Cops hunt yobs who stamped on rabbit

Jul 23 2009 by John Rowbotham, Hamilton Advertiser

VILE yobs stamped on a baby rabbit when they raided a petting zoo popular with Lanarkshire youngsters.

They kicked in hutches, let out animals and also threw a chair at a llama.

It happened on Monday night and was the second raid on Small Animal Kingdom in Chatelherault Country Park in 24 hours.

On Sunday night, thieves broke into the small zoo’s complex and stole three ferrets.

Retired engineer John Robinson, who is a volunteer worker at the centre, said they planned to tighten their security.

“We will have to make sure we have the animals under lock and key at night,” he added.

“Children love to come here and handle the animals but if this happens again, I cannot see us lasting much longer.” Small Animal Kingdom is owned by Elaine Moodie and has a menagerie that includes snowy owl Mo, donkey Tintin plus a llama, pig, goats, rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas and an African Spurred Thigh Tortoise.

Mr Robinson (66), from Larkhall, said one male and two female ferrets were stolen from two cages that contained a total of eight ferrets.

“I think the ferrets were targeted,” he added. “They broke into one cage and took two females and then went to the other hutch and took the male. All three were the same off-white colour.”

Mr Robinson said there was more trouble for the centre the following night, adding: “They kicked in four of the rabbit hutches.

“One hutch contained a Himalayan-cross female rabbit and five six-week-old babies. One of the babies was killed and looked to have been stamped on.

“Another rabbit disappeared and we think it was probably killed by a fox.

“They also released a chipmunk which is still loose and we have had to set traps to try and catch it.”

Six of the eight rabbits that were in the hutches were recovered.

The cost of the damage and loss of the animals has been estimated at about £540.

A spokesman for police said: “We are continuing our inquiries into the attack on the rabbits at Small Animal Kingdom and wish to hear from anyone with knowledge of this sickening and despicable act. It may be that they start bragging about it. Whoever did this must be caught.”

They say the theft of the ferrets occurred between 4pm on Sunday and 9.30am Monday. It was between 5pm Monday and 9.45am next day that the rabbits were attacked.

Information to Hamilton Police Office, telephone 01698 483300.