Animal lovers fear worst (From The Northern Echo)

Animal lovers fear worst

7:54am Saturday 14th March 2009 in

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ANIMAL lovers fear their rabbits have been stolen to give hunting dogs a taste for blood.

The rabbits were taken from their hutches in the early hours of Wednesday, from Stanley, County Durham.

Their heartbroken owners believe the people responsible may have set their dogs on them to make them better hunters.

Coco and Dandy were snatched from their hutch in Tees Crescent, leaving Jan Duffy and her daughter, Kayleigh, 13, devastated.

Mrs Duffy, a 38- year-old production operative, said: “We have had them for years and they are family pets. They are so tame they would not run away as quickly as wild rabbits.

“We have heard they are used to give the dogs a taste for blood.

“It is horrible and it is turning our stomachs thinking about what could be happening to them.”

Shop assistant Jakleen McClaren, 45, saw two youths looking in back yards hours before Gypsy, which belonged to her eight-year-old granddaughter, Sophie, was taken.

She said: “It is bad enough losing a pet to natural causes, but heartrending to think that someone nasty is taking them.

“How can anyone do this?”

The women have spoken to friends and neighbours and believe about ten rabbits have been stolen.

Police are investigating the thefts. Call 0345- 60-60-365 with any information.