3 Bunnies Rabbit Rescue - Bunnies in the News

On this page we list some of the cases in the news about rabbits and in many cases, some of the cruel treatment they endure at the hands of people. We present this information in the hopes of educating people as to the plight domestic rabbits face, and also to hopefully help people understand why we rescue such animals whenever possible.

Pet-Abuse.com Latest News

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ December 29, 2005: Rabbit Killer: Reward Offered by the Humane Society of Canada (HSC) - The Humane Society of Canada (HSC) is offering a $1,000 reward though its Victims of Cruelty program for information that leads to the conviction of those responsible for killing a family's pet rabbits in Gordon Head. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ December 26, 2005: Rabbits make great pets, but most of us aren’t as familiar with a rabbit’s needs as we are a cat or a dog. Surprisingly, rabbits require more care than you might expect. Here are a few ideas to help you get started. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ December 25, 2005: A rabbit round-up is planned for next month at Woodland and Green Lake parks to relocate a rabbit population that, while cute as heck, is wreaking havoc on park property by digging holes and tunnels that damage trees and fields. The population, believed to peak at about 500 in the summer, likely got its genesis when someone abandoned their pets to let them run free. But the species is domesticated and therefore ill-suited for the wild. Sadly, many of the bunnies meet their maker after meeting a predator. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ December 23, 2005: Animal Shelter Treats Rabbit For Frostbite - The manager of an animal shelter in Westmoreland County is experiencing a first. She's treating a domesticated rabbit that suffered severe frostbite. A rabbit expert told the animal shelter if the pet wasn't rescued from the cold that he could have lost his ears to frostbite. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ December 22, 2005: I'm one of many rabbits abandoned this winter - Animal sanctuaries in the Midlands are being overwhelmed by a boom in abandoned rabbits. The Small Animal Advisory Service (SAAS), RSPCA and Rabbit Rescue Centres throughout the country are reporting a surge in the number of rabbits being abandoned this winter. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ December 20, 2005: Pets are often seen as unique Christmas gifts, but people who work in animal shelters say it's not a good idea. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ December 16, 2005: Rabbit torture case to go ahead - A man accused of torturing to death a number of rabbits and a guinea pig has lost an application to have the charges dismissed on mental health grounds. Brendan Francis McMahon, 36, is charged with 18 counts of aggravated animal cruelty. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ December 16, 2005: Wascally wabbits need foster homes - Baby bunnies confiscated from flea market overwhelming Oakland shelter - Awww, the iddy biddy cuuuute widdle bunny wunnies ... No. No, stop it! This is serious business. It's nowhere near spring, but the Oakland animal shelter is awash in baby bunnies - about 30 little critters that were confiscated from a local flea market where they were being sold a couple of weeks ago. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ December 15, 2005: Tracy man comes to rabbits' rescue - A retired engineer, Larry McClelland devotes his time to fostering house rabbits. McClelland's rescue mission began three years ago, when he rescued his first rabbit. Since then, he has saved more than 14 rabbits, and he has placed seven of them in homes -- all without outside funding. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ December 13, 2005: 'Bunny Hunter' medical students face censure over rabbit's online autopsy - MIYAZAKI - A group of medical students from Miyazaki University have been suspended and face further punishment for posting on a blog the results of an autopsy they performed on a dead rabbit, together with crude comments related to the creature, university officials said. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ December 12, 2005: New database of animal cruelty - PEOPLE who are convicted of animal cruelty are to have their names put on a register which will be available to police, local authorities and the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA). Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ December 9, 2005: Strength in numbers - Endangered rabbits raised in pens released in wild - The paparazzi lined up for her big debut, but she didn't stop to pose. Once the foot-long brush rabbit hit the dirt, she zigged, zagged and disappeared. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ December 9, 2005: Office turned into hutch as rabbits invade - Animal welfare workers have had to convert an office building into a giant hutch after a massive rise in the number of homeless rabbits. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ December 3, 2005: RSPCA investigates rabbit dumping - The RSPCA said one adult rabbit was struggling to fend off attacking crows when it was rescued from the moors near Yelverton in Devon on Wednesday. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ November 26, 2005: Deadly disease may claim 9 out of 10 rabbits in UK - Worst outbreak of myxomatosis for years and high cost of vaccinating pets threaten to destroy population of 37.5 million. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ November 24, 2005: Bestiality charges dropped, mutilation charges remain, for drug addict financier Brendan Francis McMahon in Australia. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ November 22. 2005: Authorities raid Antioch pet store - Officers shut down a popular pet store in Hickory Hollow late Tuesday afternoon on suspicion of animal cruelty. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ November 13, 2005: The Woodland Park rabbits are about to be rounded up. But park officials say the bunnies are not doomed. They’re going to a sanctuary in Redmond. At a meeting Thursday, the parks board listened to plans to trap, sterilize and relocate an estimated 300 to 500 rabbits that live in and around Seattle’s Woodland Park. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ November 11, 2005: Dog hit, fish and rabbits killed during burglary - Law enforcement officials are investigating a string of disturbing cases involving break-ins, burglary and animal mutilation in a Central Ohio town. Police said there are at least eight similar cases in which local teenagers are the top suspects. Read more. Pet-Abuse.com article.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ November 8, 2005: All creatures great and small - Nashville’s homeless pets have major organizations like Nashville Humane Association and Happy Tales Humane among other independent and breed-specific rescue groups on their side. But a couple of other interesting nonprofit groups operate quietly on behalf of under-served pet populations. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ November 1, 2005: Critters abandoned in Buttonwillow - numerous cats and rabbits left behind when renters are evicted from property. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ October 28, 2005: Animal Cruelty Hits Close to Home - A California-based animal welfare organization embarks on a project to illustrate the pervasiveness of animal cruelty by pinpointing incidents across the country in full color interactive maps. Read more. Pet-Abuse.com.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ October 28, 2005: Bun roamin' - A COUPLE have turned their North Wales semi into a rest home for abandoned and unwanted bunnies. Jay and Tom Evans even set up their own website to keep other rabbit lovers up to date with the residents. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ October 28, 2005: Police Arrest Suspect In Torture Of Phoenix, the Rabbit Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ October 28, 2005: Rabbit Rescuers Need Help - Caroline Lyn and Peter Knickels, who have run a rabbit sanctuary since 1999, are looking for good homes for over 70 rabbits. The sanctuary is a private organization run by Hess and Knickles. Recently the couple were evicted because they were unable to pay their rent and had to relocate to a temporary shelter. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ October 27, 2005: Reward rises in the case of rabbit, goat cruelty - It has been a week since an intruder at a New Hope Hills residence shot and killed two pregnant goats and stomped to death seven rabbits. While no one has been arrested for the crime, the reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction has grown. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ October 26, 2005: Something bunny's going on ear - LITTLE Ben and Rosie Reynolds cuddle the newest additions to the family's distinctive duo of baby bunnies. The friendly balls of fluff are almost unique from other rabbits because one has only one ear, while the other has none at all. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ October 25, 2005: A teenager has appeared in court accused of throwing a white rabbit into an alligator pool at a zoo. Damien French, 19, from Colwyn Bay is charged with cruelty to the rabbit at the town's Welsh Mountain Zoo earlier this month. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ October 24, 2005: Pet-store burglary looks like inside job - Thieves broke into a pet store in Salt Lake over the weekend, taking an estimated $10,000, more than a dozen rabbits and a rare tortoise in what the owner said bore the marks of an inside job. Read more. Commentary
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ October 24, 2005: Barryville family fights dogs after rabbits attacked - Flopsy was dead by the time the ruckus woke up Miles Barnett. Stepping out into the cold dark around 5 a.m. on Saturday, Barnett found a black-and-white pit bull in his yard and a dead bunny on his porch. Flopsy, one of the Barnett family's four rabbits, never had a chance - the dog pulled her right from the cage. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ October 24, 2005: Bunny owners hop to convention in New Rochelle - Bunny lovers from all over the tri-state area got together yesterday to learn the ins and outs of caring for house rabbits. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ October 21, 2005: Intruder shoots two goats and stomps seven rabbits - While the family was away Wednesday, someone entered Meyers' property, passing through two separate fences to get to his goat pen. The intruder shot and killed two visibly pregnant goats, then pulled seven rabbits from their cages and stomped them to death. It was the Meyers' 11-year-old daughter, Shayna, who discovered the bodies. Read more. Pet-Abuse.com article.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ October 14, 2005: Rabbit killed, woman choked - A man killed his family's pet rabbit early Oct 14 during a fight with his wife at their North Lufkin home, police said. Read more. Pet-Abuse.com article.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ October 13, 2005: Kiwi accused out on bail in rabbit sex case - A former Auckland finance executive charged with bestiality and aggravated cruelty against rabbits and a guinea pig, remains free on bail, angering an Australian animal rights group who fear Brendan Francis McMahon could continue his alleged offending. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ October 12, 2005: Woman Given Deadline For Pet Rabbits - A Warren woman is looking for a new home for her rabbits after a visit from animal control, according to Local 4 reports. Authorities came to Lisa Fitch's home after receiving complaints from neighbors about the smell from the rabbits. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ October 10, 2005: Pet Rabbit Doused in Lighter Fluid, Lit on Fire - House Rabbit Society (HRS), a national nonprofit organization headquartered in Richmond, CA, rescued a rabbit last week who teenagers had allegedly soaked in lighter fluid and set on fire. Read more. Pet-Abuse.com article.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ October 6, 2005: 449 animals seized in hoarding case - Following up on a complaint, the Waupaca sheriff's department searched a house along Highway 54 in the town of Royalton. They described what they found as "beyond belief." Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ September 27, 2005: 42 animals seized in hoarding case - The Lehigh County Humane Society removed 42 abandoned and neglected animals, mostly cats and dogs, from a home in Upper Milford Township on Sept 27 and plan to charge the former occupant with 60 to 70 counts of animal cruelty. The animals were found on property rented in the 5900 block of Furnace Hill Road by Peter Piriano. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ September 24, 2005: Sadists torture and kill childs rabbit - SADISTIC fiends have tortured and killed a Chiltern girls pet rabbit before throwing it in the towns lake. Maddison Rowland, 8, found her beloved bunny Tye floating in Lake Anderson on Thursday. The rabbit was a gift for her seventh birthday in January last year. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ September 21, 2005: Bunnies make good company - Bunnies are sadly overlooked as companion animals. They wait at shelters to be adopted even longer than cats. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ September 13, 2005: - Rabbit toss results in cruelty citation. Lawrence Police cited a 22-year-old Lawrence man for cruelty to animals earlier this month after he allegedly threw a pet rabbit off a balcony while at a party at Hawks Pointe apartments in the 1400 block of West Seventh Street. Read more. Pet-Abuse.com article.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ September 13, 2005: Neglect of dogs, kittens, rabbits, some found dead - Barrie, ON (CA) - Two Barrie residents were charged with 16 counts of cruelty to animals after police officers found two dogs, three kittens and a rabbit dead in a Dunlop Street apartment in September. Read more. Pet-Abuse.com article.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ September 12, 2005: Warning by RSPCA chief after animals are dumped. A KITTEN and a family of rabbits were dumped by heartless owners, triggering a warning from an RSPCA chief. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ September 11, 2005: Things are hopping at Virginia Beach Animal Control. That's because they now have 59 rabbits. They're cute, cuddly and soft. But officers say a Kempsville couple wasn't feeding them. Donna Goodson and Earl Wishop are charged with animal cruelty. The rabbits were found in dirty, homemade cages. Sharp wires were jutting out. One bunny had to be euthanized. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ September 1, 2005: Exotic animals seized in neglect case - An anonymous animal cruelty call late afternoon, September 1, 2005, led to an SPCA investigation of an Alamo Place residence, where SPCA officials found numerous reptiles and other animals in near-starving conditions. Among the reptiles were a boa constrictor, a Savannah monitor, an iguana, and two geckos; other animals included a rabbit and a quail. The animals were seized by the SPCA this afternoon. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ August 30, 2005: Homeless woman surrenders rabbits - A homeless woman agreed today to surrender 31 of her 36 rabbits that she's been pushing around town, loaded on a shopping cart. The surrender follows weeks of complaints from the public. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ August 29, 2005: Animals rescued from Williamson location - Over 120 goats, rabbits, guinea pigs, ducks and chickens were taken from the Williamson home of Mary Roller. Investigators say, Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ August 27, 2005: 19 animals seized in hoarding case - On Sept 1, the Dog Warden took 27 animals into custody in Glen Easton. The move follows officials' second trip in a week to the property where conditions are described as unimaginable. We're told it's not the first time Albert Chambers of Moundsville has lost custody of his animals. Chambers faces several counts of animal cruelty. Pet-Abuse.com article. Chambers is currently in jail after being charged with 39 midemeanors, 37 for animal cruelty. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ August 23, 2005: 32 sick, neglected rabbits dumped - For the second time in three weeks, a herd of rabbits in deplorable condition have been dumped at Palo Alto’s bowling green. Residents out for an early morning stroll last Sunday discovered 18 more rabbits at the green, which are in even worse shape than the first group, according to a city animal services official. Read more. Pet-Abuse.com article.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ August 22, 2005: Over 120 animals seized in hoarding case - A Wayne County woman who pleaded guilty to abusing more than 230 animals at her Williamson farm may once again be charged with animal cruelty. Wayne County animal abuse investigators seized more than 120 animals from Mary Roller's Pease Road property in August 2005. Investigators say they took goats, rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens, ducks and cats after they were found suffering from disease and mistreatment. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ August 19, 2005: 40 animals seized, 40 more found dead in hoarding case - As many as 16 animal cruelty charges were filed on Aug 19 against 61-year-old Edward Hall, whose East Side property was strewn with dead and nearly dead animals, an investigator says. Lorrie Byo, Animal Charity humane investigator, said that there was a scramble to house nearly 40 live animals found at 1334 Lansdowne Boulevard. She said roughly 40 more were found dead. Pet-Abuse.com article.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ August 19, 2005: Hoarding - 30 animals, some found in freezer - Responding to smells and reports of urine and feces, Burnett County Health and Human Services condemned a house on Peterson Road Aug. 19, after finding multiple animals, dead and alive, inside and outside the property. Pet-Abuse.com article.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ August 19, 2005: Pet shop bail vow by rabbit case man - A FINANCE company director yesterday promised not go anywhere near a pet shop if a court would release him on bail as he awaits multiple bestiality charges. But Brendan Francis McMahon, 36, remains in custody pending a mental health assessment. Read more. Pet-Abuse.com article
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ August 14, 2005: Cruel owners let their rabbit starve to death in this squalid hutch - A PET rabbit lies dead in his filthy, ramshackle hutch after weeks without food. This appalling sight is becoming more and more common as new figures show bunnies are the most neglected of all pets. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ August 12, 2005: Swap Meet fire killed hundreds of animals - Hundreds of animals perished in the Oxnard Swap Meet fire, which fire officials on Thursday said is still being investigated. The 268 animals that died were at a pet store that burned in the fire on July 30 at 3501 S. Saviers Road. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ August 12, 2005: Man charged over dead rabbits - A SYDNEY man was today charged with cruelty and bestiality after 17 dead rabbits and a guinea pig were found in and around a central Sydney office building. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ August 2, 2005: Instead of a car, 28 rabbits are parked in Valerie Madison’s garage. She has six more in her house. "It didn’t start like this," said Madison, overlooking the 3-by-5-foot pens sprawled across the garage floor. "They each used to have more room." Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ July 21, 2005: There were rabbits, rabbits everywhere, at the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society in June, and no room in the inn for any more. Worse yet, workers feared they were going to have to do something they had not done in five years. They probably were going to have to euthanize some of them. Happily, that did not happen. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ July 19, 2005: 13-year-old who beat his neighbor's rabbits to death with chunks of concrete and nails and later snatched a purse from another neighbor is sent back to San Francisco for sentencing, both for killing the rabbits and for felony robbery (to which he pled guilty). Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ July 14, 2005: Pet store owner faces animal cruelty charges - A West Kittanning pet store owner, who authorities say kept his store open for three weeks without electricity, faces four counts of cruelty to animals for allegedly failing to maintain a proper habitat for 229 animals at the store. Read more. Pet-Abuse.com article.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ July 10, 2005: The Jersey County Fairgrounds were a hopping place Saturday. The weeklong, 136th annual fair kicked off about 9 a.m. with the inspection of a sea of rabbits. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ July 6, 2005: The Walkersville Volunteer Fire Department is hosting a carnival where live rabbits are being given away as prizes. They have a permit from the Maryland Department of Agriculture, and calls to the animal control and police agencies in the area resulted in welfare checks for the rabbits, but we were unable to stop the give-away. We can thank Vicki Hunter for providing the unfortunate animals for this event.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ June 30, 2005: Bridget Cole's sentence put off because she failed to show up for a meeting with the probation service. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ June 24, 2005: Janine Marie Cazares, operator of a backyard concentration camp for rabbits, ordered to pay restitution to the Hayward Animal Shelter, despite her efforts to dodge her responsibilities. Next hearing is July 22, 2005. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ June 23, 2005: Animal horror - Jeni Harvey - DEAD animals were feasted upon by rats after they were left to rot in a former rabbit sanctuary. Officers from the RSPCA went to the Doebuck sanctuary, on Greengate, earlier this month and removed the animals when the owner decided to retire. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ June 23, 2005: 70 rabbits seized from backyard breeder - Seventy exotic rabbits sitting in filthy cages were rescued on June 23 from a home-breeding operation in Mahtomedi, officials said. Animal-control officer Richard Ruzicka was on patrol on June 22 when he spotted empty animal cages by the side of a house on Loretta Lane. Pet-Abuse.com article.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ June 13, 2005: More than 350 animals have been found at residential premises in Norfolk. The 131 dogs, 48 cats, 80 rabbits and 86 guinea pigs were found at a property in Cromer on June 13. A spokeswoman said two people had been cautioned by the RSPCA and vets were examining the animals. She said some of them may have to be put down. Read more. Pet-Abuse.com article.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ June 11, 2005: Abandoned rabbits increasing - Chance the rabbit was found abandoned in a hutch outside of Philomath last week. The abandonment case is the second one this spring where a rabbit was found with a dead companion. Read more. Pet-Abuse.com article
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ June 10, 2005: Rabbit killer, 13, held in purse snatch - this is turning out to be a case-study in fast-forward with this psychopath. In just a few months he has turned from torturing small animals to attacking humans. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ June 2, 2005: CUB Scout leader Bridget Cole has denied repeatedly dunking a rabbit named Lucky in bleach before it was bludgeoned to death. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ June 2, 2005: On June 2, 2005, SPCA Senior Investigating Agent Michael Armatys and Amy Monkelbaan, of the SPCA's Animal Rescue Team, removed 10 rabbits and three dogs from 617 Petan Dr.; an additional 12 rabbits were taken from the house early this afternoon by Armatys and Rescuer Lindsey Styborski. Read more. Pet-Abuse.com article. Case update
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ May 25, 2005: Show rabbits stolen from valley resident. All the Helena Valley resident is asking for is the safe return of her rabbits. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ May 21, 2005: Roy Shepstone, 27, of Hazel Street was charged May 21 with burglary, criminal mischief, cruelty to animals and killing animals. Police said Shepstone was found walking in the 100 block of Simon Drive carrying a television. Shepstone broke into a Simon Drive home and killed two rabbits before stealing the television, police said. Read more. Pet-Abuse.com article.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ May 20, 2005: Janine Marie Cazares, operator of a backyard concentration camp for rabbits, received sentencing today that could only be described as a slap on the wrist from an unsympathetic judge for running a concentration camp for rabbits, where starvation and disease were rampant. Read more. Pet-Abuse.com article
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ May 19, 2005: 8-year-old boy beats mother rabbit to death with baseball bat, in front of her two babies. These rabbits were abandoned and someone was trying to rescue them when this happened. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ May 17, 2005: An Ocean Springs woman who had faced animal cruelty charges in George County surrendered her abandoned pets to a Lucedale veterinarian on June 3. Betty Helsley, of Hunter St., appeared before Judge M.L. Goff in George County Justice Court Friday and requested possession of her animals, which were seized May 17 at property she owns in the Barton community. Pet-Abuse.com article.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ May 8, 2005: Family: Cab repeatedly ran over injured animal - Sunday may go down as a mother's day one Albuquerque family will never forget. The family says they were about to save an animal's life, but instead watched as an injured rabbit was intentionally run over three times by an Albuquerque taxi cab. Read more. Pet-Abuse.com article.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ May 4, 2005: For setting a policy that bans the use of rabbits, chicks, ducklings, and other animals for its Easter photo promotions and all other events in its Portrait Studios nationwide, department store chain Sears, Roebuck & Co. will receive PETA’s Certificate of Appreciation to display in its Hoffman Estates corporate headquarters. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ April 30, 2005: The Morgan County Humane Society is caring for 5 quail, 40 chicks, 32 rabbits and eight dogs taken from a Martinsville resident’s backyard and porch on South Grant Street a few days ago. Some of the female rabbits are pregnant, and as of Wednesday, there were three newborn bunnies in one of the cages... The owner of the property, Martin Chadder could be charged with animal neglect. To make a donation, or to volunteer some time, you may call the shelter, 590 W. Mitchell Ave., at (765) 349-9177. Read more. Pet-Abuse.com article
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ April 27, 2005: Teenager who brutally killed a pet rabbit sentenced today. First he set fire to the poor bunny, then dunked him in a bucket of bleach for several minutes, and then bludgeoned him to death. read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ April 18, 2005: Easter pets shipped to shelters - And so it has begun. Why would this year be any different? "How sad for the rabbits," said Robin Moore, spokesperson for Noah's Ark of Fayette County Humane Society in Pennsylvania. Noah's Ark sees about 25 "Easter bunnies" returned each year. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ April 13, 2005: Lucky's abusers plead No Contest and are sentenced to jail time. Article from local news. Read more about Lucky's rescue.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ April 8, 2005: Easter has just past, and I bet some people have baby chicks or bunnies that their kids received for gifts. Giving animals as a gift does not demonstrate good judgment, animals are not toys, and require a lifetime commitment. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ March 27, 2005: The Little America Hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah, gave away live rabbits to every child that attended the Easter brunch. Shelters and rescues in the area have already gotten calls from some of the perplexed recipients who don't know what to do with these rabbits now. Tell the hotel what you think! Apparently the Little America Hotel is competing for the distinction of being the dumbest establishment in business. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ March 27, 2005: The Renaissance Harborplace Hotel contacted the House Rabbit Society in Marlyand last week asking about having rabbits for the kids to play with at their Sunday Brunch. They had a hard time getting a hold of the guy who called. When the hotel called back, they said they had it taken care of. The hotel had purchased some rabbits and are going to raffle them off at the end of the brunch. If anyone else has time to write a polite protest letter or even call the hotel, please do. (link deleted - see note)
NOTE: Due to extensive response, the raffle was cancelled.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ March 25, 2005: Easter bunny gifts often go from pet store to animal shelter. It happens every year, unfortunately. Rabbit sales at local pet stores are expected to quadruple this week and animal shelters say many of the lops will end up clogging their centers in a few months. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ March 25, 2005: This may be the Easter season, but it's hardly the best of times for bunny rabbits in south Orange County. Unable to deal with the rabbits in any other way, residents are about to employ exterminators armed with pellet guns to thin their ranks. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ March 18, 2005: SaveToby is a hoax!! The rabbit is safe, the website was meant as a sick joke, and complaints abound. Don't worry - Toby is safe.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ March 18, 2005: Rabbit shot with darts on videotape - offender convicted! Pet-Abuse.com article.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ March 17, 2005: 13-year-old beats neighbor's rabbits to death with a brick. He is facing felony animal abuse charges. Read more. Your letters can help. The case number is CR# 05-015454.
Update: he was charged with misdemeanor animal cruelty charges in order to expedite getting him treatment. Read more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ March 16, 2005: Rabbits bludgeoned to death - Asia Grey's back yard full of round, furry bunnies was a regular source of distraction for a neighbor boy who she said killed two of them. Police said Wednesday the boy was cited and must appear in court to face a felony animal abuse charge. Pet-Abuse.com article.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ March 13, 2005: Kelly Sue Fancher pleaded guilty before Town Justice Sherrill Gallup to six counts each of "overdriving, torturing and injuring animals and failure to provide sustenance," all misdemeanors. Gallup delayed sentencing until May 10. Pet-Abuse.com article.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ March 13, 2005: An article in the Springfield Republican "Think twice before buying Easter bunny" (By Karl Rexer) warns against the impulse purchase of a live rabbit.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ March 11, 2005: Marin Independent Journal - Bunny love is a big commitment - see the actual newspaper article.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ March 10, 2005: The Salem County, NJ Animal Control office is investigating the abuse of several bunnies after a good Samaritan rescued them from the cold. A woman was able to gather up 19 rabbits that were dumped and scattered around her property, but two died overnight. The remaining are in boxes in her living room in Pedrickstown. And on March 11, an SPCA officer found at least five others dead on her property. Pet-Abuse.com article.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ February 23, 2005: 206 animals seized from puppy mill - Dozens of abused animals are looking for new homes after more than 200 malnourished dogs - most of them puppies - cats, and birds were rescued from a puppy mill in Tyler County. Officers seized 206 dogs, cats, rabbits, chickens and guinea pigs from the home. One of the dogs died. The others are being nursed back to health at the Houston Humane Society. Read more. Pet-Abuse.com article.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ February 17, 2005: In Manchester, N.H., police want to know who stuffed 20 rabbits in a duffel bag and left it on the front steps of an apartment. The person who found the animals told officers someone knocked on the door and left. Four of the rabbits have since died. The others, including many babies, are said to be in good health. A local city animal shelter is now caring for them. Pet-Abuse.com article.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ February 8, 2005: The Nebraska Humane Society had to take in more than 250 animals from a pet store Tuesday because the owner has been ticketed on suspicion of animal cruelty. The animals are mostly cats, but the group of critters also includes rabbits, lizards and fish, all from the Pets A'Mor pet store. Pet-Abuse.com article.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ January 30, 2005: Two wild rabbits beaten to death with baseball bat - A local animal rights group is hoping you can help track down those responsible for the senseless killings of defenceless animals. Two wild rabbits were bludgeoned to death on January 30 in a field off Hunter Court near Leckie Road. Read more. Pet-Abuse.com article.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ January 19, 2005: Guinea pig and rabbit cooked in school class. A Guinea pig and rabbit purchased from a Geauga County pet store ended up on plates at Ledgemont High School. A 16-year-old student skinned and cooked the animals during a living skills class on Wednesday, prompting student and parent complaints to the Thompson Township Police Department and Geauga Humane Society. Pet-Abuse.com article.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ January 18, 2005: A woman walking her dog came across a skinny white rabbit hopping across Gibson's Beach on Sunday, December 24. "This poor white rabbit was all skin and bone," said Audrey Hill, chairwoman of the Powell River Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Read more. Pet-Abuse.com article.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ January 5, 2005: Woman accused of animal neglect - More than 65 rabbits and numerous dogs, cats and goats that authorities rescued from a town of Hamburg residence last week were under the care of a woman recently sentenced to probation for failing to provide food for animals. The Marathon County Sheriff's Department has referred reports on its investigation of the woman, Mary E. Morse of 335 Highway FF, to the district attorney's office for review. Read more. Pet-Abuse.com article.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ January 3, 2005: Mark Wallace, of Hudson Valley, NY, is charged with aggravated animal cruelty, accused of killing and cooking his roommate's pet rabbit. Pet-Abuse.com article.