Rabbit Rescue Group Seeking Prosecution of Cruelty Case

Rabbit Rescue Group Seeking Prosecution of Cruelty Case (richmond / point / annex)

RICHMOND, Calif. (July 28, 2004) ... House Rabbit Society (HRS), a
national nonprofit organization headquartered in Richmond, CA, rescued a
rabbit this weekend who had been duct-taped to explosives and thrown in
an East Bay lake.

HRS was initially alerted to the situation last week by an online
posting containing photos of a bedraggled and terrified rabbit
apparently being retrieved from Lake Don Castro in Castro Valley. The
rabbit was wrapped in duct tape, and five young people had allegedly
attached explosives to her before throwing her into the water.
According to investigators, the fuse on the explosives was lit but did
not detonate. The teens had allegedly taken the rabbit - a family pet
named Lucky - to the lake with the intent to blow her up and document
the atrocity with a camera.

HRS alerted the East Bay Regional Parks District Police, and officers
confiscated the rabbit and placed her in HRS care. Detectives completed
their investigation and submitted the report to the Hayward District
Attorney today. The individuals will be charged with Penal Code 597,
Cruelty to Animals. This is a felony.

HRS Shelter Director Erin Williams stated, "The cruelty that Lucky
suffered through is nothing short of sadistic. While being taped and
thrown in a lake was undoubtedly terrifying and horribly cruel to the
rabbit, the use of live explosives is incredibly disturbing. The fact
that these individuals tortured and nearly killed an animal and took
photos is shocking."

Lucky is currently in HRS foster care and is in good condition.
Although Lucky lived through this horrible incident, she has shown since
her rescue that she is still willing to trust people. HRS will provide
her with any medical care that she may need, and the organization plans
to find this special rabbit a loving, permanent home.

HRS urges the Hayward District Attorney Tom Rogers (510-670-5100) to
hold the perpetrators accountable for the cruelty inflicted on this
rabbit. Williams added, "Any cruelty inflicted upon an animal is simply
unacceptable. The abuse of Lucky is awful enough, but the fact that
they were actually proud enough of their actions to document this
torture is horrifying. These individuals pose a serious threat to other
animals, and they must be held responsible."

HRS is seeking donations for the care of Lucky and rabbits like her, as
well as loving homes for homeless rabbits. For updates regarding this
case, please check http://rabbit.org/rabbit-center/index.html

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What You Can Do:

Contact the Hayward DA and ask that his office prosecute these young
people to the full extent of the law.

Tom Rogers
Hayward District Attorney
24405 Amador Street - Room 103
Hayward 94504
510-670-5100
FAX 510-670-5159