Pet Rabbit Doused With Lighter Fluid - Set On Fire

[matcom]

<snip>

Animal control officials are looking for witnesses to identify the person responsible for pouring lighter fluid on a pet bunny and setting him on fire in the backyard of a West Vallejo home.
The sadistic Oct. 1 attack left the young male New Zealand mix rabbit with severe burns, which will most likely cause him to lose his ears.

Officials have an idea who attacked the bunny, a male juvenile, but need a witness statement to move forward with charges, said David Sidie, Benicia Vallejo Humane Society's director of animal control.

Meanwhile, the bunny, named Phoenix after the mythical bird who rose from the ashes, is being fostered in Mill Valley by a rabbit rescue group.

"This is one of the worst acts of animal cruelty I've seen and to such a nice rabbit. It makes you cry," said Marcy Schaaf, of Richmond-based House Rabbit Society, a national nonprofit rabbit rescue group. "I'm very disappointed. I'm hoping someone will come forward. I'm sure somebody wants to talk É I would like to see charges pressed. It's important to educate people that animal cruelty like this shouldn't be tolerated."

Phoenix was found with charred fur and cigarette burns singeing his white-and-black coat Oct. 1, by a neighbor of the owner, who lives on Rodgers Street. The rabbit still smelled of lighter fluid and his fur was tinged brown from the liquid, Sidie said.

The neighbor contacted the humane society, which took Phoenix to the veterinarian and then impounded him at the Vallejo shelter. "The case is at a standstill. We have somewhat of a suspect, but we don't have a witness," Sidie said.

"There were a group of teenagers together. But it was just one of the juveniles involved alone with the rabbit in the back of the house," he said.

The person authorities are looking at is an unidentified male juvenile. Animal control officials have interviewed the juvenile, but do not have enough to charge him with one count of felony animal cruelty, Sidie said.

http://www.timesheraldonline.com/ci_3109068#

[baldguy]

1. A future Republican President of the United States?

[Darth_Kitten]

2. sicko.

:mad:

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

3. All I can say is

WTF wasn't big enough.

WTF ?!!

[henslee]

4. "We'll do whatever it takes to get justice for this bunny."

Now that's the attitude I like. If I ever strike it rich, I am starting an American's most wanted for animal abuse.