Tewksbury Police Ask Students To Help Name New Department Dog

TEWKSBURY, MA — Tewksbury police are holding a naming contest at Tewksbury Public Schools for a new department puppy that is training to become a "comfort dog" for the department.

The Labradoodle puppy, bred by Monadnock Labradoodles in Southern New Hampshire, is training to serve with School Resource Officer Eric Hanley, the police said.

"Once fully trained, the Labradoodle that has been selected will serve alongside Hanley and work to calm and build relationships with students in Tewksbury Public Schools, as well as at community events around town," the police said.

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Donations from Monadnock Labradoodles, Walmart, Salem Five Bank, Auntie Dog Training Studio, Taught-a-Lot Childcare and WellPet LLC funded the initiative.

"This newest member of the Tewksbury Police Department will help serve, protect and comfort students here in Tewksbury, so I'm excited to give the students in our community an opportunity to have a little fun while helping us choose a perfect name," Chief Ryan Columbus said. "Let's get creative and work together to welcome this young K-9 who will become both a friend and a resource to our community."

Students can submit a name here until the Nov. 30 deadline.

"Trainers at Monadnock Labradoodles have helped select a specific puppy whose personality is appropriate for a comfort dog," police said. "Labradoodles are a cross between poodles and Labrador retrievers that were bred to create an allergy and asthma friendly breed that also have calm, clever, and confident personalities and love human interaction."

A short video of the puppy is available here.

"He is a sweet, confident, calm, quiet, soulful puppy who loves human interaction and has the ability to process through new, potentially 'scary' environments," Monadnock Labradoodles manager Danielle Borozinski said. "He also is the largest of the litter at just over seven pounds, so he will be at least 30 pounds at adulthood, which will be great given his work."

The dog will join the department Nov. 28 then attend Auntie Dog Training Studio.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.