Carrie Long is a kind person from Texas Fawn and Friends who knows a lot about helping deer. But she doesn’t just care for deer—she helps other animals too! One day, she got a call about a tiny 3-week-old raccoon who needed help. The raccoon, named Jasper, was found all alone in a rainstorm, wet and sitting in a puddle. His mom had left him behind, and he was the smallest of his brothers and sisters.
A woman found Jasper and asked Carrie for help. Carrie wasn’t sure if Jasper would survive because he was so weak. “We didn’t know if he’d make it,” she told The Dodo. But with Carrie’s love and care, Jasper got stronger every day. Soon, he wasn’t just alive—he was happy and healthy!
Jasper grew up into a big raccoon. He could have gone back to the wild, but he decided to stay at Carrie’s sanctuary instead. Having been all alone once, Jasper wanted to help other animals who felt lonely too. At Texas Fawn and Friends, he made friends with 75 deer who also lived there.
Out of all the deer, Jasper picked one special friend named Hope. Hope was a baby deer who had lost her mom, just like Jasper. Carrie told My Modern Met that Hope came to her needing a home. Jasper loved playing with Hope, even though she was bigger than the dogs he liked to chase. They became best buddies!
Whenever Jasper sees Hope, he gets so excited. He runs to her, licks her face, and gives her big hugs. A video of them playing together got over 55,000 views because it’s so cute! In the video, Jasper climbs on Hope, lays on her back, and wraps his arms around her neck. He can be a little wild when he plays, but Hope doesn’t mind. She lets him use her like a playground!
Carrie says Jasper and Hope see each other every day. In the evenings, Hope even lies down next to Jasper. “They’ve got a cool friendship,” Carrie said. It’s a happy sight to see at Texas Fawn and Friends.
Carrie’s sanctuary is full of stories like this. In 2022, she expects to take care of at least 100 baby deer who don’t have moms. She works hard to give them a safe place to grow up strong. “It’s very rewarding work,” Carrie says, happy to help these animals.
If you want to learn more about Texas Fawn and Friends or help out, you can visit texasfawn.com. Watch the video below to see Jasper and Hope’s adorable friendship for yourself! Share this story with your friends and family so they can enjoy it too.
