Jasper Australian Cattle Dog / Blue Heeler Greenfield , MA

TO CONTACT THE FOSTER HOME, email luker.laura@gmail.com. DO NOT use the Petfinder form. Inquiries don't reach us.

Wow, just wow. That’s all I can say. I am humbled and honored to accept this award. There are so many people to thank - where to start? I guess at the beginning. Thanks to ACDRA. For a while, I was running the streets, making my own way, partying, whatever. Until the doggy police caught up with me. I was so bummed until ACDRA bailed me out of lockup and sent me to cattle dog reform school.

I’ll be honest. When I first got here, I gave the foster moms some problems. See, I never had rules before. I did what I wanted, chewed things up, just, like...partied, you know? I thought I could jump up and take whatever I wanted. I could not even believe it when they told me I couldn’t rip up blankets! But you know what? I have started to get it. My foster moms say that consistency and boundaries are really important to me, and I have to admit they’re right. I’m starting to find out that I’m really smart and I can have self control if I work at it. But some days it’s hard to stay on the straight and narrow. I’ll need an adopter who can help me remember how to be a good boy until it comes naturally to me.

These days, I have a schedule. I eat healthy - the moms put away all the tempting blankets - and I sleep in a crate any time they can’t watch me. I get plenty of exercise, which has been super important to my mental health. If I get bored, my mind goes right back to my party boy days! I do still have flashbacks to those days, though. For example, when I have a toy I really like, I am not good at letting it go. Foster moms say this is called resource guarding. I also distrust humans until I get to know them and may get growly until they prove that they are friends. My foster moms are teaching me to wear a muzzle, just to be on the safe side.

Speaking of moms, I see one of them right there in the front row. Get on up here and say a few words, Ma!

Foster mom here - Jasper is about two years old. He weighs about 65 lbs, is neutered, microchipped, and is up to date on all vaccinations and preventives. His ideal environment would be a very quiet one with plenty of secure space to exercise. He is learning to be polite on leash walks, but he gets over excited very easily and will even lunge at vehicles when overstimulated. He cannot go to a home with young children or cats. He would be absolutely thrilled to be an only dog - this would be ideal for him. If you are a potential adopter with resident dogs, you would need to be very familiar with proper dog introductions and managing interactions as he can be dog selective. Also, because he does show resource guarding tendencies, Jasper will come with a training requirement.

Jasper is being fostered in western MA. You can reach out to his foster mom with questions at luker.laura@gmail.com.

COMPLETE AN APPLICATION
http://www.acdra.org/adoption-application