Hello, it’s Jasper.

My life changed when I was adopted on August 11, 2018. I’d been at the shelter for four months by then, so I was a long-term resident. My dog mom, Samantha, was browsing Facebook when she stumbled upon a live video from Austin Animal Center. The facility was experiencing a “code red” and desperately pleading for families to foster or adopt large dogs like me (I’m a Catahoula mix, and I was two years old at the time). On the video, I was packed into a cage and placed in a tiny storage room with my fellow “overflow dogs.” Samantha caught a glimpse of my bright blue eyes and knew she had to have me. She called my dog dad, Kenny, and cried on the phone, asking him to save me. After a two-hour drive in the pouring rain, my soon-to-be dog dad met me. I instantly captured his heart.

Soon after, I met my new dog mom. I came from a background of abuse and neglect, which left me afraid of women. I loved my dog mom, but I was also scared. I would flinch at sudden movements and get defensive if her tone of voice changed. Our first few months were rough, to say the least. But Samantha worked day in and day out to gain my trust. Building the bond we have now was not an easy task. I had zero training when I was adopted, so Samantha taught me everything I know. The more we trained, the happier I became. Progress was slow, but every day we grew closer. Now, we are inseparable.

After working with dog Mom for nearly a year, I earned a special promotion. I am now her service dog. I am trained to perform a variety of amazing tasks to assist her in daily life, including allergy detection, head protection, blood sugar detection, and deep pressure therapy. I love to learn new tasks and am constantly working hard to make Mom’s life easier.

Today, I am the happiest goofball in town. I love to play frisbee, and my favorite treat is chicken. You can often find me hiking a new trail with my parents and playing at the dog park. I am also an avid butt rub advocate and, according to my two ferret brothers, Remus and Ollie, an excellent cuddler. I have traveled to thirteen states this year and plan to explore more next year. I have never met a stranger, and I love to give sloppy kisses to every new friend.