SWEET OPPORTUNITY

Berks dog doesn’t get the top prize but wins plenty of hearts in Cadbury Easter competition

Hunter the coonhound made a valiant effort to be named the 2023 Cadbury Bunny and to be featured in a commercial touting the Easter basket staple. Alas, the Alsace Township hound lost to a one-eyed cat named Crash.

In addition to losing an eye, the now 8-year-old feline suffered some broken bones after being hit by a car. After recuperating, Crash became the resident shelter cat at Simply Cats in Boise, Idaho.

Crash can do several tricks, including giving a high five. The cat will be appearing in this year’s Cadbury Creme Egg commercial.

Cadbury, a division of Hershey Co., has been holding bunny tryouts for five years.

The Miller family adopted Hunter from Brandywine Valley SPCA‘s West Chester shelter on Easter in 2021, after the dog had been returned twice. Hunter was one of 10 finalists in the 2023 Cadbury Bunny Tryouts.

“We had a lot of fun doing it and we were happy to be a part of showcasing, bringing light to rescued pets all over,” said Megan Miller.

She said she has not yet been able to find out how

Hunter did in the overall vote count. Early in the voting, the local hound was in seventh place according to a Facebook post from Cadbury.

The family’s fun included an appearance on “Good Day Philadelphia” on Fox Channel 29. Megan, her husband, Alex; and daughter Brooklyn, 10, appeared with Hunter on March 14, the last day of voting for the contest. The coonhound even demonstrated its melodious voice during the interview.

Megan also also did a Zoom interview with a Maine news station, where her brother had a connection. The family is originally from Maine and has lived in Berks County five years.

The Millers and Hunter didn’t come away emptyhanded

and empty-pawed. When Hunter was named a finalist the family received a box containing Cadbury chocolate candy, official Cadbury Bunny ears and a dog toy.

“We’re excited to see

where the $5,000 donation goes to,” Miller said.

While there has been no official declaration from Crash, it is probably a good bet Simply Cats will be getting the $5,000 winner’s choice shelter donation in

addition to the $5,000 that the feline won.

Hershey also is donating $20,000 to the ASPCA in celebration of the Cadbury Bunny Tryouts, according to a statement from the company.

MEGAN MILLER/CADBURY Hunter, left, is an Alsace Township coonhound owned by the Miller family who was a top-10finalist for the 2023Cadbury Bunny Tryouts contest. Crash the cat was this year’s winner and will appear in the Cadbury Egg commercial.