Frankie Cordeira Jr.

Description: GIANT RABBIT MAY HAVE DIED IN FREEZER AFTER UNITED FLIGHT! CLOSE A potentially record-breaking giant rabbit died on a United flight from London to Chicago. USA TODAY Steve Bruere president of Peoples Co. and his friends bought Simon a big bunny that was found dead in Chicago following a flight from London.(Photo: contributed) Theowners of a 3-foot giant rabbit that died last month following a United Airlines flight from London aredemandingan independent investigation into thedeath and calling on the airline to change its procedures for transporting animals. Simon a Continental Giant rabbitwas purchased by an Iowa-based ownership groupwith hopes that he could win the Iowa State Fair's biggest rabbit contest in August and be used to help raise money for the fair and its Blue Ribbon Foundation. But the giant rabbit was found dead following a United flight from London to Chicago. Des Moines trial attorney Guy Cook announcedat a press conference on Monday that the owners are demanding an independent investigation into Simon's death and for the airline to release . Cook said at least one airline employee has reportedly said that Simon may have been inadvertently locked in a freezer for up to 16 hours after arriving in Chicago a claim that was reported in the Daily Mail tabloid based on an anonymous source. United has disputed that claim he said. The rabbit was cremated by United following its death without the permission of the owners making an autopsy to determine what exactly happened impossible Cook said. That action by the airline was tantamount to "destroying evidence" in the case he said. The attorneys are still trying to determine XXXX "It's circumstantial proof that there was something wrong here that they cremated the remains of Simon without the consent of the ownership group or the breeder who provided the rabbit to the owners" Cook said. "United Airlines has essentially done nothing to demonstrate objectively what actually happened here. They've had scant interaction with the ownership group." In addition to the investigation the ownership group is demanding the airline to pay for the purchase price of the rabbit shipping costs and the "economic loss" of the rabbit's death. The demand letter gives United seven days to respond before a lawsuit is filed. The giant bunny was purchased from British rabbit breeder Annette Edwards who told the Sun newspaper that Simon had a check-up with a vet three hours before the April 19flight and was fit as a fiddle. Edwards owns Simons four-foot long father Darius who currently holds the title as the worlds biggest rabbit. Something very strange has happened and I want to know what Edwards told the newspaper. Ive sent rabbits all around the world and nothing like this has happened before. The rabbits death added to the airlines headaches last month: United was widely criticized after video was made public of a 69-year-old passenger being dragged off a flight at Chicago OHare International to make room for a crew member. PETA has criticized United saying the rabbit's death "is not unique." It said "more than 300 animals have died in cargo holds since 2005 and many more have been been injured or lost." The rabbit's three main owners were retired Wells Fargo executive Mark Oman People's Co. president Steve Breure and Benning Financial partner Duke Reichardt. Read or Share this story: http://dmreg.co/2pd6i4R
By Frankie Cordeira Jr.
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