Holyoke, MN Abuse Case
MCRS volunteer Karen S. took a call to us a few weeks ago that may have made all the difference for a few abused bunnies. Doug from Holyoke, MN had witnessed his neighbors take their bunnies out in the yard and begin using them for target practice with 22 caliber pistols.
"As soon as I heard the shots I ran out the door and to the fence which separates the property lines about forty feet away. Even as I yelled at them, one continued to fire into a small grey rabbit until he ran out of bullets. The poor little things crawled through the fence where my friend could grab it.
"It was covered in blood and we took it back to our bunny run area and let it lay in the shade.
"After the sheriff came out and took statements I was able to examine the bunny a little better. I was surprised it was still alive so I cleaned the wounds as best I could and wrapped its leg. We put it in our outdoor cage with food and water and expected to find it dead in the morning.
"It was still hanging in there when I got up, and we had caught one of the other rabbits that had been lucky enough to make it through the fence. I loaded them up and took them to the local animal shelter. They called me later in the day to say they would take the uninjured rabbit but would put the the other one down.
"Not wanting to see such a fighter be put down, I picked it up and took it to a local vet. They examined it and said one bullet had passed through the upper cheek and out the lower, but didn't break the jaw. The other had gone though the rear leg and only chipped the bone. They stitched her up and sent her home with pain killers and antibiotics.
"She looked very rough for a few days, but now just a week and a half later, she is looking very strong and happy. We have named her Scarlett O'Hare and when she is strong enough she will join Willy, Zetta and P. Doty, our other rabbits.
"The district attorney contacted me to say they would file a misdemeanor gun charge against one of the people. None of the humane societies or animal abuse groups has returned my calls."
MCRS contacted Beth Jett of Fox 21 in Duluth, who got in touch with Doug and did a story on the incident. The story aired Friday night and is now available online. Beth tells MCRS she's going to follow up with law enforcement about the charges Doug's neighbor may face, and she plans to go to his house and confront him with cameras rolling. "I can't believe such cruelty lives so close," Beth commented.
At least one of the abused bunnies has found a happy ending. Doug says, "Scarlett is getting stronger every day and yesterday started standing up on her hind legs. She has also discovered that if she stands up and bangs against the top of the cage, someone will come and play with her.
"She sleeps curled up in a ball, which I think she got from watching our cat who sleeps near her. (He adopted her when we brought her home.) I've never seen any of our other rabbits sleep like this so I don't know if it's a normal rabbit thing or not.
"We will be taking her out to the outside run soon so she can build up her strength and she is slowly meeting the other bunnies. I'll keep you informed of how she does."
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