Jack is our fifth Basset over the past 20 years.  Our previous dog had unfortunately passed away in January, and the void was huge.  We finally decided, after a while, that we were ready for a new family member, and waited patiently for ABC to find us a young male.  And Jack is it.

     He is handsome, strong, sweet, smart, obedient (most of the time!) and so playful!  Our 3 boys are so in love with him, and he with them.  Jack was originally called “Columbo” by his foster family, who lovingly prepared him for us, and us for him! Our boys had looked forward to naming a new dog, should we find a stray, and Jack became his name, after much discussion.  The clincher was when our sons called him “Jack” and he seemed to respond – could we have stumbled on his original name?  Or something that sounded like it?  In any event, Jack was his new name, and it fits.  He is the Jackmeister, Blackjack, the Jack Man, Jacko, and, when he is in his crate, Jack-in-the-box!  (when he’s a bad dog we can’t repeat the other nicknames)

       Our vet estimates him to be about 1 ½-2 years old – fortunately out of the puppy-chewing stage, but with lots of puppy energy once he gets going.  He can nearly outrun the best of us. Jack loves his toys, and frequently brings them over to us to invite us to play.  He is a great Frisbee chaser!  He loves his cousin Angus,  an 8 year old black Scottie who patiently tolerates his playful antics.    He knows how to “sit”, and has the most beautiful singing voice – if we all start howling or play the harmonica, he howls along, complete with a beautiful baying noise that sounds like he’s trying to hit a particular note, with his mouth in a perfect “O”. He goes everywhere with us, and loves to snuggle on someone’s lap in the car. 

      We discovered, very early on, that he is a master at counter surfing.  In fact, we never had a dog that surfed so well – pulled a steak off the counter, but was caught before he could do much damage! He loves to go to Lacrosse games with his family, and is the hit of the game – everyone asks where we got him (I have spread the good word of ABC Basset Rescue!), and are just amazed that he could have been a stray. 

     We are so happy to have Jack in our family.  He fit in as if he had lived here always.  He is the happiest, friendliest dog, and has brought us so much joy!  He loves to be with us, and us with him.      

        He is our Jack.

Ross and Anne, and boys