`THEY KILLED MY BUNNY'; FAMILY DEMANDS NEIGHBORS PAY $905 FOR RABBIT FUNERAL.

Byline: Ivan Sciupac Daily News Staff Writer

The Novick family's pet bunny, Tucson, used to come in and out of the house through its own doggy door, often roaming the back yard out of curiosity. But just over the fence behind the hills lurked a neighboring dog - and it was a recipe for disaster.

Tucson was killed the morning of Aug. 15 when the dog jumped the 5-foot fence and attacked the bunny.

And now Chatsworth resident Pepi Novick is planning to bury the bunny in a $905 funeral at the Calabasas Pet Cemetery, final resting place of such animal celebrities as Hopalong Cassidy's horse Topper, Humphrey Bogart's dog Droopy and Charlie Chaplin's cat Boots. She insists that the dog's owner pay for the whole cost or face a lawsuit.

But why so much for a pet funeral?

Novick purchased a headstone with a photo of Tucson laser-etched on it.

The dog's owners, Steve and Marsha Artaega, sent the Novicks a check for $450 to pay for a bunny funeral, but not for the headstone.

``They killed my bunny,'' said Pepi Novick, who called the check ``an insult.'' ``It doesn't cost $450 to bury my bunny - it costs ($905). I don't know if they realize when I told them what this was going to do to our family. How can they squabble?''

It all started three weeks ago when Novick saw two dogs roaming around her back yard. After alerting the owners, Novick said they promised to keep the dogs secure. But the dogs came around five more times, she said.

``Six times I pleaded with these neighbors,'' Novick said. ``My husband wanted to shoot the dog because he was afraid it would get the bunny. The neighbors assured me that it would never happen again.''

Novick said when they saw the dog on their property for the sixth time, she phoned the neighbor, who came down to get the dog. After only two minutes of looking for Tucson, they saw his lifeless body in the bushes.

``I started screaming to my husband to go up the hill,'' she said. ``I was hoping it was a piece of white newspaper, but my husband knew instantly.''

The Artaegas wrote the Novicks a letter of condolence saying, ``We are so sorry about your rabbit. I know we can't do much because the damage is already done. But please let us know if there is anything you would like us to do for you. . . . We are just miserable over this incident and deeply apologize to your family. Sincerely, The Artaegas.''

After calling the pet cemetery for a price quote, Novick wrote back asking the dog owners to take ``full financial responsibility for the heartache the family is going through.''

After the Artaegas sent the Novicks the initial check for $450, Pepi Novick called them, asking for the full cost of the funeral.

``They said if we wanted a headstone, that was our responsibility,'' Novick said. ``I told them that we would sue. We contacted an attorney.''

A woman at the Artaega residence who refused to give her name declined to comment Thursday.

Novick said her 24-year-old daughter, Jodi, was the primary owner and caretaker of Tucson. Pepi Novick said her daughter was distraught when she heard of Tucson's death.

``The shock of it jolted her so (that) she literally crumbled before my eyes,'' Novick said. ``She hasn't been the same.''

For the funeral Saturday, Novick made an arrangement to put on Tucson's grave, including a laminated collage of photos, as well as flowers and a ceramic statue of a rabbit lying on a piece of carpet. There even is a bowl of rabbit food and Tucson's favorite treat, an apple.

``It didn't have to happen, that's the saddest part of it,'' Novick said.

CAPTION(S):

2 Photos

Photo: (1-2) Chatsworth resident Pepi Novick, bottom, arranges items to be placed at the grave of her family's pet rabbit, Tucson, top. The tribute included a collage of photographs, a ceramic bunny sculpture, a tuft of hair, a bowl of rabbit food and Tucson's favorite treat, an apple.

Michael Owen Baker/Daily News