Burgess Pet Care, the organisers of Rabbit Awareness Week (RAW), has announced that this year’s ‘Protect and Prevent’ campaign has been the “most successful RAW campaign yet”.
Over 5000 campaign packs were downloaded from the Rabbit Awareness Week website and feedback from veterinary practices taking part in RAW has shown an increase in the number of RVHD2 vaccines being administered to rabbits.
RAW has been helping to improve the lives of pet rabbits in the UK for 13 years. This year the ‘Protect and Prevent’ campaign urged rabbit owners to get their rabbits vaccinated, following the continued outbreak of the latest deadly strain of rabbit viral haemorrhagic disease (RVHD2).
Veterinary practices were also urged to make sure they were stocking the necessary vaccines to protect rabbits against RVHD2 and other fatal diseases such as RVHD and myxomatosis. Thousands of veterinary practices, pet retail shops and rescue centres all held events throughout the week of RAW to help raise awareness of this year’s campaign and the importance of vaccinations.
Peter Lancaster, marketing manager at Burgess Pet Care, said: “RVHD2 is a very serious and horrible disease that has already claimed the lives of too many rabbits in the UK. This year’s Protect and Prevent campaign successfully raised awareness of the dangers around RVHD2 and the importance of vaccinations to protect rabbits against fatal diseases.
“We would like to say a huge thank you to the RAW partners, veterinary practices, rescue centres, pet shop retailers and, of course, rabbit owners, for their continued support in helping us to improve the health and wellbeing of rabbits.”
He added: “Collectively, the RAW partners are committed to maintaining this momentum of the campaign in addressing the issue of preventative healthcare for UK’s rabbits. Work has already begun on planning for next year’s campaign and we look forward to announcing more details in due course.”
