Interview: Jasper

Pets, they’re your best friend and confidant. Big or small, fluffy or a bit scruffy, it doesn’t matter, we love them all. They’re there for you unconditionally and the feeling is mutual. Our interview series celebrates this special bond between animals and hoomans. Let the awws begin.

Doggo: Jasper (1 year old), a Collie crossbreed

Also known as: Big Puppa, Creeper, Lurker, Sausage Breath, Cat Dog, Goblin

Home: London, UK

We both grew up with dogs and had always wanted one (or more..) of our own, but it wasn’t an option because of work. Our situation changed and at the start of 2020 we started applying to lots of UK rescues. We were surprised that there were far fewer dogs needing homes than we expected, especially that we were allowed to re-home as first-time adopters. We then started to look at rescues abroad and were really shocked by how many dogs needed homes, particularly in Romania, where there is a huge problem with stray dogs and few animal welfare laws.

We came across The Pack Project (a UK-based charity which homes Romanian rescue dogs) and saw a post about a litter of 13 puppies who were discovered in a field with their mum. If they hadn’t been found, they likely wouldn’t have survived the winter in Romania.

After a very thorough phone interview and home check, we were approved to adopt Jasper and two weeks later he was making the three-day journey across Europe in a van to the UK!

The day we drove to pick him up was nerve-wracking, but we were just so excited to get him home.

Even though he was six months old when he arrived, there were so many everyday things Jasper hadn’t experienced before, like the kettle boiling or a doorbell ringing. He was terrified of cars, new people and even other dogs and we had to work really hard to build his confidence and help him adjust to his new life in London. It’s now been almost six months since he arrived and we are so proud of the progress he’s made. We’d even say most of the time he is a pretty “normal” dog!

Jasper is a playful, greedy, and loveable weirdo. It’s impossible to pick just one thing we love most about Jasper, but just seeing his face in the morning just sets the day off to the best start. Jasper is constantly trying to chase and catch insects, which can be worrisome. One day quite early on, he picked up a bee and carried it halfway across the garden in his mouth before we realised what he was doing! By some miracle, he wasn’t stung and we managed to save the bee too, but we are extra vigilant now!

Jasper’s arrival coincided with the start of the COVID-19 outbreak in the UK, so it feels like everything has changed since we got him! We really couldn’t imagine life without him now and love watching his personality come out more and more. We’re constantly amazed by how far he has come from the terrified little puppy we picked up back in March!

Follow Jasper as he adapts to his new life in London on Instagram here.