A family is asking residents to watch for online advertisements selling their pet rabbit after it disappeared from the Markham Fair, where organizers believe it was stolen from an enclosure.
Biscuit, a Holland Lop rabbit belonging to the McClelland family, had won first place in a contest at the fair. York Regional Police have been notified of the disappearance, Global News reported.
Fair organizers said in a statement that Biscuit was taken from an enclosure in the pet and poultry building on the evening of Oct. 3. Volunteers and exhibitors discovered the suspected theft, according to organizers.
The family had handed Biscuit over on Wednesday after entering him in the contest. They learned he had won first place and planned to collect him on Sunday night.
Instead, a call around lunchtime on Sunday alerted them that he was missing.
“We were absolutely devastated. The kids were all heartbroken,” Victoria McClelland told Global News.
McClelland said the family went to the fair to search for Biscuit. They later learned his cage was closed, which led them to believe someone had taken him.
Organizers also believe the rabbit was stolen. In their statement, they expressed disappointment that an animal entered by a 10-year-old girl had been taken, and emphasized the time and care exhibitors put into raising their animals.
They also stressed that the loss involved a living animal with needs for appropriate care, housing and attention.
For the McClellands, Biscuit is a family companion, particularly for 10-year-old Eliana. Her mother said Eliana wanted a sweater for Biscuit bearing his image and the words “little champion” following his contest win.
“He meant everything to our family, especially Eliana. It’s her little best friend,” McClelland told Global News.
The family is asking people to keep an eye out for online listings that may be offering Biscuit for sale.
