Angry viewers of BBC One's Sort Your Life Out have accused the reality show and its host Stacey Solomon of rabbit cruelty. Animal welfare groups have also expressed their concern - and said they were "very disappointed" by the most recent episode.
Wednesday night's show saw Stacey and the team help the Fall family. Mum Julia, dad Dan and their two children, Noah (9) and Rachel (4) have allowed their clutter to spiral out of control.
Stacey helps them sort through all their stuff and relinquish the things they no longer need. With Stacey’s help, the family pack all their possessions into boxes.
It turns out that they own 2,137 toys, 452 books, 13 guitars, 61 mugs and 1,274 tools. Dan lives with ADHD and struggles to let go of his guitars and tools.
Emotions ran high when expert organiser Dilly Carter presents the family with £2,000 in cash and cheques that they had lost in their overloaded home. However, viewers were angered to see the family's rabbits shoved outside in a hutch.
On Twitter, @thisisobjective wrote: "Stacey Solomon, What you did to those rabbits was absolute cruelty. They're not toys."
@shazie1979 tweeted: "BBC One, disappointed by the size of the rabbit hutch provided by the Sort Your Life out. I understand the program is not about pets, but research into what would be best housing should of taken place to show a correct representation."
@mcmoomin said: "Made the mistake of watching the end of Sort Your Life Out. Poor rabbits got kicked out of the conservatory into a crappy, tiny, non-weatherproofed hutch outside! Completely unsuitable and irresponsible"
@bethanrayanne said: "Enjoyed this tonight until the rabbits were kicked into the garden. That hutch is too small for anything other than a bolt hole!there's enough bad rabbit rearing without this encouragement".
Louise Martin said: "Stacey Solomon gutted to hear that your advocating housing rabbits in inappropriate housing in Sort Your Life Out. Shows like this could do so much to promote good animal welfare. Please rectify by spreading the news a Hutch is Not Enough."
Animal welfare charity The Anglican Society for the Welfare of Animals tweeted: "Very disappointed with the decision on rehousing the family pet rabbits on Sort Your Life Out. Stacey Solomon - you need to research the suffering endured by thousands of pet rabbits in small hutches."
Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund says: "Hundreds of thousands of pet rabbits are suffering. This is because commercially sold rabbit hutches spread the idea that hutches are sufficient housing for pet rabbits.
"They are not. Hutches are too small and can lead to the development of depression and physical deformities.
"To end this suffering, the sale of rabbit hutches needs to stop. Will you help us? Please sign and share our petition to bring an end to this torture many rabbits must call ‘home’. "
The Rabbit Welfare Trust's website says: "As part of our A Hutch is Not Enough campaign, we give information to owners to allow them to give their rabbits what they need to lead healthy and contented lives. It is heartening to know that ensuring the welfare of animals is protected by law, under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. The act sets out 5 basic welfare needs:
- Need for a suitable environment
- Need for a suitable diet
- Need to be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns
- Need to be housed with, or apart, from other animals
- Need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease.
"Keeping rabbits in a hutch would never enable an owner to meet these welfare needs. That’s why we always say… A Hutch is Not Enough.
"Rabbits should be housed in a safe and enclosed area of 3m x 2m x 1m high. The hutch, or sleeping area, forms a part of this total space, which should also include items of enrichment such as a digging tray, tunnels etc.
"The hutch should never be the sole accommodation for rabbits, they need constant (and that means 24/7) access to the wider overall space to allow them to exercise at will. Giving your rabbits access to all or part of a secure garden for “free running” sessions is great but this is in addition to our minimum size recommendations, not instead of."
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