By Associated Press, 6/18/02

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Not everyone felt warm and fuzzy about the bunny featured in a Subaru commercial.

After numerous complaints, the car company pulled a commercial for the Subaru Forester that featured a mother and daughter removing a rabbit from a classroom and releasing it into the woods.

The House Rabbit Society, a nonprofit national rabbit rescue organization, said it is dangerous and illegal to release a domesticated rabbit into the wild.

"This commercial is extremely disturbing to us. We have been deluged with calls and e-mails from all over the country," said Margo DeMello, president and executive director of the group.

Subaru claimed the animal shown in the ad was a wild breed of rabbit. Still, the company decided to yank the ad after the complaints.

The House Rabbit Society is now urging members to contact Subaru and thank the automaker for its quick response.