Casper
1st January 2026
Casper, a cocker spaniel/border collie mix, was one of our residents.
From the minute he arrived, it became apparent that he had difficulty trusting humans. He was aggressive around food, but his mistrust and genetic disposition could cause seemingly random aggressive outbursts which made managing him challenging.
Kez worked intensely with Casper to gain his trust, and was able to bond with him. His unfortunate genetics, coupled with a very poor start in life, impacted Casper’s perception and behaviour, and despite ongoing input and training, his challenging behaviours remained a part of who he was.
Over time Casper discovered safety and security in his routine here, and little by little, with careful management and a select group of named handlers led by Kez, his sharp edges smoothed somewhat, and he mellowed a little. He was good around other dogs, and became a valued ‘stooge’ dog. He enjoyed his walkies, loved food, and allowed some favoured folk to give him a fuss, on his terms! Anything invasive, such as grooming, tested our ingenuity, but we found ways of managing his quirks, some more successfully than others.
As an older chap, Casper mellowed further, his group of named handlers continued to expand, and our handsome boy became a firm favourite with staff and volunteers alike. Knowing his history, it was considered an absolute privilege to be able to spend time with Casper, and be accepted by him. He always looked surprised and baffled by such attention, but somewhere along the line he decided that having humans in his space wasn’t that bad after all.
More recently, Casper struggled with the inevitable arthritis and spondylosis so common in older dogs, but took his medications and support supplements in food quite happily. We suspected that his time wasn’t far off. He was sleeping a lot, and very deeply. He loved the big, hand knitted donated blankets, and always kept a perfect bed. Last night was the worst ‘New Year’ since we arrived here in 2010, with fireworks going off almost continuously from around 5.30pm. We were in and out, up and down the kennel runs until the early hours, when it finally fell quiet and the dogs, and us, were finally able to settle.
This morning Casper couldn’t stand, or move his legs. His back had gone completely, as had his bowel control. For the first time ever, food didn’t interest him. He didn’t understand what had happened to him.
Casper left us at 11.44am this morning, closing the door on another chapter in the life of K9 Crusaders. End of an era, Cas. At peace now, handsome lad.