Rabbits and hares fall through gaps in animal law.
At Hop to Save Rabbits, our mission is to protect rabbits by changing laws and raising awareness.
Rabbits are the third most popular pet in the U.K. and U.S., but they receive little protection. At Hop to Save Rabbits, our mission is to protect rabbits by pushing for stronger laws. There is a big gap in how rabbits are treated compared with dogs and cats. To close this gap, we need laws that protect rabbits just as strongly.
With this goal in mind, Hop to Save Rabbits was created. We are an international platform that brings communities together to campaign for legislative change and to safeguard the rights and lives of rabbits.
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VARC 2026: Rabbits in Law and Policy — From the Meat Trade to Military Training
Dedicated to Sandy, 15 August 2019 – 17 March 2026, with love. I was honoured to speak at VARC 2026 on rabbits in law and policy. This presentation examined how…
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Overview: Ending the Era of Animal Testing
This report by Hop to Save Rabbits examines the legal, ethical, and scientific arguments against the continued use of animals in laboratory research. While millions of animals—including rabbits, dogs, and…
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Overview: Tackling the Rabbit Abandonment Crisis
Rabbit abandonment is a significant and growing welfare crisis across the UK. While the tireless work of rescue centres remains vital, long-term success depends on a “prevention-first” approach that addresses…
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Rabbits: Analysis of the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Scotland) Regulations 2021
This report by Hop to Save Rabbits provides a critical analysis of the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Scotland) Regulations 2021. By reviewing Freedom of Information (FOI) responses…
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No More Gaps: A Sentience-Based Strategy for Rabbits and Hares in Ireland (Submission)
We’ve submitted our evidence-based response to Ireland’s Animal Welfare Strategy 2026–2030 consultation (2 Jan 2026). It calls for species-specific protections for rabbits and hares, closing legal gaps across pets, farming,…
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🐇Catapult Attacks on Animals: Why the UK Must Act to End This Hidden Cruelty
Introduction The deliberate use of catapults to target animals—known as catapult attacks on animals—is a growing welfare crisis in the UK. These acts cause unnecessary suffering, injury, and death, breaching…
How Hop to Save Rabbits Creates Change
We drive legislative change through petitions and campaigns led by our team to protect rabbits.
In addition, we work with members of the public and local charities https://snors.co.uk/ https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/who kindly share their rabbit welfare petitions with us.
We ask supporters to endorse and share these active petitions to raise awareness and pressure governments to act. We list petitions and campaigns Campaigns and Petitions by country so you can make a difference in your own community.
As a result, other countries may also use these efforts as inspiration to start their own campaigns.
Our Aims to Protect Rabbits
Hop to save rabbits’ primary motive is to protect the rights of both domestic and wild rabbits.
- Banning the consumption of rabbit meat for both humans and pets.
- Banning the hunting of wild rabbits.
- Require rabbit breeders to be licensed.
Why We Campaign to Ban Rabbit Meat
Animal welfare: Farms often keep rabbits in cramped, inhumane conditions. Ending rabbit meat consumption would help prevent this suffering.
Conservation: Some rabbit species are already endangered due to hunting and habitat loss. A ban would help protect them.
Health: Consuming rabbit meat can carry risks of disease or parasites. Removing it from the food chain protects public health.
Ethics: Many people believe all animals have a right to life. Stopping rabbit meat production reflects that ethical stance.