10/23/2026
Dumping Domestic Rabbits — Part One: They Are Not Wild
Releasing a domestic rabbit outside is not “setting them free.” It is abandonment — and in British Columbia, abandoning a pet rabbit is illegal.
Domestic rabbits are not the same as the wild cottontails we see around us. Wild rabbits have evolved with the instincts, camouflage and behaviours that help them survive in their natural environment. Domestic rabbits have been selectively bred by humans for generations and depend on people for food, shelter, safety and care.
When a domestic rabbit is abandoned outside, they can face:
• Predators such as dogs, cats and birds of prey
• Cars and other road hazards
• Diseases such as RHDV2, and parasites including fleas
• Extreme weather and lack of safe shelter
• Unreliable access to appropriate food and clean water
• Injuries without access to veterinary care
Dumping a rabbit where other domestic rabbits are living doesn't make abandonment safer. Rabbits can be territorial, and an unfamiliar rabbit may be chased, attacked or driven away. Bite wounds and other injuries can become serious and infected without treatment.
Imagine being a domestic rabbit, suddenly abandoned in an unfamiliar place. The familiar voices, gentle hands, regular meals and safety of a home are gone. In their place are unfamiliar sounds, strange animals and dangers around every corner. Rabbits are prey animals, naturally alert to threats, and being exposed to predators without a safe place to retreat can cause intense fear and stress. For a rabbit that once depended on humans for protection, being abandoned isn't freedom. It's a frightening loss of everything that once kept them safe.
Seeing domestic rabbits living outdoors can give the impression that they are doing just fine. Some do manage to survive. But surviving is not the same as thriving, and the presence of other abandoned rabbits does not make dumping another one humane.
If you can no longer care for your rabbit, please reach out to a reputable rabbit rescue or seek help finding a safe, responsible new home.
They trusted us to care for them. Abandonment should never be the price they pay for that trust.
