Jasper tried to adopt a Hippo and got in trouble

 Hello Boys and Girls,
HOW are you all this week?
Great news from the Zoo. Mammy Seanna the Californian sea lion has had a new baby and my friend Keeper Zoe has sent me on a lovely photo.
I’m glad they are still talking to me after the misunderstanding when I tried to adopt a Hippo.
You see my friends in Dublin Zoo sent me some information on their ‘Adopt an Animal’ scheme. I’m afraid I got so excited that I didn’t read it properly.
I jumped in the car and headed straight for the Zoo. I decided I’d adopt a Hippo. I had a cattle traile on the back that I’d borrowed from Farmer Pat. The plan was to adopt my old friend Harold the Hippo and bring him home to Rose Cottage.
We have a lovely pond and plenty of space around where Harold could relax and do Hippo things — whatever they are.
Anyway, when I got there the Zoo was closed but I backed the trailer up to the fence and hopped over. Not a good idea. I was in the Wolf enclosure. I got out pretty quickly but not before an angry one tore the backside out of my best trousers.
I was more careful the second time and got in safe enough. I found Harold and told him of my plan. “Whatever,” he said and yawned a huge yawn that could swallow half of fifth class. But he wouldn’t, he’s just a laidback, cool Hippo.
I left a note for Keeper Jim telling him I was adopting Harold as part of the Zoo’s ‘Adopt an Animal’ policy.
It was easy enough to get Harold out a side gate and I lured him into the trailer with a big bunch of bananas. Hippos love bananas, you know.
Anyway we set off for home with the trailer practically dragging on the ground. It was a long trip because I had to keep stopping to let Harold out for a pee.
It was nearly morning when we got back to Rose Cottage. I thought what a surprise Aunt Molly will get when she wakes up in the morning and finds we have adopted our very own Hippo.
I showed Harold his pond and his new barn and he seemed happy enough so I went off to bed.
I was awoken suddenly a few hours later to the sound of shrieking. Molly had found Harold and it wasn’t the surprise I had intended.
Poor Harold wasn’t too happy either with this reception from his new mother and he headed for the hills, taking Molly’s clothesline with him.
You wouldn’t believe the mess a Hippo on the run can make. Pretty soon there was a Hippo search party out, led by a very cross Garda Mick. They finally found Harold out in Lough Luddy and he had no intention of leaving.
As soon as anyone came near he went down to the bottom and stayed there for ages. Hippos can do that, you know.
Finally the Zoo people arrived and Keeper Jim persuaded Harold that his little holiday was over and he’d be happier in the Zoo with all his friends.
Before they left in a big truck Keeper Jim explained that adopting a Zoo animal did not mean taking them home. You adopt an animal and help pay for their upkeep.
He persuaded me that it might be better if I adopted an animal like the new sea lion pup as it is an ideal way of helping Dublin Zoo provide medicines, food, ‘enrichment toys’ and a spacious home resembling as near as possible the habitat enjoyed by their wild cousins.
Molly agreed and signed up straight away. “We can afford it because you’re not getting any pocket money for three months,” she said. Oh dear! No matter what I do I get in trouble.
Bye for now
Uncle Jasper