Pet rabbit left behind by couple
A COUPLE who left their pet bunny to die behind they moved house without it have been banned from owning rabbits.
When Ben and Kelly-Ann Keable moved from James Reckitt Avenue, east Hull, last September they left their pet rabbit, called Fluff, because they said there was no room for him in the van.
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Pet rabbit Fluff was left behind
In total, Fluff, a grey rabbit, was left with no food or water for two weeks between September 10 and 24.
The RSPCA were called to Fluff's aid on September 24 and rushed him to a vets.
Sadly, despite feeding him with a syringe he died hours later from malnutrition.
Ben Keable, 29, admitted causing unnecessary suffering to an animal by failing to provide food and drink and the couple both admitted causing unnecessary suffering to an animal by failing to provide proper care.
Hull Magistrates' Court fined Ben £160 and ordered him to pay £100 costs while Kelly-Ann was fined £100 and ordered to pay £250 costs.
They were banned from keeping rabbits for three years.
Chairwoman of the magistrates, Wendy Thomas, said: "We find you have been negligent rather than deliberate in the care of your rabbit."
The rabbit weighed 900grams when it was found. It should have weighed 2.5kg.
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by amy, cottingham
Saturday, June 13 2009, 7:53PM
“nothing surprises me in this country any more. the people are sick for what they have done to this animal, but the courts are even sicker for not punishing people who are cruel to animals. so they cant keep a rabbit for 3 years but they are able to keep a cat, dog, bird, horse, guinie pig or any other animal and be allowed to treat it in the same way. the british law is discusting.”
by Mark, Bangkok
Saturday, June 13 2009, 3:28PM
“These two sound delightful. People must be queuing up to be friends with them. Dread to think what they are capable of in other areas of their lives.”
by rob, i despair
Friday, June 12 2009, 6:23PM
“Banned from keeping rabbits for three years eh.Well obviuosly they dont want to keep them or they would not have left it behind. So that's a real deterent innit. humph”
by CENSORED., Hull
Friday, June 12 2009, 5:11PM
“Where they BNP voters?”
by Ian Hale, Johannesburg, South Africa
Friday, June 12 2009, 3:15PM
“If they can knowingly do this to a defenceless animal, then they can/will do this to a child. May they both rot in hell and the idiot that fined them and banned them for 3 years from owning a rabbit for gods sake! Lock them up, So much for a so called country who respects and cares for animals let alone children. Also pity Patrick can't spell, kind of indicative!”
by carrot top, a burrow near you
Friday, June 12 2009, 3:04PM
“Unfortunately dispicable acts like this happen all to often, myself and my partner see cases like this regularly im afraid to say, we look after and rehabilitate rescued rabbits from the RSPCA, one of our own adopted rabbits is agrophobic as all he ever knew was a small cage, when he's outside he trembles and sits in a corner as he just isnt used to space...but hes slowly coming round.
Please if you see an RSPCA collecting tin give a few spare coppers it may not be much for you but it sure means a lot to these poor suffering animals.”
by Flopsy, Brough Development
Friday, June 12 2009, 12:37PM
“This is outrageous!! What is the country coming to!! I feel three years is inadequate - they should be banned from keeping furry herbivores and rodents for life!!”
by Jayne Wilkinson, Hull
Friday, June 12 2009, 12:24PM
“I'm sure it would have stood a better chance if they had let it out of its cage, and they should be banned for life.”
by Julie, Hull
Friday, June 12 2009, 12:21PM
“These people are just plain evil and should be banned from having ANY pets ever again. The fine should have been a lot more too. It might teach them a bit more of a lesson. Once bitten once shy!!!”
by Lily, Not at my desk
Friday, June 12 2009, 11:41AM
“What a hare raising tale and what was the magistrate rabbiting on about? They could have given it away or left its cage open but instead they did nothing and just hopped it.”