BETTY THE RABBIT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27038, 24 March 1949, Page 6

BETTY THE RABBIT

DEPARTMENT’S UNFEELING ORDER Special to the Daily Times AUCKLAND, Mar. 23. The career of Betty, a pet rabbit belonging to David Hoyle, of 553 Remuera road, is threatened. The Department of Agriculture has advised Mrs Hoyle that she must destroy the rabbit. In tears yesterday morning, she showed Betty, at present living happily in a hutch in the back garden, to in inspector. He was sympathetic, but could do nothing. Caught by Mr A. Hoyle at Massey College in 1947, Betty was brought to Auckland and cared for by the Hoyle family. When neighbouring dogs began to worry her last November she was released at the back of Kohimarama, but found her way home after travelling about four miles in four months. An official of the Department of Agriculture explained yesterday that under the Rabbit Nuisance Act, 1928, section 101, it was an offence punishable by a fine of £SO or imprisonment for six months to let any rabbit loose, or even to move a live rabbit from one place to another. It was also an offence to keep a live rabbit without a permit. Betty had clearly been removed and liberated said the official. Much money was spent every year destroying rabbits and financing rabbit boards, and some action had to be taken. It was possible that Betty might give birth to a litter, thus complicating matters for the Hoyles. Rabbits did damage probably amounting to millions of pounds, and the Rabbit Nuisance Act was designed to exterminate them. In the meantime, Betty, unconscious of the fate threatening her, is happily chewing dandehons, clover leaves, milk thistle, and silver beet in her hutch in the Hoyle’s back garden.