Introduction
Twelwe years ago, I walked around a shopping centre, peeking into various stores, and by chance ended up in a pet shop. I left with a tiny rabbit.
As many others would have, I felt pity for the small and quite nervous animal. He was left all alone, even though at his young age he should have been together with his mother and siblings. I couldn’t leave him, and so Petter came home with me. I had been raised with dogs, cats and rats, but had no experience with rabbits. I also had no idea how hard it would be to obtain correct knowledge on the species, but most of all I was seduced by the little gentleman. His distinct personality and presence gave me an insight into the species’ potential, we attained a close relationship, and he is the reason why I ended up educating rabbit people.
Rabbits are the third most common domestic animals after dogs and cats. They are also one of the most misunderstood and underrated animals. Unfortunately, a lot of rabbits suffer due to lack of and incorrect knowledge amongst both pet owners and veterinarians, and rabbits’ health and behavioural needs are rarely met.
The rabbit’s history as livestock is probably why many still are kept in unsuitable hutches with a diet and lifestyle that are unsuitable for the rabbit’s health and welfare. In addition, rabbits are a species that fill numerous different roles worldwide. They are hated as pests and loved as pets. They are bunnies in cartoons and celebrated in children books, they are bred and kept for their flesh and fur, and they are widely used as both laboratory animals and for entertainment. Regardless of how we classify them, all these rabbits have the same needs, and whatever category we put them in, they will suffer from poor husbandry and enjoy well- adapted living conditions.
Most illnesses that affect domesticated rabbits are a direct or indirect result of suboptimal nutrition, and this was sadly also the case with Petter. I followed the advice of various pet stores and listened to marketing from the pet food industry, which resulted in a constipated and acutely ill rabbit. At 2 years of age, his digestion could no longer handle this unsuitable diet, and he was suddenly incapable of moving and close to death. Visits to different veterinary clinics, where they lacked both knowledge and equipment to treat rabbits shocked me, but after steadily feeding Petter with liquids over the next few days, he pulled through. This was the start of the Norwegian edition of Rabbit Behaviour, Health and Care, Den Store Kaninboka.
How could it be that it was so hard to get correct information about such a common animal? Why did anyone produce unhealthy food that was both sold and recommended in shops one trusted and would think had better knowledge? Why couldn’t the veterinarians treat rabbits, and why did so many people keep their companion rabbit outside in a hutch?
If there was anything Petter had taught me, it was how smart, sensitive, humorous, curious and happy rab- bits can be. As a free-range house rabbit he lived like most cats and dogs, and he remained harmonious and affectionate his whole life. However, everyone who came to visit was surprised that a rabbit was roaming free in the house; they had never heard of such a thing before. They were also surprised at how confident, out- going and fun he was, since most people had the opinion that rabbits were boring animals, just sitting in a cage. They said he was like a dog. I said he was like a rabbit who was allowed to be a rabbit.
I sought to increase knowledge and understanding of the rabbit in all areas that could influence the species`welfare, and so I began to study and provide knowledge to others with an interest in rabbits. I wanted more people to experience a rewarding life whit their companion animal as well, and the web resource www.kanin.org was established in 2006. It was the first forum for companion rabbits in Norway, and the need for knowledge seemed to be enormous. Through dialogue and guidance of rabbit woners for several years, I obtained a solid foundation for knowing what kind of information people were looking for, what they needed to know and what was important to convey. Through practical experience in the Norwegian animal charity, Dyrebeskyttelsen, I acquired, in addition to the scientific knowledge, valuable experience in terms of dealing with different rabbits and various challenges.
Focusing on what is best for each individual rabbit, I have studied different major approaches and attempted to provide as comprehensive an understanding of the species as possible. With a degree in psychology, I was in particularly interested in behaviour and learning, and concentrated on understanding natural rabbit behav- iour in order to offer them suitable living conditions in a domestic setting. Widespread problems could easily be solved when taking their health and prey behaviour into consideration.
In the introduction to Den Store Kaninboka, I was hoping to increase knowledge on rabbits and change attitudes towards the misunderstood species in all Scandinavia. I am happy to notice that it has been a popular book, which succeeds as intended; readers are exposed to another view and approach towards rabbits. They are then able to understand their behaviour, health, social needs and welfare, to see them as individuals, which in turn helps them to provide for those needs and to improve welfare of the population, reducing the incidence of neglect and abandonment.
There had never been a welfare- and knowledge-oriented rabbit society in Scandinavia, so in September 2013, I established the Norwegian Rabbit Association, Norges Kaninforening. The Norwegian Rabbit Association is an organization that seeks to increase rabbit knowledge for all involved with the species. We are working to improve rabbit welfare by providing information on rabbit care, in addition to improving the level of knowledge and awareness in veterinarians, pet stores, government and relevant control authority and organizations. I am happy and proud to say that we have already influenced and written the Norwegian Food Safety Authority’s brochures on rabbits, an important step in standarizing good rabbit knowledge. We work across the country and are also involved in international issues where rabbits are concerned.
As an author with a relatively small national language, I am excited and thrilled about the opportunity to publish a book in English. People and rabbits face similar challenges worldwide, and I am appreciative of the possibility to reach out to even more readers. With assistance from Richard Saunders, we have made the necessary adaption for the international market, and I am beyond gratitude for his help and support. He has read through all the text, made invaluable comments and additions, and probably struggled with my occasion- ally creative and bad spelling.
At the time of writing I am living with my four beloved house rabbits: Harald, Even, Melis and Mandel. Very attentive readers might find pictures of them in the book. Please follow me and my rabbits at Instagram@ maritemiliebunny.
Rabbit Behaviour, Health and Care has a Facebook site, which is also the case for Den Store Kaninboka. I strive to be available at both, so see you there!
