Rabbit abandonments skyrocket every summer: shelters are sounding the alarm.

They are the third most common pet in French homes, after dogs and cats. Yet, rabbits are also among the most frequently abandoned animals during the summer. In shelters specializing in exotic pets, requests for care have multiplied since the start of the school holidays, leading to overcrowding. Several associations explain that rabbits are often victims of impulsive purchases, particularly at Easter or to please children, before being abandoned when their owners discover the demands of caring for them.

Contrary to popular belief, a domestic rabbit can live between eight and twelve years. It requires sufficient space to move around, a specific diet consisting mainly of hay, regular veterinary care, and daily attention. Shelters also note that many animals arrive unsterilized, which encourages unwanted breeding and further exacerbates abandonment. Some facilities specializing in exotic pets report already being forced to refuse animals due to a lack of available space.

Accommodation facilities under severe pressure

While national statistics primarily distinguish between dogs and cats, shelters are seeing an increase in abandonments, also affecting exotic pets, of which rabbits represent a significant proportion. The French Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPA) reports that animal abandonments in its shelters rose by approximately 10% at the beginning of summer 2026, while several hundred exotic pets are taken in each year during the summer months. Specialized organizations are raising the alarm about a chronic shortage of foster families and volunteers to cope with this influx.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, abandoning an animal is an act of animal cruelty punishable by law. National awareness campaigns remind people that adopting a rabbit is a long-term commitment and that solutions exist before abandonment, such as boarding facilities, temporary foster homes, or associations that can support owners in difficulty. For animal shelters, prevention remains the best way to avoid these animals becoming the silent victims of each summer season.