Preschool’s rabbit stolen in anti-circus protest

Fliers left in Sugar Bunny’s cage express outrage against Ringling Brothers

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updated 3:24 p.m. ET Sept. 25, 2007

SPOKANE, Wash. - A pet rabbit named Sugar Bunny was stolen from a preschool and fliers protesting circus animal acts were left in its empty cage.

The preschool’s children gathered in a circle Monday to remember Sugar Bunny.

“We talked about how some people have different ideas about animals,” said teacher Lori Peters. “Some people don’t think they should be in cages.”

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Sugar Bunny vanished from the Community Building Children’s Center on Saturday, teachers said.

“Somebody stoled him,” 5-year-old Zion told The Spokesman-Review, which gave only the first names of him and other children in a report on the heist. “I’m sad.”

The fliers expressed protests against the Ringling Brothers Circus, which was in town during the weekend, and had a picture of a bear trying to escape from a cage. The fliers bore the names of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and the Northwest Animal Rights Network.

Daphna Nachminovitch, director of PETA’s domestic animal department, said the group would not endorse stealing a pet bunny.

“Just like dogs and cats, (rabbits) have been domesticated, so we encourage people who have the knowledge and ability to adopt rabbits from their local shelters,” Nachminovitch said.

It’s unclear if the preschool will find a new pet, Peters said.