Chi's Legacy requests the protection of pet rabbits under The Domestic Animal Act and other Animal Welfare Laws in Victoria.

Rabbits are the 3rd most popular pet, but they are not protected under the Domestic Animal Act and other animal welfare laws. 

• Pet rabbits are being breed, sold or dumped in large numbers with no laws to prevent this. 
• Rescues are regularly called to catch dumped or released pet rabbits.
• Pet rabbits are breeding prolifically in the suburbs with no intervention from authorities due to a lack of laws. 
• Pet rabbits are being killed in rescues and pounds, due to the large numbers presenting there. 
• Most pets are less than one year old when discarded due to lack of laws and enforcement regarding their sale, ownership and welfare.

We ask the Victorian Government to

• develop laws to address the uncontrolled breeding and sale, which leads to dumping, killing or hoarding of these pets.
• Stricter licensing and selling protocols to ensure the correct sexing, knowledge and care is given to new owners as required with all pets and other exotics, such as birds and reptiles.
• Enforce laws regarding the dumping of pets.  Two intact rabbits can increase to 80 within 6 months.
• Enact compulsory desexing and microchipping to ensure accountability by owners

Chi's Legacy asks the Australian Government to include rabbits under the Domestic Animal Act to protect pet rabbits and to stop the abuse, neglect dumping or killing of our pet rabbits and the contributing that this causes to the feral rabbit population problem.  As an exotic pet, they require regulations to restrict uncontrolled breeding and regulations to control ownership as with other exotic pets.

Chi:  Chi was the first stray rabbit that wandered into our lives and taught us about this unique species and is the reason Rabbit Run-Away Orphanage exists today.