Meet Your furry neighbor: Jack—a friendly, energetic Beagle–Jack Russell mix who’s been bringing smiles (and a little chaos) to the Carpenter family since 2018.

Jack’s story starts in an unexpected place: a snowy roadside in South Carolina. After a rare 2018 snowfall, a young woman found the then-stray pup. Despite searching extensively online, she couldn’t locate his owners. Her boyfriend’s mom—who happened to be a neighbor of the Carpenters—suggested Jack might be the perfect fit for a family whose son had been dreaming of a dog.

“We weren’t sure at first,” Kristie Carpenter admits, “but we knew our son really wanted a dog. And when we met Jack, we couldn’t say no.”

Jack officially became part of the family on March 2, 2018. He arrived with a name already—one that felt fitting and familiar. “The young people who found him were calling him Jack, and we thought it would be easier for him to keep it after everything he’d been through,” Kristie says.

From day one, Jack made his presence known. “He’s super friendly but doesn’t really understand personal space,” Kristie laughs. “He loves people and gets so excited he’ll just start jumping.” He’s also a notorious food thief. “If you walk away from your plate and Jack can reach it, consider it gone.”

But Jack’s mischievous side is matched by his deep loyalty. One of Kristie’s favorite memories is the day they surprised her oldest son with Jack after school. “He was so happy,” she recalls. “Jack has been his best friend ever since.” And when her son came down with the flu last year, Jack barely left his bedside, staying close and offering comfort like only a devoted pet can.

Jack also has a signature move: army crawling across the grass, much to the delight of anyone watching. He doesn’t have a favorite treat—he loves all of them—and is always up for a neighborhood stroll, happily greeting any dog that crosses his path.

After 11 years in the neighborhood, the Carpenters say it’s the sense of community is what they love most about Westbrook. And Jack is definitely part of that community—wagging, wiggling, and spreading joy on every walk.