Rabbit on iconic Tommy Cooper statue to be named as RSPCA tackles 'bunny crisis'

Much of Tommy Cooper's unique comedy has well and truly survived the test of time. While he didn't pull live rabbits out of the hat himself, the statue does feature a rabbit - though, thankfully, it's welcome that live animals in any magic tricks are now largely a thing of the past!

The RSPCA is delighted to get involved with the Tommy Cooper Society and Caerphilly Observer to help local people name the rabbit on this iconic statue - which is well known across South Wales and beyond.

We know animals can really capture people's imaginations - and we look forward to hearing some of the amazing suggestions for a name; which may even inspire us when naming the many rescue rabbits in our own centres looking for a new chance of forever home happiness.

This competition comes at a really tough time for rabbits across the UK. It's something of a rabbit crisis - with the numbers in our care having increased dramatically in recent times.

We're worried a lot of people will have perceived rabbits as a good 'starter pet' during Covid lockdowns while looking for companionship or something to do. While many rabbits will have found great homes during that time, in some cases, sadly, the situation is different and the novelty is perhaps wearing off - as rabbits have a long life span and complex needs.

However, if prospective owners have done their research, and know the commitment they're taking on - rabbits are simply amazing pets.

There are countless rabbits looking for new homes in our care; so we hope some rabbit-loving Tommy Cooper fans looking to make some new additions to their family will check out the RSPCA's Find a Pet section.

The little bunny on the statue appears to be a lone ranger - but this is a great opportunity to remind prospective owners that rabbits are naturally very sociable animals and like the company of other rabbits.

Rabbits can develop abnormal behaviour and may suffer if left on their own and with nothing to do for long periods, so keeping them with at least one other friendly rabbit is so important, and something our centres ensure when they're rehoming.

The magic combination is often a neutered male and neutered female, as neutering reduces the likelihood of fighting in both sexes, and prevents unwanted breeding.

I was recently giving a talk to an audience in Caerphilly about Cooper's life - and one of the ladies in attendance said her grandson loved nothing more than going to see the statue - but not to see Tommy, but the rabbit instead!

This struck me as a great opportunity to name the rabbit - to hopefully create a bit of interest locally in Tommy Cooper, and the work our Society does. 

We put the statue up - unveiled by Sir Anthony Hopkins - a good few years ago; and the rabbit was originally supposed to be climbing up Cooper's shin, but the sculptor had some trouble getting the animal to stick. So, the rabbit was moulded on separately instead and is looking out at the audience, the people of Caerphilly, saying 'here I am, I'm not in the hat'.

While 'rabbit out of a hat' has become a common phrase in our language, funnily enough, Cooper never actually did this trick. We think it's pretty funny and fitting that even we got that wrong given the style of his routine - getting Tommy to do a trick he didn't actually do!"

Once we'd built the statue, there was a risk of things getting a little anticlimactic - but we have kept the fundraising going. Of course, Tommy's ticker sadly gave up on live TV - so we thought it really fitting to raise money for local defibrillators.

So every year, we celebrate a lunch, all wear fez hats, tuck into a fez-shaped cake and toast Tommy Cooper. Our fundraising efforts have helped pay for 14 defibrillators across Caerphilly already, and if anyone wants to support this work, they can get in touch.

Sadly, the centenary lunch - 100 years after his birth - had to be cancelled due to Covid restrictions; but we made up for it in March of this year to celebrate the centenary plus one and raise more vital funds.

During my time with the local RSPCA branch, inspectors would often attend our meetings and tell us about rabbit rescues, or sad stories where they investigated rabbit cruelty.

Hopefully, while a new name is chosen, we can also have a really important conversation about rabbit welfare; and the RSPCA's important messaging about good rabbit care can be heard.

Who knows what the name will be? I always remember a mischievous Radio DJ hijacking the competition to name a Royal research ship as Boaty McBoatFace - so perhaps Bunny McBunFace will be the name!

Khloe, Harry and Reign are just three of the rabbits we currently have looking for a forever home.

It's a bit of a bunny crisis across England and Wales at the moment for the RSPCA - rehoming of rabbits has really slowed, and there are lots of rabbits waiting to come into our centres.

We're getting a lot of cries for help from the public - as we move out of the pandemic, and reality hits about what a commitment keeping a rabbit can be. We know the cost of living crisis is placing enormous pressure on people too.

However, for the right owners, rabbits are incredible pets - and we'd always urge people to consider a rescue animal. We're really hoping - in teaming up with the Tommy Cooper Society - we can bring attention to the countless rabbits in our care and find them the magic of a loving new forever home.

Anyone interested can phone the centre on 0300 123 0744 or email newport@rspca.org.uk. Rehoming visits to the Hartridge Farm Road Centre are made by appointment, and we can't wait to introduce these fantastic rabbits to prospective owners.

The Tommy Cooper statue has become a focal point of the town since it was unveiled. This competition is a great opportunity for people to learn more about not just Tommy Cooper, but also animal welfare and Caerphilly itself - so we're delighted to be able to run this alongside the Tommy Cooper Society and RSCPA Cymru.