Allergic rabbit stolen

A pet rabbit allergic to carrots and lettuce has been stolen – and the bunny's owners are worried it will die unless it's fed its special diet.
Brown and white bunny Gizmo was doted on by owner Kerry Anderton, 10, from Winster, Rickleton, Washington, an autistic schoolgirl, who was given the pet as an Easter present.

The family quickly learnt Gizmo would become sick after munching on carrots and lettuce, so Kerry dished out special rabbit food to keep her pet healthy. But in the early hours of Sunday, dad David found the rabbit had vanished from its hutch in their garden.

Now mum Diane is calling for the thieves to return her daughter's beloved bunny.

She said: "It is horrible what they have done. She absolutely loved it. I just can't explain how much she loved it. The rabbit has a special diet. If it eats carrots and lettuce it is sick so it needs special rabbit food. My husband told Kerry and she just broke her heart. We have explained to her that someone needed Gizmo more than she did and they did not have the money to buy one. But she keeps asking if the people who took it will know to give it special food."

Diane, who is a kitchen assistant at Rickleton Primary School, believes thieves came into the garden where a fence is being replaced. Now the family has offered a £50 reward for the rabbit's safe return.

Diane adds: "All I can say is, if they have taken it to look after it then it is fine, but it needs a special diet. If they have taken it for any other reason I can't say what I think of them. You wouldn't be able to print it. It is someone who knows we have a rabbit as we live in a cul-de-sac and you wouldn't be up here unless you lived here."

Anyone with information on Gizmo can contact the Andertons, tel: 415 3510.