'He could get used to being somebunny you love' - Glasgow rescue rabbit Lewis Capaldi is looking for a home

He’s a bit nervous, at the moment – doesn’t much care for loud noises or sudden movements. But he does love nothing more than being hand-fed a treat while he snuggles up to you on the sofa….

We are not, of course, talking about Lewis the legendary Glasgow pop singer.

This Lewis Capaldi is a two-year-old Netherland dwarf crossbreed rabbit, who could really get used to being somebunny you love, if you will have him.

Lewis is one of many available for adoption through rescue and rehoming service Beloved Rabbits, one of three good causes in Glasgow selected for our November campaign, Cash for Charities.

The Glasgow Times is giving local charities the chance to share in a £20,000 cash pot and how it is divided is up to you – our readers – to decide.

Our parent company’s charitable arm, The Gannett Foundation, is providing the cash and from suggestions voted for by the public, we - along with our sister titles The National, The Herald and the Greenock Telegraph, have chosen a shortlist of eight.

The Glasgow charities in the running are cancer support charity Maggie’s, Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland and Beloved Rabbits.

To determine how the £20,000 is allocated, readers are invited to collect tokens which appear in our newspapers every day during November until the closing date.

You can then drop your tokens at collection points across our region, including supermarkets, restaurants and other prominent locations, or post them to Glasgow Times Readers’ Choice Cash for Charities Nominations, 125 Fullarton Drive, Glasgow G32 8FG. You can also drop them in to our offices at 194 Bath Street.

Tokens must arrive by the closing date of Sunday, November 28. Each token collected will then be used to allocate cash to the nominated charity – so if your favourite charity collects 50 percent of all tokens collected, it will receive £10,000.

All eight charities are guaranteed a share of the cash pot. The other Scottish charities in the running are Ardgowan Hospice, Man On Inverclyde, Erskine, Calum’s Cabin and Autism Rocks.

The Glasgow Times is also supporting the three Glasgow charities in our More Than a Subscription initiative. For every annual subscription bought in November, we will donate £10 to be split between them.

David Bell, who founded Beloved Rabbits with his wife Feona, says Lewis Capaldi is a firm favourite with volunteers at the Kirkintilloch charity.

“I have to check their pockets at the end of the session, as they all want to take him home with them,” he says, laughing.

“We came up with the name as part of a ‘famous people’ theme. Every month we have a particular theme, because we realised very quickly when we started the charity that if we didn’t, we would have a million Thumpers and Jessicas and it would get very confusing.

“Recently we had Italian foods, and names beginning with M – anything goes, really.”

Lewis Capaldi is currently being looked after by Clydebank headteacher Louise Kelly, who has volunteered as a foster carer with the charity since 2016.

(She is also looking after Greta Bunberg and Drew Burrowmore, and they are all getting along famously.)

“Lewis is fantastic, he is just lovely,” she smiles.

“I had a rabbit for 12 years – I could never have one when I was a child, because my dad was allergic.

“So as soon as I lived on my own, I got Joey. When he died, I got two dogs, but I really missed having a rabbit. Joey was a rescue rabbit too, so when I heard about Beloved Rabbits I was keen to help out.”

Louise has looked after 70 rabbits and counting, taking two or three placements at a time and helping with day-to-day care of the bunnies in her own home.

She said: “It’s really easy to foster rabbits – the charity is amazing and gives you lots of support. I was worried first because I work full time but there is a lot of flexibility.

“They pay for the vets’ bills, supply all the equipment and are always on the end of a phone if you need them.”

The charity is based in Kirkintilloch and is on the hunt for more foster carers like Louise.

“We have about 40 but desperately need more,” explains David.

“All you have to do is be over 16, have a bit of space at home and some time to spare. We will provide all the equipment, set you up with a vet and pay all the vet bills, and our volunteers can help with support and advice.”

For Louise, it is that strong support network which makes Beloved Rabbits so special.

READ MORE: Glasgow rabbit rescue charity in line for share of £20k cash pot

“Some days it’s hard, especially if a rabbit dies, so to have someone there checking you’re okay means a lot,” she says.

“It’s all run by volunteers, and they never turn anyone away, they are so willing to help,” she said. “Any funding they receive in the Cash for Charities scheme will go a long way to helping them.”

If you would like to find out more about how to get involved with or support Beloved Rabbits, visit the charity’s website belovedrabbits.org