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Children at a Melbourne childcare centre where a pet rabbit was brutally decapitated and a guinea pig found dead have created a shrine in memory of their beloved animals. Staff at Thornbury's Smith Street Early Learning Centre found their black-and-grey miniature pet rabbit, Ebony, decapitated with its body buried in the playground and its head buried in a vegetable patch on Tuesday morning. The guinea pig, named Piggy, was also found partially buried and is believed to have died of shock. The gruesome crime is being investigated by Northcote police, who say they are in disbelief at the "disgusting, disgraceful" killings. "I can't believe someone would do this to children's pets ... helpless, defenceless animals," Senior Constable Marcia Fabris said "The children are aged between 3 and 5, and there are some babies. They have had the pets for two years." Police believe the offender stood on top of large rubbish bins to scale a three-metre solid wall and gain entry to the childcare centre. Neighbours at an aged-care home said they heard rustling around the bins on Monday night. Constable Fabris said the centre's staff notified police, and have told the children their playground pets were dead. "They have all created a memorial wall, gathering photographs of both animals," she said. Constable Fabris said there were no CCTV cameras in the area, and urged people to notify police if they see anyone "boasting" about the crime on social media. RSPCA Victoria said there had been an alarming number of animal cruelty cases so far this year. Last month, five kittens were stabbed to death and dumped behind a service station in Blackburn South, in Melbourne's east. Anyone with information is asked to phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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