Jagger, a two-year-old Great Dane service dog, is a new member of the Brookline community, and he’s getting a lot of well-deserved attention.

“You can tell we’re coming by the reaction of people on the streets. I see people staring out restaurant and store windows, and from their cars. And a lot of people come out to take his picture,” John Carter says of his beloved service dog, Jagger. “People are always telling me that he looks like a horse . . . or a cow.”

The two of them have become a popular feature on Brookline streets in recent months. Weighing in at close to 170lbs, Jagger stands at roughly 4’. He was born and bred at The Service Dog Project, in Ipswich, a facility that matches people with mobility problems with specially-trained Great Danes. Carter and Jagger were paired up this past May, and it has been life-changing for both of them.

In 1992, Carter was the victim of a gunshot to the back of the head which left him in a coma for 99 days. When he woke, he learnt that he was no longer able to use his limbs, his sight and speech were significantly impaired, and he could no longer hear from one ear. At 23 years of age, the only life Carter could possibly imagine for himself was in a wheelchair, and this led him to spiral into a severe depression. With the overeating and drinking that followed, his weight ballooned to over 350lbs.

The turning point for Carter came when his friends decided to no longer help him unless he walked, with their help, to wherever is wanted to go. Then, despite his protests, Carter’s mother joined the struggle by hiring a personal trainer who helped him regain the use of his limbs. His muscles began to strengthen, and over the course of three years, he managed to lose close to 150lbs.

Today, when one sees him in his standard attire of athletic t-shirts and shorts, his powerful physique masks his chronic physical challenges. Perhaps that’s why his business as a personal trainer is thriving: “When people see what I’ve managed to do for myself, they can’t help but ask themselves, ‘What’s my excuse’?” Carter works with a wide-range of clients, from “able-bodied” athletes to those struggling to overcome ailments or injuries that need special attention that Carter is uniquely qualified to provide.

Jagger entered the picture in May of 2019, on Carter’s birthday. “It was the best birthday present ever!” He had waited for close to two years for the perfect service dog who would be able to support his muscular 6’3” frame from falling.

“When people see me, they don’t automatically realize that I’m disabled, that my legs don’t work quite right, and that I have problems hearing. That makes me unstable for walking or standing,” Carter said. “Going on the train is particularly difficult. People see the way I look and won’t give up their seat for me. Some people have gotten angry, even violent, when I’ve fallen onto them. But now that I have Jagger, people get out of the way.”

Despite Jagger’s enormous size, Carter assures passers-by that he’s a gentle giant. “Before Jagger, I spent a lot of time at home, particularly in the winter. I’ve had some really bad falls on the ice, including one time when I broke my shoulder. Jagger is trained to stand firm so I can steady myself. And if I’m about to fall, he can sense it and he jumps under me to break my fall. A dog smaller wouldn’t have the strength to do that. He’s perfect for me.”

Gradually Jagger has been getting used to taking the T into Boston. “At first, the noise of the city scared him because he was raised out on a farm. But he’s getting used to it. The real challenge now is communicating to people, without offending them, that they can’t touch him. I have people coming up to me all day asking to pat him, but it can distract him from his responsibilities and, in time, he’ll lose his skills as a service dog.”

The sight of these two together turns heads and generates a lot of smiles on Brookline streets. “All day long people take pictures of him like he’s a celebrity. They always want to ask questions about him. I feel bad that I can’t always hear them, but we share smiles. Brookline is a very dog-friendly place.” And as for taking pictures, “I don’t mind at all. He is very handsome.”

To follow Jagger on Facebook, go to Jagger Great Dane Service Dog. To learn more about the Great Danes at the Service Dog Project, go to www.servicedogproject.org. John Carter can be reached through his website at www.titaniumhealthandfitness.com.