Connecticut Girl Allowed to Keep Pet Rabbit

Via New Haven Register - The national drama over a little girl and her pet rabbit is hopping toward a happy ending.

First Selectman Michael J. Freda has decided that the Lidsky family won’t have to seek a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals and instead the town is working on a revision to a 42-year-old zoning regulation that bans rabbits from land that is less than 2 acres.

In late July, Zoning Enforcement Officer Arthur Hausman wrote to Joshua Lidsky, saying that having a rabbit on less than 2 acres was against zoning regulations. The Lidskys feared that the town would take 7-year-old Kayden’s rabbit , a 20-pound Flemish giant named Sandy, and a relative called News8.

By the next morning, the story went viral, and people all over the country were bombarding North Haven Town Hall with calls and emails, saying that the town and its officials were nasty and insensitive.

Linda Thibault of Hopalong Hollow, a rabbit rescue agency in Norwalk, intervened and found someone to donate the $210 fee necessary for the Lidskys to take their appeal to the Zoning Board of Appeals.

But after reflection, Freda said that he decided the ZBA airing was unnecessary. He said he wants to return the donation to Hopalong.

“After I thought about this, the correct approach is to try to change the antiquated ordinance so there’s no need to go for a ZBA waiver,” Freda said.

Josh Lidsky called Freda on Wednesday to get clarification on what was happening and Freda said he assured him the bunny would get to stay at his home on Susan Lane.

Kayden said she feels good that Sandy is staying. “I feel excited.”

Read full story at http://bit.ly/PqKGrh

Written by Ann DeMatteo
Image via www.wtnh.com