‘Absolutely sickening’

The Maesydre rabbits saga took a sick turn for the worse over the weekend when thugs strung up a live bunny using nets from the Waterloo Rovers pitch.

Shocked club officials were horrified to turn up yesterday morning to prepare the pitch for a youth game only to find a traumatised rabbit with dreadful injuries clinging on to life (right).

“The poor thing was obviously in terrible distress and it was sad to see,” said Dale Roberts who manages the Waterloo Colts side and also helps with the youth set-up. “There are some very sick people out there. It had a badly broken leg. We had to cut it loose after which it wriggled free and disappeared down the nearest hole. I’m disgusted, we are all disgusted, not only about the cruelty to the animal but also about the criminal damage caused. It is absolutely sickening.”

The incident also raises concerns over what youths of the town are carrying in their pockets.

“It is worrying because they have obviously used something to cut the nets and I am sure they wouldn’t have been carrying a pair of scissors around with them on a Saturday night,” Dale added.

Annoyingly for the club, the nets are normally removed after a Saturday match but they were left up this weekend for the Sunday youth game. The club will now have to purchase new nets.

The Maesydre rabbits have hit the headlines over the past month following a proposal for them to be gassed over the problems they have caused the playing surfaces. A decision will be made by the Town Council this week with animal rights campaigners calling for a stay of execution so that other methods can be used.

However, our home page poll has shown tremendous support for the bunnies. Our questions asks ‘is it right to gas the Maesydre rabbits?’ and so far an incredible 77 per cent have said ‘no’.