an increase in rabbits being purchased over Easter. Due to a number of factors surrounding rabbit breeding, this puts greater pressure on rehoming.
What does RWAF say is the problem with rabbits at Easter?
There are a number of contributing factors driving the crisis:
- Unlike dog breeders, rabbit breeders aren’t registered. This means there are no restrictions on the number of rabbits being bred in the UK
- Rabbits reproduce far quicker than cats and dogs. One mum could have 15 babies in just 60 days
- In addition, rabbits are difficult to sex and can breed from just 16 weeks old. This means accidental litters are very common. A problem that doesn’t exist with dogs and cats
- Finally, rabbit rescue shelters are usually run by private individuals. Funding the cost of neutering and vaccinations (£300-£400) means it’s difficult to recoup costs when rehoming. Cat and dog shelters charge a higher rehoming fee to cover costs.
What does the RWAF Amnesty involve?
Over the Easter period, new adverts for rabbit sales will be removed by the Gumtree Trust & Safety team. Existing adverts will not be removed.
Will I get a refund?
Yes, anyone placing an advert for rabbits after the Easter period will receive a refund. This can take 2-3 working days to process. If you do not receive your refund after this time please contact the Customer Service team.
How can I rehome during this period?
If you are looking to rehome a rabbit during the amnesty the RWAF recommends contacting the RSPCA.
Learn more about caring for rabbits in our guide to small furry pets. There’s further information via Rabbit Welfare and the RSPCA.
