An animal-loving north-east family have been frightened out of their home after their rabbits were apparently stolen – just months after their puppy was seriously injured in mysterious circumstances.
Michelle Mackie’s Yorkshire terrier Kai suffered a fractured skull after allegedly being thrown 6ft over a wall in Peterhead’s Queen Street earlier this year.
Now Ms Mackie and her family packed up their belongings and left the town after their two rabbits were taken from their hutch in the dead of night.
Ms Mackie said: “It’s absolutely horrendous. The police have been out and they’re going to knock on a couple of neighbours doors but I don’t hold much hope to be honest. I’m absolutely gutted.”
The family realised something was wrong yesterday morning when they noticed their side gate was ajar and one of the other rabbits was loose in the garden.
The Mackie family had already decided to leave Peterhead at the end of this month, following the attack on Kai, but after this latest incident decided to pack up and leave for Greenock last night.
Ms Mackie continued: “My other half is away to pick up a van just now and we’ll go down. My boy has been unwell recently and to be waking up to this, when he and his sister had fallen in love with one of those rabbits that was taken, is horrendous.
“I can’t handle it anymore – I’m paranoid as it is. I thought no one would do anything after what happened to Kai but no, now this.”
Last night a police spokesman confirmed the force were investigating the incident.
He said: “It has been reported to us but we’re at an early stage. Inquires are ongoing.”
In March Ms Mackie discovered her four-month-old puppy Kai seriously wounded after an alleged attack.
After news of Kai’s injuries spread around the town, horrified residents rallied together to raise more than £1,000 to help cover his vet bills and Ms Mackie’s travel to and from Glasgow, where he was being treated.
But just days after the dog returned home to Peterhead, a metal-tipped arrow was found in the garden.
Police investigated the apparent attack but the Crown Office decided not to press charges.