Rabbits hanged, poisoned - Driffield, EN

Saturday, Jan 28, 2006

A devastated animal lover said heartless thugs hanged one of her pet rabbits only a day after fatally poisoning another. Heartbroken Zoe Ploughman, of North Street, Driffield, now fears for the safety of her remaining rabbits and other pets in Driffield after the double killings.

"These people are sick," the 28-year-old told the Driffield Post.

"If I am the first victim, there are going to be plenty more, families with children that will have pet rabbits.

"I can't believe what these people have done. I hope the police will find them and something will be done about this."

Zoe discovered five-year-old Buttercup had been poisoned when she found the rabbit lying lifeless in her hutch on Jan 28.

She believes that it was fed rat poison through the mesh of its cage.

The next day she found another of her rabbits - a six year old pedigree chinchilla rabbit named Tetley Two - strung up from the door of her garden shed.

Zoe said: "It was my birthday on Saturday and I was already upset about one rabbit being poisoned.

"Then they came back on Sunday night. The dog started barking and half past three but, because I was on my own I didn't dare look out or go to the door. Later when I went out to look, he was there hanging by a piece of blue string on my shed door.

"It has got me so annoyed. If I could find out who has done this, I would like to do the same to them."

Zoe, who has bred pedigree rabbits since she left school and also keeps cats and parakeets, has now been forced to keep her two remaining rabbits inside her home fearing the culprits may strike again, although she said she admitted she had no idea who would kill her pets.

She said that she may now have to give them up to a new owner outside of town for their own safety.

"It would be really upsetting and it has really been playing on my mind. It is heartbreaking that someone would do this to an animal. They have got no feelings."

Driffield police confirmed that they are investigating after Zoe reported the killings on Monday morning.

Police spokesman, Sergeant Dave Jenkins, said: "We have no suspects or witnesses at this time but we are taking this very seriously. We would appeal for anyone who may have information regarding this offence to contact us."

Anyone who may have seen anything suspicious over the weekend in the North Street area of Driffield should contact police on 0845 6060222.

References

• Driffield Today - Jan 31, 2006

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