Council threaten couple over their 'barking dog' which turns out to be a bunny rabbit

dailystar.co.uk:

rabbit for an aggressive dog.Martin and Yvonne Vickers from Boston, Lincolnshire say they were stunned when they received a letter from East Lindsey District Council complaining about their unruly pet.Stern officials said horse riders' lives were being put at risk due to "excessive barking" coming from their rural home.

The couple were told they could even be slapped with an anti-social behaviour order if they failed to control their pet.Environmental Protection Officer Sue Pailing wrote: “I am writing to advise you that I have received a complaint regarding the behaviour of your dog.“I understand your dog barks quite excessively whilst in the garden, especially when horse riders go by your fence.“This is obviously a concern as this could cause a horse to bolt and possibly throw its rider.”But Martin and Yvonne only own a seven-year-old bunny rabbit named Joey, who they took in after a previous neighbour was unable to care for him anymore.The white mini lop now lives indoors at the couple’s bungalow in Friskney village in Lincolnshire.Shop worker Martin, 57, said: “I’m not sure how they have mistaken Joey for a dog.“The only noise Joey makes is scratching when he wants to come out of his enclosure to have a run around indoors.“He doesn’t go outside as he could be got by a fox.”After receiving the warning letter last Thursday the couple rang the council up to explain the mix-up and ended up having "a good laugh" with official Sue.Martin has since put a post about the amusing mix-up to the Facebook group Friskney Community, accompanied by a photo of Joey, where some members have jokingly asked ‘who framed Joey rabbit?’.He has concluded that "neighbours around here seem to have dogs", so he believes the letter is a "case of.