Nelson pets found strangled to death

The "sadistic" murder of a Nelson family's pet rabbit and guinea pig has led to a police hunt for the killer.

Senior Constable Vaughan Joyce of Nelson police said the pets were strangled and left lying dead on the ground on Wednesday.

The rabbit was owned by a young girl and the guinea pig by her grandmother, Mr Joyce told the Nelson Mail.

He said the pets appeared to have broken necks but no other injuries.

The family was upset over the "sadistic" deaths, Mr Joyce said.

Nelson SPCA centre manager Donna Stringer said it was the first time she had heard of the pets being strangled in the area.

"It's shocking. Absolutely awful. Why would someone do that sort of thing? There's no rhyme or reason."

- NZPA