In Memorian: Sugar Bunny

According to the CBC newspage (please see here http://www.cbc.ca/cp/Oddities/070926/K092608AU.html), Sugar Bunny, a preschool pet, was taken from his cage and replaced with flyers protesting circus animal acts this past Saturday. The rabbit has not been seen since, and its children have had to learn that some people are mean.

Well, okay; the teachers are telling the children that some people don't feel that animals should be in cages. But really, the message is that people are mean. Or maybe not MEAN, but... too focused? Too emotional? Too ...stupid? 'Cause the purpose of this abduction was purportedly to protest animal torture, and specifically the Ringling Brothers' Circus (in town this past weekend). And I admit, I do wonder about the lives of circus animals. But this was a domestic rabbit, a children's pet. In no way was this rabbit related to the circus. So I don't understand why Sugar Bunny became the substitute target for "rescue."

I just don't get it. It seems very sad, that a group of children should lose their class pet and not ever know what happened to Sugar Bunny. It's hard enough for children when a pet dies; I imagine it's harder for children who don't know if Sugar Bunny is still alive, or has been released into the wild (for which a domestic rabbit is likely ill-prepared), or has been killed.

Plus, those animal-rights posters can get pretty graphic. I'm hoping some respect for the children was shown and that the pamphlets left behind were not a source of additional trauma.

If Sugar Bunny was being mistreated or neglected at his home in the preschool, then I would understand the concern and understand (though not necessarily agree with) the abduction. I would still suggest, however, that following the Humane Society's procedure for the rescuing of mistreated domestic animals would have been much less traumatic for the children involved. And possibly better for Sugar Bunny, whose current status remains unknown. But as it stands now, this doesn't seem the most successful protest of animals rights... and further evidence that People are Mean.

And a much beloved rabbit will be mourned.