Rabbit Awareness Week

The 26th April - 2nd May is Rabbit Awareness Week (also known as RAW). RAW was designed because rabbits are often seen as an easy pet to keep that need little attention and so they can be overlooked. They are easily overshadowed in the home as well as in the public eye (such as vets and pet shops) by the more demanding pets such as dogs and cats. RAW aims to raise awareness for rabbit care and health and to bring rabbits into the limelight for a week. The hope is to remind rabbit owners of the importance of checking the health of their pet and gives some pointers on what to look for and signs of an unhealthy rabbit.

This year, RAW is focusing on rabbit obesity. Advice is being given about diet, exercise, the health implications to overweight rabbits, how to check if your rabbit is obese, and how to help it to lose weight. One in three rabbits in the UK are obese so if you have a pet rabbit then take the time to look up this information and give your bunny a health check.

For more information about RAW and rabbit health, go to www.rabbitawarenessweek.co.uk

As a part of Rabbit Awareness Week, events are being run around the country and a large number of veterinary surgeries are running free bunny clinics where your rabbit can get a full health check for free, checking his/her weight, teeth, nails, etc.

Near Little Pets Hotel, Vale Veterinary Surgery on the Birmingham Rd in Kidderminster is running a free rabbit health check service throughout Rabbit Awareness Week. Just For Pets (near B&Q and next door to Netto) is having a "Bunny Bonanza Day" on Sunday 2nd May. As well as a raffle, kids activities and goody bags, they will have a vet nurse in between 12-1pm who will give a talk and a question and answer session for all of your bunny questions. The RSPCA are also running a national campaign during RAW to try to rehome numerous rabbits that have been found abandoned over the Easter period.

To find other vets running rabbit health clinics and talks, as well as other bunny events happening near you go to www.rabbitawarenessweek.co.uk/event-locator and enter your postcode.

Little Pets Hotel in the News

Little Pets Hotel is on the homepage of the local paper this week. The kidderminster Shuttle posted an article about Little Pets Hotel on their website at 8am on 12th April. This article was the 2nd most read news item on the site on that day and was also one of the 'Editor's Choice' articles of the day. The story can be viewed by clicking on the link below.

Kidderminster Shuttle Article

National Pet Month 3rd April - 3rd May

National Pet Month is a registered charity which aims to make people more aware of the responsibilities and benefits of pet ownership. It applies to all types of pet, from large to small. This year it is taking place from 3rd April - 3rd May.

The main aims of the charity are to:

• promote responsible pet ownership
• make people aware of the benefits of pets for people and of people for pets!
• increase public awareness of services available from professionals who work with animals
• raise awareness of the role, value, and contribution to society of working companion animals

Little Pets Hotel supports the charity and strongly agrees with its message. Check out our latest care tip on things to consider when you are deciding whether to get a new pet.

For more information about National pet Month, visit the official website at www.nationalpetmonth.org.uk

Near here, the Blue Cross Animal Sanctuary are running events at Stourbridge Library, a charity ball is being held in Birmingham in aid of Hounds for Heroes, there are numerous dog shows and a chance for children in Sedgley and Netherton to meet a dog or a cat at their local library. Pet Days are also being run at Countrywide stores all over the Midlands throughout April and May. For more information on these events and to find out about other events taking place near to you, visit nationalpetmonth.org.uk/events and enter your postcode to search.