Frank the rabbit found in Rotorua

UPDATED: It seems the loppy eared Flemish giant rabbit, all 6.5kg of him, made his way south and is alive and well and living in Rotorua.

SunLive has been assured Frank is in peak health and is a very popular new addition at a youth drug addiction and mental health respite facility in Rotorua.


Lauren Coleman wants her rabbit Frank returned.


Frank, the Flemish giant rabbit.

However his new family say they're more than open to discussing Frank's future with Lauren Coleman, his original owner.

So it appears the custody battle over Frank he rabbit could be resolved early next week.

Earlier:

It seems Tauranga Police now know where 'Frank” the giant Flemish rabbit is.

Details of Frank's whereabouts were apparently supplied to the police today by the woman who was named as the 'foster mother”.

But that information hasn't been shared with SunLive.

The custody battle over the 6.5kg bunny erupted when its owner Lauren Coleman saw him up on Trade me and free to a good home.

Frank was an 18th birthday present from Lauren's Mum.

But when she got sick and had to go to hospital Lauren says she gave Frank to 'a foster mum” on the understanding that she would get the rabbit back when she was well enough to care for it.

Then Lauren saw Frank up on Trade Me and he was free to a good home.

Lauren says that was never the arrangement and she wants her beloved rabbit back.

'I love him and need him. I have spent over two thousand dollars on that rabbit with food, hutch, microchip and things he has chewed up. He is the reason I am so poor”.

However this afternoon SUNLIVE spoke to Sharon, the alleged foster mum.

She was upset and claimed to have been harassed over Frank.

She insists Frank was hers to do whatever she wanted.

Sharon claims when she met Lauren and her mother she was asked if she wanted a rabbit because they couldn't find a home for it. And so she took it.

'There was no discussion about fostering. If here had been I would have asked for money for Frank's care”.

Sharon says Tauranga police know where the rabbit is. She says they have advised her not to discuss Frank with anyone.

Lauren is now in touch with police in the hope she will be re-united with Frank.

SunLive will stay across this story.

Earlier:

A line has been drawn in the sand over the custody battle for Frank - a two-and-a-half-year-old Flemish giant rabbit.

Frank weighs 6.5kg, has huge 110 millimetre ears, and is embroiled in a tug of love which has got nasty.

Frank's rightful owner Lauren Coleman has issued an ultimatum.

'If Frank is not returned to me by Monday at 9am or I have good information as to Frank's whereabouts, I am going back to the police.”

As with all custody battles, this story is heartrending, even though Frank is a rabbit, albeit a big one.

'Frank was a birthday present from my Mum when I was 18. He is special and I love him” says Lauren as she tears up.

'I have spent more than $2500 on Frank …his special food, his hutch, his microchip in my name and of course all the things he's chewed up.”

Lauren admits she had problems looking after Frank to begin with when she was really ill. Frank lost weight and went to the SPCA for care.

However, the SPCA gave her all the correct feeding procedures and returned Frank back to her happy she had the correct tools to look after him.

"He is fat, happy and healthy and hasn't needed any care since."

Frank should still belong to Lauren. But this is where the custody battle gets murky.

Lauren has a few health issues and when she had to go into hospital she did the responsible thing and fostered Frank out to another woman called Sharon, with the understanding that when she was well enough and when she found a rabbit friendly rental property, Frank would come home.

But soon the alarm bells went off when Lauren spotted Frank up on a Trade Me.

‘Free to a good home' it said. 'Frank already has a good home!” cried Lauren.

When Lauren approached the foster Mum she claimed she no longer had Frank and she couldn't or wouldn't tell Lauren where Frank was.

So what's happened to Frank?

He's either done a runner, been rabbit-napped, been traded off to a good home, or is being held discreetly against his will or rehomed without permission.

Lauren went straight to the Police. They decided Lauren still has legal entitlement to the rabbit …wherever he is and whoever he is with… and that the foster mother should not have given him away without Lauren's permission. They also ruled the foster mother should be assisting the return of Frank to his rightful owner.

So far Lauren says 'I have been stone-walled every way I turn. She simply is not helping”

Then Lauren's friend ‘Carey' went into bat for her and approached the foster Mum.

'She told me she misunderstood the fostering arrangement. I said fair enough but do the right thing. Help Lauren find her rabbit. She told me to butt out, to mind my business”.

Carey, who had known the foster Mum for a year, says they were friends until the Frank episode.

'This is sneaky stuff. She didn't tell anyone she was going to get rid of Frank. We are no longer friends. ”

Lauren says Frank maybe holed-up with someone called 'Emma”. The other story given by the foster mother is that Frank is with a community or rehabilitation group.

So have you adopted a Flemish giant rabbit recently, because there's a young woman pining for Frank with the 110 millimetre ears.

Call us here at 0800 SUNLIVE and we will put you in touch with Lauren.

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3 comments

It may be,

Posted on 13-09-2014 13:35 | By Sambo Returns

with David Cunliffe, he has been looking for a big one to pull out of his big hat!!!!!


what is problem

Posted on 13-09-2014 14:11 | By rosscoo

foster mum looking at giving away via trade me so this Lauren should just collect as it been offered free anyway. so obvisously foster mum not want anymore. Confused into what the issue is really


Wake up people!

Posted on 15-09-2014 22:24 | By GreertonBoy

If the foster person didnt want Frank, why not just give him back to Lauren?


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