Nexnet

The third annual Burgess National Rabbit Week will take place from Saturday 24 to Friday 30 January 2009. A hugely popular initiative amongst rabbit-loving consumers, news of last year’s week reached an audience of almost 22 million, on the back of an effective PR and marketing campaign. In 2009, retailers are being urged to capitalise on the widespread consumer support that has built up over the past two years, by holding events or activities in-store to help raise awareness of responsible rabbit ownership.

 

Naomi Chatterley, consumer interaction manager at pet food producer Burgess, which developed the initiative, said: “Rabbits are the third most common furry pet in the UK, and are growing in popularity all the time. Despite their very best intentions, many new rabbit-owners are simply unaware of the high levels of care that rabbits require, particularly when it comes to diet and nutrition. Rabbits are a long term commitment, and have been known to live for ten years and more. We want to ensure that all pet rabbits get to enjoy the long, happy lives that they deserve, in the best of health possible. That is why we developed Burgess National Rabbit Week - to try and address the problem by educating rabbit-owners and potential rabbit-owners about these wonderful little furry pets.”

 

 She continued: “Ideally we would like to see owners buy their rabbit’s food and equipment from specialist retailers and vets’ practices, so they can access expert help and advice at the same time. We’re confident the week will encourage consumers to do this. We have built up huge support among vets’ practices, and we hope that retailers will also get behind the initiative in 2009.”

  

In 2009 the theme for Burgess National Rabbit Week is fibre. The focus will be on spreading the message that rabbits are ‘fibrevores’, and require extremely high levels of fibre to maintain good dental, digestive, and emotional health and wellbeing.

 

The best way to ensure rabbits get all the fibre and nutrients they need is through the Excel Feeding Plan – the number one veterinary recommended brand for small animals. The plan promotes the five elements required to ensure a complete, high fibre diet for rabbits. It includes extruded nuggets of food that help prevent selective feeding, along with plenty of good-quality hay in the form of Forage Excel or Excel Herbage. Excel Nature Snacks, which promote emotional wellbeing and bonding, complete the plan, along with fresh vegetables and plenty of clean water.

 

Burgess National Rabbit Week 2009 will follow the Bradford Excel Small Animal Show, which takes place in Harrogate on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 January. The show is the largest of its type in the country, with more than 3,000 rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, mice and rats on display last year.

 

Log onto www.burgessnationalrabbitweek.com for further information. Retailers can register to receive news updates, and marketing materials and advice will be made available through the site.

Image caption: TV personality and rabbit lover Ingrid Tarrant with celebrity vet Matt Brash, pictured at last year’s Bradford Show.

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Issued on behalf of Burgess, www.burgesssupafeeds.co.uk, by Nexnet PR, Leeds, www.nexnet.co.uk. For further information call Nexnet on 0113 247 0029 or email carole.jackson@nexnet.co.uk or katrina.gill@nexnet.co.uk.