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MURRAY — Now that spring is here, Wheeler Farm is a busy place. And with lots of people around, somebody, somehow, walked away with "Dolly Parton."
No, not that Dolly Parton.
Dolly is one of three Flemish giant rabbits that have lived at the farm since January. Between about 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, someone broke the locks and stole her right out of her cage.
“I came over and the lock had been snapped off or pried off in some way," said Raegan Scharman, program coordinator at Wheeler Historic Farm.
The Flemish rabbits' big ears, docile temperaments make them a big attraction here. The empty rabbit hutch generated a lot of questions.
"People are really upset,” said Scharman. “The comments that we've had are talking about how much they love the farm and what a great place it is to come and be able to experience animals that they might not have seen before or had a chance to interact with."
We learned about the stolen rabbit on Wheeler Farm's Facebook page, and since Wednesday, the post has been seen more than a thousand times.
The employees are understandingly upset that someone would steal the big bunny, but here's the catch — Dolly may be pregnant, and if so, might be due in the next week.
“I’m just worried that whoever took her doesn't really know how to care for a rabbit — let alone a rabbit that potentially will be having babies," said Scharman.
Employees have searched throughout the 75-acre site since yesterday, but no sign of Dolly.
If you have any information, contact Wheeler Farm.
Dolly's pals are waiting for her — so is “Kenny Rogers,” Dolly’s boyfriend. “He’s sad, he wants his girlfriend back,” said Scharman.
A "missing bunny" report has been filed with the police — no doubt a first for the Murray Police Department.
