A Florida man, Manasseh Walker was sentenced to a year in jail for
intentionally setting his girlfriend's pet rabbit on fire. He was
convicted of aggravated animal cruelty this month over the incident that took
place last year, according to the Herald
Tribune.
The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office charged the
23-year-old with setting the rabbit named Thumper on fire after it reportedly
bit him last June.
He was sentenced to a year in the county jail after a jury
found him guilty.
According to the Bradenton Herald, on June 12
witnesses say Walker claimed that he had been bitten by the rabbit and a few
moments later was seen chasing the animal while it was on fire.
Thumper survived the attack but lost his ears.
Walker later admitted to police that he was responsible for
the burn injuries to Thumper, according to the Tribune.
A veterinarian examined Thumper and said the cause of the rabbit's injuries were not consistent with Walker's account. Walker said the incident was accidental.
'The was obviously a heinous thing to do to any living
creature,' the lead prosecutor, assistant state attorney Dan Yuter, said in the
release.
Thumper is now being cared for at the Wildlife Center of
Venice.
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