In Colorado Springs, Colorado, a French bulldog puppy, merely 10 weeks old, has experienced a whirlwind journey from being a homeless wanderer to playing a pivotal role in his new owners’ engagement story.
Jason Stolz, an employee at the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region specializing in adoption services, had spent the past year contemplating the perfect way to propose to his long-term girlfriend, Julia Proper. The couple, who initially connected online three years prior, realized early in their relationship during a road trip to the Pacific Northwest that they were destined to marry. “It was at that moment I knew she was the one, and we were meant to be together forever,” Stolz shared with KKTV reporter Lindsey Grewe.
Finding true love came naturally to them, but crafting the ideal proposal proved to be a challenge. That is until a tiny French bulldog named Banjo entered their lives. Banjo was discovered alone on the streets, without his mother or siblings, scampering on a sidewalk in Colorado Springs at just 6 weeks old. A kind-hearted individual found him and brought him to the place where Stolz works.
Upon seeing the little stray, it was as if lightning—or perhaps Cupid’s arrow—had struck Stolz. “He was so adorable,” Stolz remarked. “I knew I had to adopt him. Simultaneously, I had been pondering over proposing, so the idea began to take shape. Proposing with Banjo seemed like the cutest way to do it, given that Julia and I share a profound love for animals.”
Stolz had to wait two weeks before he could bring Banjo home due to the puppy’s young age. During this time, he sought Proper’s approval for the adoption. “He kept texting me photos of the puppy at work, saying how much he needed him. I was like, ‘OK,'” Proper recalled.
With Proper’s approval for the adoption, Stolz moved on to planning the crucial proposal. He got Banjo’s tag engraved with “Will you marry me?” and hid it in his work backpack for about a week, hoping Proper wouldn’t stumble upon it.
At 8 weeks old, Banjo was ready to be adopted and play his part in the proposal. “The moment he turned 8 weeks, we picked him up,” Proper said. “Jason insisted on being the one to bring him home, and I was fine with that.”
Unaware of Stolz’s plans to propose, Proper was overjoyed when he handed her the puppy. It wasn’t until Stolz urged her to check the dog tag that she realized what was happening. “I thought, ‘Oh cool, he already got the dog tag!’ But then I read it—’Will you marry me?’ I was in disbelief. It felt like a dream until I turned around to find him on one knee,” Proper shared.
Proper said yes, and the couple sealed the moment with a kiss. “I was moved to tears and speechless,” Proper expressed. “I felt an overwhelming sense of joy, as if everything was right in the world,” Stolz added.
Following the proposal, the couple shared the news with their loved ones and then spent time cuddling in bed with their new puppy. Proper mentioned they are tentatively planning a wedding for next year, with Banjo set to be the ring bearer.