THE RSPCA has joined police in condemning a raider who entered a garden in a York village and killed two pet rabbits.

The owner of the two animals, who runs a small rabbit rescue centre from her Strensall home, said she was left in shock by the attack, and has appealed for anyone with information to contact police.

28-year-old Claire Haskins said she returned home on Saturday afternoon to find the bodies of the two rescue rabbits called Ragwort and Barley.

She said: “There was one rabbit in the hutch and one lying half outside. It looked as though the door had been kicked in.

“One of them had bruises at the back of its head and shoulders.

“I was very upset at the weekend and in a state of shock for a long time.”

She ruled out an animal attack and said she had never received complaints about the rabbits from neighbours.

She said: “The police said it was probably someone doing it for fun or someone casing the place for a burglary.”

She urged all owners of animals who kept them outside to make sure their pets were secure from both animal and human attackers.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “This was a cruel and heartless crime which has caused great distress to the victim.

“To enter someone’s property and commit such an offence is unthinkable and completely unacceptable.”

Barbara Boyce, a trustee of York RSPCA Animal Home, said: “I don’t understand the mentality of someone who would do this.

“I hope the perpetrators can be brought to justice.

“It’s frightening that there are people who would do this.”

Anyone with information should phone North Yorkshire Police on 0845 6060247 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.