Leo may have lived in Greater Victoria for less than five years, but the 13-year-old dog has quickly built a reputation as one of the capital region’s most well-known pooches.
Without saying a word, save for a few enthusiastic butt wiggles, Leo has won the hearts of residents, tourists and politicians alike. Even Prime Minister Mark Carney is among the lucky ones to have crossed paths with him.
While every story has a beginning, Leo’s story on Vancouver Island began back in 2021, when his human, Raechel Tupman, moved from the mainland to Saanich to help her aging father.
In the midst of the pandemic, Tupman, her dad, and Leo would go on walks to connect, exercise, and break the confinement of isolation.
Tupman’s father was born and raised on the South Island. After graduating from Victoria High in the 1950s, he knew the region like the back of his hand. Among his favourite places was the B.C. legislature.
Drawn to its history, symbolism and architecture, the legislature grounds became the trio’s chosen spot for their daily walks.
However, Tupman’s dad passed away in December of 2022. To honour his memory, Tupman and Leo continued their habitual morning walk.
“I kept walking here with Leo because I felt close to him,” she said. “Dad and I were 20 years apart, so we were friends. It was a terrible loss.”
Leo sits with his mom, Rachel Tupman, in front of the B.C. legislature. (Olivier Laurin/Saanich News)
As time went on, Leo developed an extensive network of admirers. From legislative protective services officers to reporters, local politicians and mailroom staff, everyone wanted to meet him, often with a biscuit from the jar kept nearby for his visits.
Beyond the legislature, the canine darling also gained fans among tourists arriving on cruise ships, many of whom had left their own dogs at home and saw a little bit of their beloved pets in Leo. Keeping track of his encounters, Tupman counted visitors from 39 U.S. states and 11 countries.
A true diplomat at heart, Leo’s most memorable interaction, Tupman said, was when they met Canada’s Prime Minister.
“We saw him exiting the building just by chance, going to his car, and he made a beeline for Leo,” she said. “He told me that his wife and children are cat lovers, but he’s a dog lover.”
Leo rubs shoulder with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney (Photo courtesy Raechel Tupman)
While Leo’s imposing appearance may evoke a tinge of fear in some people, Tupman said it’s merely a facade masking the softest puppy she’s ever met.
“He scares people because he does have that bully breed, but he’s the most gentle, loving dog,” she said.
Following a DNA test, Tupman found out that Leo was a mixture of 16 different breeds, effectively making him a supermutt, although American bully, golden retriever and pit bull seem to have been the dominant ones.
Leo meets with legislature staff to ensure the cookie jar is filled with his favourite treats. (Photo courtesy of Raechel Tupman)
Seeking to “soften” his imposing appearance, Tupman began dressing Leo in a wide array of bandanas, from colourful patterns to a special one made from her dad’s favourite shirt. With 43 neck pieces and counting in his wardrobe, Leo has become something of a canine fashion icon.
Besides his appearance, Tupman said Leo’s charm comes from what she describes as his keen intuition and care for others. With just one glance, he can size someone up, sensing when they need a little extra support.
“One day we were walking across the (legislature’s) front lawn, and a woman was walking with great purpose and she stopped to talk to Leo and then sat at the foot of the Queen Victoria statue,” Tupman said. “And I thought, what’s going on here? Suddenly she burst out crying because she had just had to put her dog down the day before. Leo knew something was up.”
Leaning into Leo’s natural magnetism, Tupman learned to harness his presence as a force for good, helping people connect, spreading kindness and embodying her father’s belief that “goodness expands.”
“What I found is the more he drew people in, the more comfortable I was with stopping and chatting, and the layers would come off,” she said.
“It often goes beyond a simple hello and becomes an incredible connection.”
And Leo also uses this power to unite the province’s many elected officials, during a time of growing polarization, bridging political divides regardless of party affiliation. Tupman affectionately dubbed him the “nonpartisan puppy.”
MLAs Amelia Boultbee and Elenore Sturko pose with Leo in front of the B.C. legislature. (Photo courtesy of Raechel Tupman)
Now writing a children’s book documenting Leo’s many tales and the friends he made along the way, Tupman hopes her beloved companion can bring as much joy to others as he brought to her.
“He’ll be my one and only dog,” she said. “He just comforted me through the loss of both my parents and a dear friend, so it’s almost like an unofficial emotional support dog.”
To see more of Leo’s adventures, follow his Instagram page, @a_walk_with_leo.