Pete asks former Dogs’ Home guest Copper: 'Where are you now?’
Followers of our social media might remember Copper. He was one of many Hounds who were with us for far too long over 2023-24. Cool dude Copper came to us as a stray in June 2023 and stayed with us until February last year, when his new family swept in like knights in shining armour and took him off to his exciting new life. Now, AmbassaDog and Special CorresPAWndent Charles “Pete” Conrad Jnr finds out what Copper’s been keeping busy with.
Pete: How long have you been with your humans?
Copper: I first met dad and mum in January 2024. They came to Devonport to see me with my now brother, Roy. They left and I didn’t hear from them for a few weeks, so I thought they must’ve decided not to have me in their lives. Then, out of the blue in early February, my new Dad turned up and took me home! The funny thing is, Mum didn’t know until she got home from work later that day!
Pete: Do you have any animal companions? Do you like them?
Copper: Yes, my brother Roy! He’s a nice old fellow — an 1a-year-old Bulldog-Labrador cross! He lost his sister and needed a new buddy, and that’s when I stepped in! He’s my alpha, but we have lots of adventures together!
Pete: Are there any special things you do with your humans?
Copper: Oh dog, where do I start? We walk our country road every morning, lots of playing and cuddles, we run around the paddocks, and then there’s my favourite — beach runs alongside the Land Rover! And I also love bedtime when I come inside, get some more cuddles, then curl up on my couch with Roy.
Pete: What are your favourite things?
Copper: I love it when Dad brings a fresh marrow bone from the butcher, when I get to play with everyone in the garden, and the beach runs are amazing … and exhausting, I usually run for about five kilometres!
Pete: What are your happiest memories with your humans?
Copper: Easy! Getting food snuck to me while they have dinner… Dad is a huge softy and always secretly passes me and Roy a tasty treat.
Pete: My slave refuses to feed me from the dinner table. What a cretin. And your dislikes?
Copper: Hmmm, maybe when I have to stay outside when they have visitors. I don’t get it! There’s lots of other humans in there for me to sniff, lick and snuggle, but for some reason I have to stay out until they all leave.
Pete: My human is very odd. Is there something odd that you have discovered about your humans?
Copper: Yep! There is Mum and Dad, and they have three of their own humans too, and they’re all pretty weird! Lots of silly games and laughing! Humans are so strange …
Pete: My human says that I’m very strange. Of course, they are wrong. What do your humans think is strange about you?
Copper: Well, they think it’s weird that I back up to the couch and sit my butt on the couch but keep my front legs on the floor. But I find this the optimal way to sit so I get a back scratch while also still being able to watch TV … and, apparently, I’m NOT a lap dog?
Pete: I like to jump on my human’s lap, put my butt on their chest and then sliiiiiiide down. They say I’m an asshat, or something like that. One thing my human does that I do like is reassure me that that they love me and everything is okay. How has being in love and loved made a difference in your life? Why do they keep forcing me to ask this soppy question?
Copper: Well, I was always looked after so well at the Dogs’ Homes, they were amazing! But now I have my own humans that I see every morning. I wait at the gate for them every night. When they come home I get a big pat and then we have lots of playtime, walks and cuddles. It’s just how it’s meant to be! I think I’ve made Dad become a softy because the other humans say that “dogs aren’t allowed on the couch” but I’m up there all the time with him!
Pete: If you could speak human, what would you say to your humans?
Copper: Well, I wish I could ring up the people at the Dogs’ Homes and thank them for being my foster carers until Mum and Dad showed up. Then I’d tell Mum and Dad and their humans that I AM a lap dog and that they should let me lie all over them while they watch TV. I’d also thank them for bringing me home to play with Roy — although I was meant to help make him happy after losing his sister, he also makes me so happy by being my older, wiser and chubbier big bro. And maybe I’d also ask them to give me just a few more treats, especially Dad’s yummy steak!
