The connection regarding the abuse of an animal and how it relates to humans had more than one purpose; firstly, there were indeed expressions of dismay here about the sad fate of the bunny; and secondly, most of us found that it is very important to draw attention to the facts that are known about animal abuse evolving into abuse of humans, in order to help the children who are themselves living lives of horror.

Children learn what they live, and when they are taught by example to exploit the weak and helpless, they will demonstrate those lessons on small creatures until they become big and tough, at which time they will begin to hurt other humans.

Only by addressing and making change at the human end of this cycle, we will be able to put an end to the cruelty shown to animals. It will then become a win-win situation for countless lives in the future.

(BTW, I do not suggest here that every person who is abused will eventually become a perpetrator; statistics show that there is approximately a one-in-three chance of that cycle continuing into the next generation.)