Kayakers rescued a rabbit Sunday that was found struggling in the water with a rope tied to a weight around its neck, police said.

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Mike Eaton and Mike Lothrop were kayaking when they came across the bunny in the Lamprey River around 4:19 p.m. and called Raymond policethe Union Leader reported.

"It was pretty panicked when I pulled it in my kayak," Eaton told the Union Leader. "I couldn't believe when I pulled on the rope and found a dumbbell tied to it."

The rabbit was taken to a veterinary clinic and is recovering.

“The rabbit is doing well and is safe,” police said.

A juvenile is expected to be charged with animal cruelty, the Union Leader reported.

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Scott Jackson (right), business service consultant for WorkSource Fulton, helps job seekers with their applications in a mobile career center at a job fair hosted by Goodwill Career Center in Atlanta. (Ziyu Julian Zhu/AJC)

Credit: Ziyu Julian Zhu/AJC