Rabbit skinned then fur returned

Brad is devastated by Misty's death but glad they have Thumper back

A pet rabbit has been taken from a garden in Dundee, killed, skinned, and then its fur returned to its owners.

Donna Milne discovered the coat of three-year-old Misty lying on the ground near to the hutch, which had its wires cut open.

Their other rabbit, called Thumper, was also missing but has since been found.

Ms Milne said her 11-year-old son, Brad, had been "traumatised" by the death, but was slightly happier after Thumper turned up safe and well.

When Ms Milne went to bed at about 0245 BST on Monday, she saw the two rabbits were happy in their hutch in the garden in Kirkton.

Dead rabbit

However, when she got up at 0630 BST she noticed the animals were not running around and spotted what she thought was a cuddly toy lying on the ground.

When she went to investigate she discovered the dead rabbit and called the police and Scottish SPCA.

Ms Milne said: "It looks like the rabbit had been caught, taken away, skinned and they've actually brought the skin back.

"I don't know if it was some sort of trophy for them, because it looked as if the skin had been placed back down on the ground, rather than thrown on the ground.

Thumper was missing for more than 24 hours before being found

"I felt totally sick. I was nauseated. I just can't believe that somebody can do that, especially to a pet.

"It was a deliberate act, they knew what they were doing."

Ms Milne then spent hours searching for the missing rabbit and just after 1000 BST on Tuesday Thumper - who she had thought was the pet which had been killed - was found.

Ms Milne said: "I was overjoyed because she's very calm and timid, so I really thought it was her [that had died], Misty was fiery.

"I just hope that she can get over her ordeal, because it's been quite hard on her and she's lost a sister that she's lived with since she was born, so I don't know how she's going to cope."

She added the Brad was also finding it difficult.

"He's a total animal lover, he's devastated," she said.

"He's a bit happier today with the fact we've managed to catch Thumper."

The Scottish SPCA is investigating and has appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

Spokeswoman Joanna Wilson said: "The idea that somebody's walking about in people's back gardens doing this sort of thing is really worrying for everyone in the area, because it's been premeditated.

"We really don't know how it [the rabbit] died, we don't know what suffering has been caused in the run up to that."