Politician's call for rabbit owner training courses labelled 'hare-brained'

A significant story is unfolding on the international scene. Labour politician's call for training courses for rabbit owners labelled 'hare-brained' Figure caption, Mike Hedges says rabbit owners should undergo training coursesByAngharad ThomasBBC WalesPublished2 July 2026, 15:14 BSTUpdated 34 minutes agoA Labour politician wants people to take "short training courses" before they can own a rabbit as part of animal welfare reforms in Wales. Mike Hedges told Wales' parliament, the Senedd, that people should be restricted from becoming owners until they "can show they understand the needs of rabbits". A Conservative Senedd member questioned the practicality of requiring the training, while a Senedd source told Wales the idea was "hare-brained".

The RSPCA said rabbits are among the most neglected pets in the UK, and welcomed an improvement to animal welfare, while a rabbit charity said bunnies can currently be bought "too easily, with too little understanding of their needs". Guinea pigs to be bred for food by off-grid family after council approval Published1 day agoHop to Save Rabbits, an animal welfare charity, said it was "very encouraged to see this issue raised in the Senedd" and that it supported a "short rabbit welfare course before acquisition". "Many welfare problems begin before acquisition.

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Rabbits can be obtained too easily, with too little understanding of their needs," a spokesperson said. "This frequently leads to poor welfare outcomes, including unsuitable housing, loneliness, mis-sexing, unwanted litters, abandonment and pressure on rescues. "Image source, RSPCAImage caption, Rabbits like Buzz, who was abandoned in a garden along with another bunny friend Woody, are searching for their forever homes while being cared for by RSPCA Bryn Y Maen Animal CentreOn Tuesday, Hedges - Welsh Labour's culture spokesperson - used a question to First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth to ask what actions the government was taking to improve animal welfare.

After ap Iorwerth said it would "develop a science-led animal health and welfare plan" for the country, Hedges said it reflected badly on society if "we allow animals to be mistreated, either by ignorance or cruelty". Hedges suggested several reforms, including microchipping cats, bans on tethering horses, owning primates, cage breeding of game birds and ending the use of Larsen traps - spring-door wire cages used to catch birds like magpies and crows. He added that Wales should allow "rabbit ownership only after a short training course where individuals can show they understand the needs of rabbits".

The Senedd election in May saw Hedges' Labour lose power in Wales for the first time since the country got its own parliament in 1999, with Plaid Cymru becoming its largest party and taking over the running of the Welsh government. Asked by Hedges if the Welsh government would bring in these changes, Plaid leader ap Iorwerth only said his government wanted to "set high standards for the treatment of animals".

The story has become one of the most prominent items on the global agenda.