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

Labour politician's call for training courses for rabbit owners labelled 'hare-brained'To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.This video can not be playedFigure caption, Mike Hedges says rabbit owners should undergo training coursesByAngharad ThomasBBC WalesPublished2 July 2026, 15:14 BSTUpdated 1 hour 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 BBC 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 approvalPublished1 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. 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 questi...