How We Met: Philip and Jarvis

Words by Mel Elliott

Photos supplied by Philip Oakley

Philip Oakley and Jarvis live in a converted warehouse in Hastings.

Jarvis’ twin brother, Joe, sadly died of cancer 5 years ago and his shrine sits upon a sideboard and includes all of his favourite cuddly toys huddled lovingly around a portrait by local artist, Claire Fletcher.

“We were looking at dogs online. Olivia’s parents wanted a cocker spaniel, as did our friend” Philip says while we sit in their converted warehouse.  “Olivia (Philip’s partner) found some cocker spaniel pups and arranged to get one for her parents and one for the friend. I remember there was bad snow that year and the breeder drove from Barbstable in Devon and met us in Morrison’s car park. I’m originally from Barnstable myself so that was quite funny. So we took the dogs but then we very soon realised that our friend couldn’t look after a dog and Olivia’s parents didn’t want them so they became our dogs.

When Jarvis and Joe were very small puppies, they helped to raise funds for St Michael’s Hospice. The pups were taken along to the hospice to deliver £1,200.

“There was a guy named Joe who had all his family around him and he looked like he was going to die but I remember how Joe and Jarvis just cut through the tension. They sat at either side of this guy and he thanked me for bringing them along”, Philip tells me.

Philip, Jarvis and Joe enjoyed many adventures along the way. They loved living by the sea and once the RNLI had to rescue them from swimming out further than the eye could see. Since then they were only allowed to swim whilst attached to a 20 metre long leash.

Poor Jarvis is fifteen now and suffered a stroke several months ago. We discussed how the effects of a stroke are similar between human and canine and Philip mentioned how Jarvis’ personality has changed. “When he gets stressed he goes around in circles” Philip says.

These days Jarvis can only walk short distances. “He likes to walk to The Imperial and back” Philip says.

You may have seen Philip and Jarvis around town with Jarvis and his cuddly toys sitting snuggily in a Joe and Jarvis mobile that Philip made for the illuminated bike rides years ago.

Elderly people come over to pet him Philip says, “It’s called ‘thirding’, they do it because they actually want to speak to a person.”

Philip is all too aware the Jarvis is approaching the end of his life and speaking to him it’s abundantly clear how hard this will be for him and Olivia.

“We’ve commissioned quite a few artists over the years to make pictures and sculptures of them ‘cause sometimes you say you’re going to do something but then when an animal or someone dies you never get around to doing it because it would actually be quite painful"

“Some people suggest that I have him put down. They think they’re being helpful but they never say anything that I havent already thought of. Weirdly, I think it’s changed my views on assisted dying” he says “I don’t feel I have the right to end his life”.

“He’s like my son. I’ve never had children”, Philip says.