When you live at Jasper our experienced team of professionals does everything to make your daily routine as carefree as possible.  We understand that your life can also include pets and one team member, in particular, is an expert on your pet companions.

Meet Thomas Johnson, Pet Concierge at Jasper.   Thomas was good enough to take time to share a little insight into his position and dealings at Rincon Hill’s premiere rental community.

Are you a proud parent of a pet or pet(s)?
I have four small dogs; total weight 38lbs. 

There’s Beaumont. Your basic brown Chihuahua, like from the Taco Bell commercials in the late 90’s. He’s the point man for any perceived threats and thinks he’s the size of a Rhino. This is a condition that has gotten him scuffed-up a time or two. He loves to find a sunny spot and scope his domain. I got him from the Berkeley shelter. He was a scared little guy but quickly put it behind him. 

Then there’s Munky. She’s a Chihuahua Maltese mix. There might be some Whippet there too as she is fast as lightning and has a similar body type as a Whippet. She’s black, with little brown eyebrows. She’s Beaumont’s self-appointed guardian; she backs him up. She loves messing with Beau; fobbing her paws on his face to make him growl. I got her from a drunk girl at a watering hole in El Cerrito. 

Lola came to me next. She was very damaged from some past abuse and being abandoned. She’s what I call a CreamSicle Chihuahua; she has that Vanilla and Orange color.  Basically, she just loves her dad. She never had stability and continuous love, so just the simple act of bringing her into a calm, steady, loving household has made her blossom. People who know her always tell me they can’t believe the change in her. 

Cleopatra is a little black and white Toy Terrier. She weighs about six lbs. and is very excitable. She was left with me by an acquaintance who never came back from Colorado after I agreed to watch her for a couple of weeks along with a turtle I call Miss Chompers who currently weighs about 3.5 lbs. Cleo’s a burrower; loves to get under blankets and hoard treats and toys. At the last place I lived when I was moving I found maybe three pounds of biscuits buried under her blanket. That is not an exaggeration. She’s got the fastest tongue in the west; get too close and she’ll French kiss you so fast you won’t believe it. 

Share a little about your journey to become Jasper’s new Pet Concierge:
I never worked in a building like Jasper before. 40 stories means a completely different lifestyle for pets. Immediately I realized that if you have a cat you can’t ever open that door to your balcony unless they’re secured. I’m not sure cats understand what 20, 30, or 40 stories is. My cat Rosie always had a yard. She was allowed outside only if I was home and at night she had to come inside. But she had her little adventures every day. An apartment building cat needs more stimulation. Either from their owner or another cat. Or someone like me. With dogs, around the neighborhood you see all these dog walkers with five or more dogs and there’s always some poor little guy being dragged on its butt. That’s what you get when you hire someone that does not have a relationship with your pet.  It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that a designated person in your apartment building who you know and trust makes for a far better option. I wasn’t the only one to come to this conclusion and thus Pet Concierge was conceived. 

I would never leave my dogs with a stranger unless I was laid-up in the hospital or out on a slab.  ( I have a power of Attorney for that) I  find it hard to even leave them with friends because people don’t generally understand your love for your pets and don’t hold them in that high esteem. So I’m the right person to be caring for someone’s pet.  I get it.  I am hyper vigilant in keeping my dogs safe, healthy and happy. If I knew I had someone like that to care for my pet I wouldn’t be stressed about it when I have to leave them.

What services does Jasper’s Pet Concierge offer?
To start it will be pet walking and play dates, pet spa, feeding. It could evolve from there. People have all sorts of pets. My turtle has special needs. She’s messy and needs fresh water and the right food. It’s nice to have someone who understands that. 

What do you think residents will love most about the new concierge service?
It’s someone in their building who is accessible. I’m there every day. Not some stranger who may or may not be available next time; or ever. Plus we don’t plan to be punitive like other services like outrageous cancellation fees and two week notice requirements.

What will surprise residences most to learn?
Already it has surprised residents that we’re going to be doing this in-house. I think it’s basically unheard-of.

Does Jasper have a pet mascot or president of the building?
Not currently. My dogs live elsewhere but my property manager just adopted a fine little fellow named Vegas who probably had a pretty rough go of it prior to having the heck spoiled out of him all of a sudden.

Are there any doggie besties that’ve been made at Jasper?
Residents tend to move their dogs in and out of the building quickly so as to avoid a lot of barking but on other projects in the building I’ve met quite a few. Reilly, a handsome, regal looking Rhodesian Ridgeback seems to like me. Then there’s a little Bulldog named Jazz who has energy for days and will bring his toy back for you to throw until your arm falls off then go look for someone not as lame. And there’s Panda, not sure of her breed but she looks like a Panda and is just this great little pup with a fine disposition; a joy to have around.

Who is currently the longest pet resident at Jasper?
Probably Riley, the Rhodesian Ridgeback is our oldest pet resident. 

Lightning Round

Favorite pet-friendly spot in SF:  Baker Beach

4 favorite spots to take Fido to play:  Rincon Hill dog park, Mission bay dog park, Mission creek dog park, Lafayette dog park.

3 favorite pet apps:  Fuzzy, Michelson found animals. (Not really an App. But a great resource.) Tagg, dog tracking App.

Favorite SF Happy Hour spot + drink to take Fido:  Bender’s Bar & Grill

Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions, Thomas.  Jasper is fortunate to have you as part of the team.

The Royal Treatment
In ancient Greece, any guest could be a god. That’s how we think of our residents and the folks they invite over. It translates to more than just respectful customer service. It means genuine empathy and concern for people’s well-being. Our 24/7 on-site staff obsess over details to make your home life warm and comfortable. You can hit them up for anything from laundry pickup and local organic food delivery to dog walking and excursion planning. Friendliness begets friendliness. Joy yields more joy. That’s what it’s all about. Discover new, luxury San Francisco apartments at Jasper in Rincon Hill. Be sure to follow Jasper on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google+ and Instagram as we share news and updates about our exciting new community. #RentJasper It’s a heck of a place to call home.