Well all, I just had the MOST interesting visit here at the Lazy T Rabbitry.

As do most people, I usually include not only my name at the end of my posts but my rabbitry name and the state I'm located in. We've been doing this for, how many years??, three?? Four?? No problems. Until today.

A group of four animal right activists tracked me down from the information I freely post on this board. My first inkling of a problem came VERY early this morning when my dogs barking furiously under my bedroom window woke me up. Of course, I looked out and lo and behold, there were people back in my cages!! I threw on some clothes and went out the front door like the CannonBall Express running late. I was hollering at Danny to call the sheriff's office, hollering at the dogs to shut-up, and hollering at the people back in my rabbitry.

While the one man tried to block me, the three women were working quickly loading my rabbits into MY carriers which I keep back with the rabbits. The big guy found out that getting between me and someone trying to STEAL my animals is NOT the brightest idea in the world!! Funny how the bigger they are, the easier they are to bring down with one well placed hard kick. I tackled the nearest woman putting her down hard under a set of cages that don't have anything underneath them to collect the manure. With all the rain we've had, believe me, that pile was, um, let's just say a tad bit damp!! For those that don't know me, I am over-weight and when I went down on top of this broad, she sunk DEEP in the muck. When I scrambled back up on my feet, my step-son had the other two women back against the cages and was holding his rifle on them. He quickly told me that the sheriff's office was on the way. For once, that kid came in handy!

When the deputy got there, I quickly told him what had happened. The four people were not only trespassing on my property but I had caught them in the act of stealing my rabbits. The evidence was right there in front of us. They had about a dozen rabbits crammed together in three carriers. These included my BEW buck that I won in Portland who is a German import and the BEW doe I paid $200 for down in Louisville. They had just been cramming rabbits into carriers willy-nilly and there were does and bucks in the same carrier's. They had grabbed one of my harlequin does but completely overlooked her 10 day old litter in the nest box.

The oldest woman started babbling about my 'cruelities' as a breeder/exhibitor and how they were just 'rescuing' the rabbits from my inhumane practices. The deputy, not only a man that I know from seeing and talking to him in town but also the son of one of my co-workers, called for backup and told the woman to just shut-up. He went ahead and hand-cuffed the man who was about twice his size but who was still a bit winded after my kick. After reading them their rights, he reminded them that this is an AGRICULTERAL community and as such, the theft of 'livestock' is severely frowned upon. When they started going on about rabbits not being 'livestock' he told them again to just shut-up.

When his back-up got there, (three more cars worth including the sheriff himself!!) my 'visitors' were arrested for trespassing and attempted theft. The way that Jim (the sheriff) explained it to me, there are several more counts pending against them depending on how I want to prosecute. You can bet your boots and britches, I'm going to prosecute to the full extent!!

When questioned, two of the women admitted that they were members of the MO House Rabbit Society and had gotten information on where I was from this board. Having my name and the town I live in, it wasn't hard to get a directory for here and cross-reference to find my address. (And yes DK, they were also trying to cross-reference for you too but were having a more difficult time of it!!)

I was told to come up to the sheriff's office after I had put the animals up and AFTER I had taken a shower (boy!! I felt sorry for the guy driving the car that got the woman I had tackled who was covered in bunny poop!! They ended up putting a body bag on the seat.). I just got home a little while ago and I am still so furious I could chew ten-penny nails and spit out tacks!! Some of the rabbits that had been crammed together had obvious bites but I am going to go over each of them with a fine-toothed comb to make sure there are no hidden injuries.

I hate to do this but please, in the future, think about what you are putting up on this board. I know we all love to talk about our rabbits but I think we need to start using a bit of caution when answering a lot of questions as to where we are located, how many rabbits we have, etc.

This leads to my request. I have to present evidence of the value of the animals that they had attempted to steal. Primarily the ones that were in the carriers. So I need some help from you all in establishing their value. What was loaded included a Netherland Dwarf black silver marten buck, a Netherland Dwarf black silver marten doe, a BEW Holland Lop buck (import), 2 BEW Holland Lop does, a harlequin Holland Lop doe, a tort Holland Lop doe, a broken black Holland Lop buck, a broken tort Holland Lop kit (the one who's picture has been on my other posts), a fawn BEW sport doe and her two kits, one BEW and a broken blue Holland Lop buck. Those of you who have Hollands, how about posting or sending me privately what these rabbits would cost in your area. Both postings and emails are time-stamped and I've been assured by the prosecuting attorney that they would be allowed as evidence as to each animals worth. Thanks in advance for listening to me rant and helping me with this matter.

Wanda Twellman

Lazy T Rabbitry, MO (Where trespassers will be dealt with severly!!)

Holland Lops in the 'OTHER' colors

Oh, BTW, since today is Sunday, my 'visitors' are going to get free accomodations in the county jail until Monday. Just so happens the judge is 'unavailable' to set bail for them. hehehehehe (One of the perks of living in Podunkville!!)