Labour Senedd Member wants people to prove they can care for a rabbit before owning one
A Welsh Labour MS has called on the Senedd to require people to complete a training course before they are allowed to own a rabbit.
Mike Hedges MS (Welsh Labour, Gŵyr Abertawe) put the proposal to First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth during questions on animal welfare at the Senedd on Tuesday.
Mr Hedges set out a list of new animal welfare laws he wants the Welsh Government to bring in, with rabbit ownership sitting alongside bans on horse tethering, primate keeping, cage breeding of game birds and Larsen traps, and a requirement to microchip cats.
Under the rabbit proposal, prospective owners would need to complete a short course demonstrating they understand the needs of the animals before being allowed to keep them.
Mr Hedges told the Senedd:
“How we treat animals is a sign of the type of society we are and want to be. If we allow animals to be mistreated, either by ignorance or cruelty, then it reflects badly on us as a society.”
He added: “We must remember that the evidence from multiple scientific studies has helped us to understand that a wide range of animals are sentient beings. This means they have the capacity to experience positive and negative feelings such as pleasure, joy, pain and distress.”
The First Minister said Wales was “a nation of animal lovers” but did not commit to any of the specific measures Mr Hedges had listed. Mr ap Iorwerth pointed to cat microchipping as an example where Wales already has similar uptake to England without legislation and said the Government would keep the question of further action under review.
“Legislation is one route, and one that we will always be open to considering,” Mr ap Iorwerth said. “What we always need to do as a Government is monitor. If we’re lagging behind or we feel we need another string to our bow, well let’s look at other measures that we can take.”
The Welsh Government has committed to developing a science-led animal health and welfare plan in its manifesto, working with industry, operational partners and the third sector.
Mr Hedges was among nine Welsh Labour MSs returned at the May 2026 Senedd election, after the party suffered heavy losses under the new proportional representation system.
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