Comfort Dogs
A vital part of Tufts Police’s mental health resources, comfort dogs serve as a resource for students, faculty, and staff in stressful or traumatic situations. They also serve as department liaisons and attend many events on the Medford/Somerville campus. To request the TUPD comfort dogs at an event, please use the form below.
An FAQ of comfort dog-related information is also available.
Pepper
Pepper is TUPD’s first comfort dog who was selected for our department at just four months old through Hero Pups, a non-profit group in New Hampshire that rescued her litter to be trained by volunteers and professionals. Following a lengthy training period, during which her name was selected through a public survey, Pepper became a full-time staple on the Medford/Somerville campus alongside her handler Officer Rob Moschella in October 2023.
Hayley
Hayley came to TUPD in January 2024 after an initial endeavor as a seeing-eye dog. With a knack for following her nose, Hayley was selected to train as an EOD dog and paired with her handler, Officer Jessica Brandon. The two made their full-time debut on the Medford/Somerville campus in May 2024 after finishing their MA State Police Explosive Ordinance Detection training.