Potato the Bunny, a TikTok sensation from Hamilton, Ontario, was kidnapped on Friday, August 16, after burglars broke into the residence of his breeder, Anna Neven. The bunny, who had garnered a significant following on TikTok through the Sinclair Rabbitry TikTok account, was taken during the break-in, leaving Anna distraught and desperate for his safe return.
Anna immediately turned to social media to plead for Potato’s return, posting a video on Sinclair Rabbitry TikTok where she directly addressed the kidnappers. “We have photos of the people from our cameras and are submitting them to the police,” she warned, offering to withdraw the police submission if Potato was safely returned. “Even if you leave him on my porch, I just want my bunny back,” she pleaded in the video.
Anna recounted how she knew something was wrong when Potato didn’t greet her as usual on the day of the theft. “Every time I’m nearby, he always runs up to me and wants pets,” she told The Hamilton Spectator. “I’ve never seen him hide in my life. It made his disappearance all the more noticeable. I knew he was gone because he loves me.”
The story took a positive turn just four days later when Potato the Bunny, known widely on TikTok, was safely returned to Anna’s home. An apologetic father of one of the individuals involved in the theft showed up at her door with the bunny in his arms. According to Anna, the duo responsible for the kidnapping had seen her emotional plea on Sinclair Rabbitry TikTok, which led them to reconsider their actions. The father, who was described by Anna as “really, really nice – super apologetic,” explained that he didn’t believe this behavior was typical of his daughter.
Despite the relief of having Potato back, Anna couldn’t help but question the motive behind the kidnapping. “Potato’s been on TikTok and in a few viral videos, so people do know him. But I don’t know if he was targeted on purpose or if they just wanted any bunny,” she reflected.
The incident is still under investigation by local police, but for Anna, the most important thing is that Potato is home safe. The case sheds light on the strange and sometimes unsettling nature of internet fame, even for pets. Potato, who found his popularity on the Sinclair Rabbitry TikTok account in Hamilton, Ontario, is among many animals gaining viral fame on platforms like TikTok, joining the ranks of other beloved pets like Howie the crab, who has nearly 1 million followers.
