http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/simon-giant-bunny-alive-plane-arrived-chicago-article-1.3107209
A spokesman for United Airlines said Simon the giant bunny was alive and well when his plane landed at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.
The airline is reviewing the handling of the 10-month-old, three-foot continental rabbit, who was traveling from London’s Heathrow airport before his untimely death.
Simon, slated to outgrow his record-setting father to become the world’s largest rabbit, showed no signs of distress when his plane touched down in Chicago but later died at a pet holding facility while waiting for a connecting flight to Kansas City, United Airlines spokesman Charles Hobart said.
Annette Edwards, Simon’s breeder and a former playboy model, has also pointed out the rabbit wasn't facing any health issues or concerns ahead of his trip.
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“Simon had a vet check-up three hours before the flight and was fit as a fiddle,” she told the Sun. “Something very strange has happened.”
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The cause of the bunny’s death though, may forever remain a mystery.
“We won’t know the cause of death because we offered to perform a necropsy free of charge — that’s standard procedure — but the customer didn’t want us to perform a necropsy, and we understand,” Hobart said, noting the airline offered to compensate the breeder.
Bryan Bergdale, who shelled out $530 for the rabbit and another $1,800 to have him shipped, had made his way from West Des Moines to Kansas City when he received the heartbreaking call from United. The 29-year-old farmland investment manager had purchased Simon for his boss, Steve Bruere, who owns a farm real estate company in the suburb of Clive. They hoped the rabbit would win them a top prize at the Iowa State Fair.
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Bergdale said the United Airlines representative he spoke with was “very nice” but didn’t say anything about compensation.
A spokesperson for United Airlines said the rabbit died at pet holding facility at the airport, not onboard his plane into Chicago.
He added they already built a large pen for rabbit in his air-conditioned garage and “had toys all ready.”
“We’re still in the mourning process,” Bergdale said. “We’re not quite sure what we’re going to do.”