JASPER, aka Casper

2009-03-27T07:11:00.000-07:00

Update March 26, 2009

It sure smells good.

I know I can do this.

Oh! it was sure worth it.

Within his normal routine he leads a pretty normal dog life now. He barks at the squirrels and the mailman. He watches the birds out the window. Naps in the sun. Cuddles with me on the couch while I watch TV at night. He knows how to sit and come (when he feels like it J). He also knows words: walk, cookie, go outside, lay down in your bed, etc. He?ll jump up on the couch or bed if you pat it with your hand. We found a wonderful place for him to run. It's a huge wildlife reserve near here. Acres and acres of grass and lowland. He can run like the wind!! His health is good. He weighs about 50 pounds---a little chubby from long winter naps, but he also has grown a LOT since we got him. He had his teeth cleaned last fall. They are so crooked he does have trouble with big pieces of any food so we have to break treats up for him.
Our other English Setter, Molly, went to live at the rainbow bridge last fall (L RIP Molly L) She was always in charge of Jasper and our other rescue, Rocky. With Molly gone there was some tension over the winter between Rocky and Jasper as they figured out who would get first crack at the best resources. It's pretty settled now and Jasper is usually in charge. He can be quite the little napoleon, also a rather good watchdog---as long as his courage holds out. He still has his abandon ship threshold though. Too many people, new loud noises, windy sunny days, too much activity, etc. and he will run for his safe place in the closet or freeze and hope for the best.
So on one hand he still has lots of new life experiences left to handle, on the other, he has come a long way, I think. Just the other day I was talking to him and he cocked his head first to one side---then the other---the way dogs will do when they?re listening for a word they know. It was the first time I?ve ever seen him do this and I was so excited!! That'ss one of the cool things about having him. He has these little moments of progress and it just fills your heart to see it happen
Oh..also Jasper has his own twitter account. I don't know if you spend any time with Twitter. It's a little online fun thing where you can post a few sentences and say what you're up to. I opened one for Jasper so he could help make people aware of breed rescues and situations like Boat Mountain. Check it out: www.twitter.com/rescued_dog I post to it every day, mostly. It links back to the IBR blog about Jasper and Boat Mountain. It refers to Boat Mountain as a puppy mill, even though I'm not sure it was one exactly, because that's the term most people have heard of. There are about 100 people following it now. I know there are more who read it and don't log in, too. So that's kind of fun. I hope people will go to the IBR link and maybe you will get some new members or donations.
Hope all is well with you and thank you, again, for rescuing Jasper and giving him such a good start on his new life. He brings us joy every day
Take care,
Kim

2007-08-15T07:34:00.000-07:00

Jasper joined the brood last October. So he’s been here about 10 months.
I think he’s made lots of progress towards being a “regular dog.” He is still worried about new situations and people (he goes and hides in the closet when we have people over).
Also he still gets me up most nights to go outside.
He is also still very afraid to be out in the yard in the daytime. (I will just never figure that one out…)

On the upside, he loves to run on the trail (which is wooded) with the other dogs and he is much less fearful when we encounter other people, bikes, etc.
At home in comfortable surroundings, he knows his name, comes when he is called and knows to come for treats (cookies J)
He is very affectionate and loves to cuddle on the bed with us and hang out at night and watch TV with the family.
He plays well with Rocky (our Golden Retriever) and he is on an endless quest to get Molly (our female Setter) to be his girlfriend.

To his dismay, she will have nothing to do with him. J He has gained about 15 lbs. since he got here (not fat, just filled out) and he’s grown a few inches taller.
He loves to bark out the window at the birds in the yard and he like to chase butterflies (That is HILARIOUS to watch!).

So all in all things are going well for him. I am sure that having a daily routine and familiar surroundings is essential for him.
I really haven’t pushed him a lot towards new situations (e.g. like being out in the yard during the day.)
I’m not sure if that would be a good thing for him. On one hand, it seems like it would be good for him to have a wider expanse of world that he can handle. But one the other, it doesn’t take much for him to “shut down” (he just freezes and won’t move) and perhaps it’s better to let him take on new things as well as he can handle them at his own speed.

Hope all is well with you

Kim

2007-06-06T19:36:00.003-07:00

Jasper aka Casper was actually on the NBC news recently with mom Kim Diloreto. They were featured in a story about dogs coming from hoarding and puppy mill situations and how long it takes them to gain confidence in a regular home situation. Dear Casper did his mom proud. Here's the link to the story and video coverage:
http://www.nbc26.com/news/local/7571552.html

2007-02-12T10:41:00.000-08:00

My favorite is the one looking out the window because when he first came to live with us he was SO afraid of windows and the sky.

2007-02-12T10:36:00.000-08:00

I dug out the camera this morning and took these photos of Jasper for you.

Most of them are fuzzy because he was playing with the other dogs and having way too much fun to hold still for a photo.

Then there’s a nice one where he IS holding still and Rocky’s tail is in the way…oh well !

2007-02-11T20:14:00.000-08:00

He is making slow and steady progress.

He’s sleeping on my feet right now .

He’s comfortable with the routine of our house…plays with the other dogs.

Sleeps with us on the bed.

Barks at noises.

He loves to walk on the trail and he’ll go sit by the truck anytime he gets in the garage.

It’s his way of telling us he wants to go to the trail.

He has the most wonderful personality!

He’s kind of a ham .

Still…if someone new comes to the house or we meet other people on the trail, he is afraid. Not as much as he used to be though. Baby steps… J

2006-11-06T23:09:00.000-08:00

I'm Kim, Jasper's new "mom" in Neenah, Wisconsin.
I just posted a photo of Jasper and Rocky (his big red GoldenRetriever friend)running on the trail.
They are in heavy duty searchof squirrels, chipmunks and rabbits. (Of course, they never actuallycatch them...they just enjoy the chase :)
I started a new album for Jasper because I have more photos to postwhen I get the time to do it. Hope that was an OK thing to do.In general, Jasper is doing well here. Getting the hang of the noisesand people who come and go from our house.

2006-11-06T23:06:00.000-08:00

Casper's first night at HOME!

Thought I would send you all a quick Casper update…
Casper is eating and drinking well.
Also pottying outside (Yay, Casper J)
He slept next to/under our bed last night, curled up next to Rocky and Molly.
This evening he ventured out from his “safe spot” in the living room to explore the house a bit. Tonight at dusk I took him for a short run in the field behind the house.
He absolutely enjoyed that!
So now we are settling down for evening number 2.
So far, I’d say he has been a brave little hobbit J

2006-07-25T11:58:00.000-07:00

,.....little buddy,.. is that you?

2006-07-25T11:51:00.000-07:00

Casper's new foster home adopted Gimli just recently, we are hoping that Gimli will be able to help Casper to regain his confidence

2006-07-25T11:49:00.000-07:00

Dad, ...IS that you??

2006-07-25T11:46:00.000-07:00

This is Gimli,who we believe to be Casper's son

2006-07-25T11:43:00.000-07:00

Casper being reassured, by Rosiland at the shelter

2006-07-24T16:37:00.000-07:00

Casper seems to be having a bit of a courage deficit, but he's notwedged behind the toilet, so that's a good sign! He's been camped out in the corner of our couch, generally snoozing, but occasionallysitting up and doing a submarine periscope imitation before lying backdown.

2006-06-30T00:30:00.000-07:00

Casper is a survivor of the Boat Mountain Tragedy. He is a Setter Hobbit, weighing in less than 25lbs.., no larger than a small sheltie.

Since March 9th, he has been in a foster home with 4dogs, 2children, and 2 adults. He does well with everyone in the household but is very spooked with new noises.
He is slowly making steps to be more confident with his surroundings but will need lots of patience, TLC and time.

UPDATE 06-27-06- from Karen, Casper's foster mom and adoptive mom of Aimae and Phoebe: I think I finally found something that Casper really likes to do. He seemed to like running at the high school, but then started running back to the car. Same thing at the forest preserve picnic area. As soon as he would start to run, he would go back to the car. I decided to try taking him to the little woods behind the grade school near my house. There is a short path through the woods, it probably only takes 5-10 minutes to walk around the whole thing. I took him on Saturday and Sunday morning and again last night. Last night he was very excited when I put the leash on him, and practically pulled me to the front door. He seems to really like it! Maybe he is more comfortable in the woods, than in an open space. It might also help that we have to walk behind the school to get to the woods, so he can't see the car. He runs on the path, and sticks pretty close to the girls!

The best news is that after a good run, he sleeps better. He only woke up to go out once last night, instead of every hour!
Sounds like Casper would make a good hiking companion!!

NEW UPDATE 05-01-06 : "It's been just over two weeks since Casper came to stay with the girls and me.

He has been getting more comfortable and braver in the house slowly, but surely. He's gone from hiding behind the toilet in the beginning, to laying on the rug in the bathroom, to the bed.
This weekend, he finally figured out that he is safe, and how to walk on the wood floors without sliding around.
Yesterday morning was his first trip to the high school to run with the girls.
He was a little nervous at first, but enjoyed running with the girls.
He does hoppity hop a bit when he is running! He went again this morning. Last night, he came out and laid on the floor in the family room for TV night, Desperate Housewives & Grey's Anatomy.
When Aimae moved to the dog bed, he got on the couch and lounged with girls, just as comfortable as can be."

UPDATE 04-26-06 from his new foster mom and adoptive mom of Aimae and Helena- both Setters: " It's taking Casper a little longer than the other hobbits to learn that life off the mountain is good and safe.

Casper is such a sweet boy, he loves to be petted and cuddled and give kisses. He loves people, but is very timid of all the new sights and sounds in his new life. Casper's perfect forever home will be an adult only home with a confident dog, or two, to play with him.

He is fine with kids, but is too timid to probably ever be comfortable with the noise and sudden movement, that are bound to come with them.
He loves the other dogs, and wants to play and cuddle with them. Unfortunately, mine are not welcoming his attention.
He wouldn't mind playing with the cat, but she won't play with him either, so he mostly ignores her.

Casper would probably benefit from having someone home with him more than I am, but he is crate trained, and does fine in the crate during the work day. "

UPDATE 04-14-06 from Casper's foster mom: " I think of Casper as the Stallion of the Boat Mountain Setters.

He is the largest of them all but he is also on the small side for a male field bred setter but the most Strikingly beautiful of all the setters I have met.
He is the perfect size to cuddle up with on the couch or bed; he just seems to know how to fit in the perfect crevasses.
Sadly he is also one of the most frightened of the group we rescued.

Casper needs that special friend to give him his forever home. He would do great with a confident dog; he favors one of the female pointers in his foster home. He sits in front of her showing some of his stunning mane as if to say, 'Aren't I the most handsomest guy around?'

2006-06-27T06:41:00.000-07:00

Hi, I'm Casper,..you know, as in "Casper the Friendly Ghost"!?
Lucky for me ,I am not a ghost, but I might have been, if some very nice people hadn't come along and moved myself and almost my whole family, away from a very bad place,..

This is where I used to Live, with 60 other Bird Dogs!

All we had was each other