Vandals stole three pet rabbits, decapitated them and threw them into a burning car yesterday morning in an incident that has horrified residents of Portrush, Co Antrim.
The animals - the pets of an eight-year-old boy with learning difficulties - were taken from his home at Glenariff Road shortly before 2 a.m.
"We just can't believe what has happened," said the boy's mother, who did not wish to be named. "Although he's eight, he is a special needs boy and only has the understanding of a four-year-old child. He doted on his rabbits. He fed them, he watered them, every morning and night.
"I just couldn't tell him this morning what had happened to his rabbits because it would have upset him too much.
"There is a gang of thugs which terrorises this estate and we're moving out after this attack," she said. Mr Alan Wolseley, in whose car the animals were burned on nearby Glenbush Drive, said it was the fourth time cars of his had been damaged in the last year.
Police officers have held a collection to replace the rabbits.