House Rabbit Society
Adoption, Rescue & Education - Richmond, CA
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Posted: 11/21/05 HI Everyone, HI Everyone,Thank you again for your continuing concern and support for Phoenix. Phoenix's other ear fell off over the weekend. He is trying to adapt to life without his ears. He scratches at them, shakes his head and is more sensitive and jumpy than he used to be. In time, we believe he will adjust and be the happy, brave and loving bunny that he truly is.
Dr. Debra Scheenstra ,who initially treated Phoenix when he first came in, made a house call to examine Phoenix and determined that the ears and wounds on his back are healing well without infection or abscesses. However, there is some fluid in his ears that needs to be cleaned and drained, and he will soon have this done under anesthesia.
I have been in regular contact with the Solano County District Attorney's office and the case has been assigned to a Deputy District Attorney (DDA). The case was originally set to be heard in juvenile court today (11/21), but has been continued as she gathers more evidence in an attempt to add a second count to the charges. Currently the juvenile is charged with one count of animal abuse, Penal Code 597, subsection B. The DDA would like to add a charge of torture, which is Penal Code 597,subsection A. In order to prove torture, she needs to prove that Phoenix's injuries were directly sustained by being lit on fire or being forcibly restrained and burned with cigarettes or some other heat source.
The suspect has changed his story several times from initially saying that Phoenix lit himself on fire on the side of house where there was lighter fluid, to now saying that while he lit a bag on fire, it was Phoenix who ran through the burning bag and that's how he got burned.Two other boys were inside and were not involved and did not see anything. They only heard Phoenix screaming and saw the other boy chasing Phoenix. I did remind the DDA that there is at least a $2,500 reward in case someone did see something and wants to come forward. Since there were no eye witnesses, for the charges to hold, we need to prove that injuries of this severity would not be possible from running through a bag on fire, but rather from a localized, direct source of ignition. They may need me to testify about rabbit behavior, in which I would continue to educate about how intelligent and sensitive rabbits are, and that the suspect's account of Phoenix running into the fire is not consistent with rabbit behavior. Since the suspect is a minor, I would be inside the courtroom for my testimony, but have to wait outside during the rest of the hearing. Veterinary examination indicates that the injuries would be consistent with direct application of a heat source and not from running through a fire. The wounds on his back are localized and also looked like they were done directly with some high temperature heat source. Medical records have been sent to the DA's office and we have offered to provide expert veterinary testimony as well. I will also be sending the DDA the photos on 8 1/2 x 11 photo paper to be used for evidence and have offered to bring Phoenix and also the ear ,if needed. The first ear hat came off was intact, but the second ear was not retrievable and in small, burnt pieces.
Please send polite letters of appreciation to If you would like to make a donation to help with Phoenix's recovery, and support other rescued rabbits, you can make a donation via our website at http://www.saveabunny.com/donate.php or by snail mail at : Checks and Money Orders should be made out to the "House Rabbit Society". Please indicate if you need a tax receipt. Phoenix will not be available for adoption for at least for several months, but if you would like to help, our Chapter and the House Rabbit Society in Richmond are in very urgent need of foster homes and adoptions, because of severe overcrowding at Bay area shelters. These shelter rabbits deserve the same love and attention as Phoenix, so if you can help by fostering or adopting a rabbit in need, you'll save lives. Please contact me ASAP or Sara at HRS in Richmond at sara@rabbit.org. Thank you so much for the compassion, generosity and support you have given Phoenix and our rescue efforts. We are deeply grateful.
Marcy Schaaf
Chapter Manager SaveABunny San Francisco/ Marin House Rabbit Society www.saveabunny.com
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posted: 11/09/05 Phoenix, the Vallejo bunny who was burned and tortured, had one of his ears fall off today. While losing his ears was a very possible outcome from the severity of the injuries he sustained in the attack, the reality of seeing it happen, and tending to his needs, was quite upsetting. The other ear will fall off very soon. The suspect in this case has been arrested and is being charged with a FELONY violation--- which is what we wanted. However, since he is a juvenile, very limited information is being made available to us or the public. The case will be heard in juvenile court this month. The date is TBD and it is closed to the public. We are extremely grateful to the police and DA's office for their help and follow- through.Please send polite letters of appreciation to Mr. David W. Paulson, the District Attorney of Solano County, for taking this case very seriously and ask that they continue to do everything possible to hold the suspect accountable for this horrific crime. This individual is obviously deeply disturbed. Without intervention and appropriate punishment, next time he may kill something or someone.
Phone: (707) 784-6800
SaveABunny, the SF/Marin House Rabbit Society P.O. Box 2143 Mill Valley, CA 94942 Checks and Money Orders should be made out to the "House Rabbit Society". Please indicate if you need a tax receipt.
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