Italian Style Rabbit Casserole

1 cup pastina pasta (or any small pasta)
2 T olive oil
1/2 cup rabbit meat cut into cubes
1/2 cup diced onion
1 clove garlic, minced
1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice
1 cup shredded mozzarella
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
1 T butter, plus more for buttering the baking dish

 Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until just tender, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Drain pasta into a large mixing bowl.

 Meanwhile, put the olive oil in a medium saute pan over medium heat. Add the rabbit and cook for 3 minutes. Add the onions and garlic, stirring to combine, and cook until the onions are soft and the rabbit is cooked through, about 5 minutes more. Put the rabbit mixture into the bowl with the cooked pasta. Add the canned tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, parsley, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. Place the mixture in a buttered 8 by 8 by 2-inch baking dish. In a small bowl mix together the bread crumbs and the Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle over the top of the pasta mixture. Dot the top with small bits of butter. Bake until the top is golden brown, about 30 minutes.