Hop to Save Rabbits - law reform for rabbits and hares
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, wildlife management, rehabilitation and labs — and makes a reasoned case for ending rabbit meat farming and trade.
In the heart of our society, a silent but significant issue persists: the consumption of rabbit meat. While often overlooked compared to other meat industries, the rabbit meat trade harbors a host of ethical, environmental, and health concerns that demand urgent attention. It’s time for us to confront this issue head-on and take decisive action…
Introduction Picture this: a fluffy, twitchy-nosed rabbit, hopping around in a meadow, with not a care in the world. Now, imagine that same rabbit on your dinner plate. Quite the stark contrast, isn’t it? While rabbit meat has been a dietary staple for centuries, there’s a growing movement advocating for its ban. But why ban…
A mother rabbit nestles her babies close, her tiny heart beating fast. She doesn’t know what their future holds—but we do. And today, we promise her and her family a life of safety, love, and protection. For too long, rabbits have been the forgotten victims of weak laws and outdated welfare standards. They have suffered…
Hop to Save Rabbits strongly opposes the genetic modification of rabbits for commercial, artistic, or experimental purposes. The recent Wired article, Your Next Pet Could Be a Glowing Rabbit, highlights the troubling trend of gene editing animals, which raises serious ethical, welfare, and abandonment concerns. We echo the concerns outlined by Rabbit.org Foundation in their…
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 national animal cruelty laws. Weapon-linked attacks on animals have risen sharply, with a reported 23% increase in 2023 compared to the previous year. While catapult…
The proposed release of another lethal rabbit virus in Australia threatens not only wild rabbit populations but also domestic rabbits, companion animals, and the broader ecosystem. Hop to Save Rabbits strongly opposes the use of biological control measures such as Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV) and Myxomatosis, which have proven to be short-term, cruel, and…
