Scalfani family dogs

The Scalfani household has seen its share of dogs over the years, but any canine unlucky enough to land there isn’t exactly in for a life of tail-wagging bliss. With a revolving door of pets treated more like temporary accessories than lifelong companions, the Scalfanis’ track record with their four-legged "family members" raises eyebrows, and plenty of questions.

Cupcake

Cupcake was Jack's first known dog from around the California days. According to Joe Chavez, Cupcake got really fat late in its life.

Chief and Luna

Chief and Luna, being unfortunate enough to land in the Scalfani household

Chief and Luna were a pair of labradors adopted for free by Junior and Brianna on 5 February 2022, presumably under the notion that two large dogs would somehow thrive in a small apartment with zero regard for the building’s pet policies. Junior and Brianna, in their infinite wisdom, decided the best course of action after realising they couldn’t keep the dogs was to flip them like rare sneakers. On 11 May, they listed the dogs on Craigslist for $1000—a move that violated both the site’s terms of service and basic common decency. Unsurprisingly, the listing was quickly taken down.

Undeterred by their failed attempt at profiting off living beings, the dynamic duo tried again on 28 May, this time slashing the "price" to $800. Craigslist’s moderators, however, were quick to shut it down once more. The dogs eventually left the Scalfanis' hands by another undisclosed method. One can only hope the dogs ended up in a far better situation—possibly with owners who saw them as pets rather than assets.

HOPE

Jack being confidently wrong as usual.

“	Jack only wanted HOPE for those first few puppy months to gain the narc hit. Now she’s just a liability that isn’t housebroken, never gets walks, and is now shackled with a shock collar because Jagoff nor the fat bitch Hammy bothered to train her. No enrichment, no walks—confined at 103 Thomas Ct.	”
An observant Foodjack

In March 2022, Jack proudly introduced Hope (or HOPE, in all caps) a puppy he claimed was a "full-blooded Beagle from a reputable breeder." Jack repeatedly doubled down on this assertion across multiple Facebook posts, confidently telling commenters that Hope was a beagle “through and through.” However, from the moment the first photos surfaced, the Foodjacks community was doubtful. Hope’s lanky frame, mismatched markings, and overall appearance didn’t align with the typical beagle look. Instead, many pointed out that she resembled a mutt rather than the floppy-eared hound Jack insisted she was.

Despite growing skepticism, Jack's stubborn refusal to admit he could be wrong only intensified. In an attempt to silence critics, Jack shared a baffling story involving his air-conditioning technician, who allegedly identified Hope as a “web-footed Beagle” and a “water dog.” According to Jack, the technician confidently explained that Hope's webbed paws were proof of her aquatic heritage. However, canine experts and casual dog owners alike were quick to point out that slight webbing is common in beagles—and many other dog breeds—and is not indicative of some mythical sub-breed of water-loving beagles."

The narrative began to unravel when someone in Jack’s Facebook comments finally suggested that Hope was a mixed breed. In response, Jack posted a now-infamous comment admitting, "She wasn’t pure bread. They lied to us." Jack claimed that the vet had informed him that Hope was a beagle-collie mix and expressed frustration that the breeder had duped him. He added, “Next time I’ll want papers,” as though the lack of pedigree documentation was a minor oversight rather than a glaring red flag.

For many, this admission confirmed what had long been suspected: Hope likely came from a backyard breeder rather than a professional kennel. Reputable breeders always provide pedigree papers to verify lineage, especially for popular breeds like beagles. Jack’s insistence on calling the source a “beagle breeder” without any proof only fueled further skepticism.

Turns out Hope isn't "pure bread".

The "Eternal Harness" and the Neglect of Hope

Jack's initial excitement over Hope seemed to wane once the novelty of puppyhood wore off. This was underscored during a Cooking with Jack livestream on September 10, 2023, where Jack admitted to using a shock collar for "training." At the 22:13 mark, Jack described how he and Tammy used the device:

"We have a shock collar that we use for training on Hope... We use the first two buttons—the first one is a beep, the second is a vibration. That’s as far as we go... unless she’s doing something dangerous, like climbing up on the stove. Then we apply the shock."

Jack attempted to justify the shock by comparing it to the mild static shock from touching a rug. He claimed they kept it at a "nice low level" and only used the actual shock function sparingly. Despite his defensive explanation, the admission was met with harsh criticism. Many viewers were horrified that Jack would consider such methods necessary due to his and Tammy's own failure to properly train their dog.

In an earlier video uploaded on April 20, 2022, titled "3 Ingredient KETO Bread," Jack nonchalantly detailed another "training" technique: "I get down on the floor, and we're playing, and she bites me. And I'm like, no biting—stop it—and I tap her on the mouth... She bites me again, even faster, and I'm like bam, so I tap her a little bit harder." He framed the situation as a battle for dominance, saying: "Bottom line is, she’s gonna lose." Viewers speculated that Jack’s “tapping” was actually slapping the dog, further fueling concerns about his approach to pet ownership.

Hope as a Prop

Jack's use of Hope as a prop in his content solidified this perception. In his new Cooking with Jack intros, Hope was prominently featured in thumbnails, and barking sound effects—completely irrelevant to cooking—were added. Critics accused Jack of using Hope to add a performative "family charm" to his struggling YouTube channel rather than genuinely caring for her.

The depth of Jack's neglect was laid bare in an April 13, 2022, cooking video where he candidly admitted that Hope was not house-trained. Laughing awkwardly, Jack described how Hope "loves crapping in the kitchen" and frequently defecated in front of the refrigerator. The comment was met with widespread disgust, especially given that Jack films his "cooking show" in the same space. The idea of a dog repeatedly relieving herself near food preparation areas raised serious hygiene concerns. Viewers were appalled at Jack's cavalier attitude, with some commenting that even basic housebreaking would have prevented such issues.

Zoey

Zoey, also known as ZOE, is the Juniors' pitbull which was adopted in September 2023.

Hashley and Dolce

Hashley, the genetic mess that Garrett got.

Hashley is a "chocolate tri merle micro Thai X American bully" adopted by Garrett on 27 April 2024. On 8 May, Garrett also bought Dolce, a "chocolate tri nano".

Jenny

Against all common sense, Junior got this dog to accompany Zoey, the family pitbull.

Jenny is a doodle-type dog that Junior got to be a "friend" of Zoey. She was acquired on 2 September 2024.