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A magician is facing vanishing money after he was billed £429 for an animal training licence for a rabbit he features in his act.
Stuart Brown, aka Magic Stuart, has been pulling bunnies out of hats to impress his adoring fans for more than 15 years.
But the magic man, 60, might have to come up with some new tricks after Derby City Council told him he needed to stump up some cash for his sidekick Snowy's licence.
The world's most expensive fluffy white rabbit is set to cost its owner hundreds in the coming years, with the licence needing a renewal every three years - to the tune of £328.
The performer said he was left in shock at the fee, which he now fears will have a detrimental impact on his business.
Mr Brown, of Littleover, Derby, said: 'I got a call out of the blue around a week ago saying that I needed to pay a licence fee to have a live animal.
'I was shocked when they told me the amount. I couldn't believe it was over £400 for one small fluffy white bunny that is only in my show for around ten minutes.
'It is just ridiculous to me.
'It seems so out of proportion for what the cost of the animal was to me.
'I just can't understand how they can justify that sort of price for one little bunny.'
Derby City said that Snowy falls under the 'keeping and training animals for exhibition' category for licence fees, but Mr Brown argued his three-year-old pure white Netherland Dwarf rabbit has no training and is merely placed on a table for kids to take photos with.
As a result, he should be charged less than performers with large collections of performing animals, according to his owner.
'They said it didn't matter if I had one animal or a pet shop, it all falls into the same category,' the magician added.
'It is like someone in a bungalow and someone in a mansion paying the same council tax.
'I have no problems paying for a licence fee, but you can't put me in the same category as animal menageries and pet shops.
'He is not part of my act. He doesn't do anything. I wish he could walk on his hind legs or something, then he would be worth a fortune.
'But he is just put on a table.'
Mr Brown started doing magic as a hobby in his teens, but turned his side hustle into a career after being laid off by Toyota more than 20 years ago.
He said he has emailed the local authority to appeal the fee, stating he is happy to pay it but that the figure should be less.
Stuart added that if he has to pay the full amount, he may have to cut back on charity shows, because he will not be able to afford such losses as a sole trader.
He said: 'I am not a millionaire. I am just trying to make a living.
'It will definitely impact my business if I have to pay that large amount.
'I do lots of charity shows for children with life-limiting illnesses and don't charge at all.
'It's beneficial to them to be able to see and touch a live animal
'If they put this fee on me then I shall have to cut those down and swap over to paid bookings.
'You can't afford to take a loss as a sole trader. I am not a big organisation, it is just me on my own.'
A Derby City Council spokesperson said: 'A licence has been required for the keeping or training of animals for exhibition since October 1, 2018, as part of The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations.
'This is a legal requirement set out by the Government and the fees associated with this are in line with other local authorities across the country.'
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