TY - JOUR
T1 - Rabbit relinquishment through online classified advertisements in the United Kingdom
T2 - when, why, and how many?
AU - Neville, Vikki
AU - Hinde, Keith
AU - Line, Elaine
AU - Todd, Rae
AU - Saunders, Richard Anthony
PY - 2018/3/6
Y1 - 2018/3/6
N2 - To identify implicit causes of companion rabbit relinquishment, this study investigated whether there was annual and seasonal variation in the number of advertisements and ages of rabbits posted as free or for sale on classified websites in the United Kingdom. The number of advertisements posted decreased from 2014 to 2016. There was an increase in the number of advertisements for free rabbits in winter compared with other seasons, which could be a result of caregivers’ reduced willingness to interact with their rabbits and carry out husbandry during periods of inclement weather. Rabbits advertised as free were older than rabbits advertised for sale, and rabbits relinquished due to human-related reasons were older than those relinquished because of rabbit-related factors. It is recommended that further research is undertaken to elucidate whether providing education to prospective rabbit caregivers regarding the life span of rabbits and their substantial husbandry requirements, especially in winter, would deter the purchase of rabbits by caregivers unable or unwilling to care for them in the long term.
AB - To identify implicit causes of companion rabbit relinquishment, this study investigated whether there was annual and seasonal variation in the number of advertisements and ages of rabbits posted as free or for sale on classified websites in the United Kingdom. The number of advertisements posted decreased from 2014 to 2016. There was an increase in the number of advertisements for free rabbits in winter compared with other seasons, which could be a result of caregivers’ reduced willingness to interact with their rabbits and carry out husbandry during periods of inclement weather. Rabbits advertised as free were older than rabbits advertised for sale, and rabbits relinquished due to human-related reasons were older than those relinquished because of rabbit-related factors. It is recommended that further research is undertaken to elucidate whether providing education to prospective rabbit caregivers regarding the life span of rabbits and their substantial husbandry requirements, especially in winter, would deter the purchase of rabbits by caregivers unable or unwilling to care for them in the long term.
KW - online advertisements
KW - Rabbit
KW - relinquishment
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85042937623&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/10888705.2018.1438287
DO - 10.1080/10888705.2018.1438287
M3 - Article (Academic Journal)
C2 - 29508633
AN - SCOPUS:85042937623
SN - 1088-8705
SP - 1
EP - 11
JO - Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science
JF - Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science
ER -