Few bonds are as profound as the one between a person and their dog, and for Fox News anchor Dana Perino, her connection with her Hungarian Vizsla, Percy, is nothing short of extraordinary. The former White House Press Secretary, known for her poise on The Five and America’s Newsroom, has openly shared her love for dogs, but the story behind her attachment to Percy is a heart-wrenching journey rooted in a chance encounter years ago with her previous Vizsla, Jasper. That fateful meeting, coupled with the emotional highs and lows of love, loss, and renewal, has left fans in tears and cemented Perino’s reputation as a devoted “dog mom.” With Percy now a fixture in her life, bringing joy to millions via social media, this is the emotional saga of how a random moment sparked a lifelong bond, why Perino’s dogs mean the world to her, and how their love continues to shape her heart. 🐶😭
A Chance Encounter That Started It All 🛫
Dana Perino’s love for dogs began long before she became a household name. Born in Evanston, Wyoming, and raised in Denver, Colorado, Perino grew up around animals, from her childhood poodle, Joco, to the Australian shepherds on her grandparents’ ranch. But it was a serendipitous moment in 2012 that truly defined her canine journey. While visiting a breeder in upstate New York, Perino and her husband, Peter McMahon, met a tiny Hungarian Vizsla puppy with a missing half-ear and a boundless spirit. His name was Jasper, and as Perino later wrote in her 2016 book, Let Me Tell You About Jasper… How My Best Friend Became America’s Dog, “He chose us as much as we chose him.”
The encounter wasn’t planned. Perino, then a rising star at Fox News after serving as White House Press Secretary under George W. Bush, was navigating a high-pressure career. She and Peter, married since 1998 after meeting on a flight in 1997, had previously owned a Vizsla named Henry, whose death in 2012 left a void. “Henry was a witness to my transition from a young woman of twenty-six to the more confident woman of nearly forty,” Perino wrote in her book. His loss was devastating, and Perino wasn’t sure she could open her heart again. But Jasper’s playful energy and quirky ear—likely bitten off by a sibling in the womb—changed everything. “I saw him, and I knew he was ours,” she told People.
That moment in the breeder’s barn, surrounded by yipping puppies, was a tear-jerker in itself. Jasper, barely eight weeks old, toddled over to Perino, nuzzled her hand, and promptly fell asleep in her lap. Peter, who’d been skeptical about getting another dog so soon, melted at the sight. “We were done for,” Perino recalled on The Five, her eyes misty. The couple drove home to Manhattan with Jasper curled up in a blanket, unaware that this chance meeting would spark a bond that would captivate millions and redefine Perino’s life. Fans on X later described the story as “heart-melting,” with one user tweeting, “Dana’s love for Jasper started with that puppy cuddle. I’m crying just thinking about it!”
Jasper: America’s Dog and Perino’s Anchor 🌟
Jasper quickly became more than a pet—he was a cultural phenomenon. Nicknamed “America’s Dog” on Fox News’s Red Eye, he appeared regularly on The Five and America’s Newsroom, charming viewers with his soulful eyes and playful antics. Perino’s book about him, filled with stories of his park romps and photoshopped adventures by fan FiveFanPhotoshops, became a bestseller, with readers praising its “heartwarming” and “hilarious” tales. “Jasper’s stories of walking in the park, running in the water, and making friends ring so true to us,” one Goodreads reviewer wrote.
For Perino, Jasper was a constant through life’s storms. Her high-profile career—co-hosting cable’s most-watched program and moderating GOP debates—came with intense pressure. Jasper’s presence, whether snoozing at her feet during late-night prep or greeting fans in Central Park, grounded her. “He smoothed my rough edges,” she wrote in a 2021 Fox News essay, describing how his unconditional love eased the stress of her White House days and media scrutiny. A memorable moment came when a fan dragged her sister to Central Park at 7:15 a.m. to meet Jasper, calling it the “highlight” of her trip. “I’ve heard from strangers who said they’d never been dog people until Jasper,” Perino shared, her voice breaking.
But the joy was tinged with sorrow. In September 2021, Jasper, just nine years old, succumbed to a fast-spreading cancer. Perino announced his passing on Instagram, writing, “We got to send him off—talking about all the fishing he can do in Heaven.” The post, liked over 100,000 times, left fans in tears, with one commenting, “Jasper was America’s Dog, but he was Dana’s heart.” Perino’s grief was palpable in her Fox News essay, Goodbye, Jasper, where she described waking at 3:08 a.m. to a too-quiet house. “I could feel Jasper everywhere,” she wrote. “This was his house. We were just living in it.” The loss, coupled with personal challenges, marked a turning point, deepening her appreciation for the fleeting love dogs offer.
Percy: A New Chapter Born from Love 🐶
Two months after Jasper’s death, Perino and Peter welcomed Percy, another Hungarian Vizsla, born in Hillsboro, Ohio, in November 2021. Named after a World War I veteran Peter admired in his youth, Percy was a “perfect blend” of Henry and Jasper, with an “old soul,” as Peter put it. Perino introduced him on The Five, captioning an Instagram post, “America, meet Percy Vizsla!” Fans were moved by an artist’s rendering of Jasper touching Percy from heaven, a meme Perino said could “wreck a sensitive heart.” The transition wasn’t easy—Perino feared diminishing Jasper’s memory—but she embraced Percy’s arrival as a gift. “Jasper would want us to be joyous,” she wrote.
Percy’s entry wasn’t without drama. At 11 weeks old, he gave Perino a scare when he swallowed two pebbles, leading to a tense hospital visit where Jasper had died. “Walking into that hospital with Percy was like moving through molasses,” she wrote in a 2021 Fox News column. An X-ray revealed the pebbles, and after treatment, Percy bounced back, playing “like nothing ever happened.” The incident deepened Perino’s bond with him, reinforcing her belief that “dogs make us better people,” a sentiment echoed by Charles Krauthammer after Henry’s death in 2012.
Percy, now a regular on Perino’s social media, has inherited Jasper’s charm, appearing on TikTok’s The Running Interview Show and inspiring fan art. “Percy’s a minor celebrity,” Perino joked, noting his visits to a friend’s store owned by someone who adopted Percy’s son, Sullivan. His playful energy—he once drooled through Perino’s pajamas in distress—mirrors Jasper’s spirit, keeping their home lively. Fans adore him, with one X user tweeting, “Percy’s smile is pure sunshine. Dana’s love for him makes me cry happy tears.”
Why the Attachment Runs So Deep 💔
Perino’s attachment to her dogs stems from their role as emotional anchors. Jasper and Percy have been more than pets—they’ve been companions through career highs (her White House tenure) and personal lows (Henry’s death and Jasper’s loss). “Dogs bring families together,” Perino wrote in her book, noting how Jasper and now Percy unite her and Peter, who have no children. Her childless status, shared by some fans, amplifies her connection, with one Goodreads reviewer saying, “Like Dana, our dog is the center of our attention. Her stories resonate.”
The chance encounter with Jasper in 2012 set this in motion, teaching Perino to embrace love despite its inevitable pain. “Grief is the price we pay for love,” a friend told her after Jasper’s death, a sentiment that rings true with Percy. Her openness about this—on air, in books, and on social media—has touched millions, with fans like an 84-year-old widow praising her as a “dog person” who understands their bond. “I don’t know what I’d do without my George,” the fan wrote, echoing Perino’s own devotion.
Perino’s advocacy for dogs extends beyond her home. She’s explored White House pets on Presidential Pooches and championed shelters, reflecting her belief that “dogs transcend rancor and partisanship.” Her emotional storytelling, especially about Jasper’s chance meeting, has inspired fans to adopt pets, with some crediting her for their own canine bonds. “I became a dog owner because of Jasper,” one fan shared.
A Legacy of Love and Tears 🕊️
The tear-jerking story of Perino’s attachment to Percy traces back to that barn in 2012, where Jasper’s smile chose her. His loss, and Percy’s arrival, taught her that love is worth the heartbreak—a lesson she shares with fans through raw, candid moments. With over 2 million social media followers, Perino’s dogs have become a bridge to her audience, uniting people across divides. As she wrote in Let Me Tell You About Jasper, “A dog has never been so loved and supported.” That love, born from a chance encounter, continues with Percy, making every wag and cuddle a reminder of why Perino holds her dogs so close. For viewers moved by Shetland’s emotional depth or stories of human-animal bonds, this tale of Jasper, Percy, and Perino’s heart will leave you reaching for tissues. 🐾😢