New Terp Pup Opens Doors, Along With Hearts

A new Terp ambling down McKeldin Mall elicited squeals and “awws” Thursday by doing nothing more special than nosing his way through freshly cut grass and sniffing hopefully at a crepe-filled takeout box. 

“He’s such a cutie!” exclaimed Jenny Lovo ’27, one of many students who stopped during class change to scratch the neck of the 2-year-old Labrador-golden retriever mix. 

Sammy (or Samuel, if you’re feeling formal) is the newest addition to the University of Maryland Police Department. He joins Teddy the comfort dog, the chocolate brown Lab who has been with UMPD since 2021, serving as a furry, wet-nosed bridge between the department and the community—but his blue vest and leash offer a glimpse into his slightly different role.  

A “facility dog” brought up by Canine Companions, a national organization that trains service dogs for children, adults and veterans with disabilities, Sammy can perform 40 commands, such as “tug” to open drawers, “push” to press a button to open a door (with either his nose or paws), and “get” to pick up items on the ground. Rather than being paired with one individual, facility dogs assist in educational, law enforcement or health care settings. 

“He’s a social icebreaker,” said Jessica Reiss, program director for Canine Companions Northeast region who likened the intensive training to a dog earning a master’s degree. “With the increased acknowledgement of mental health issues and the state of the world, there’s a need for dogs with these skills.” 

Cpl. Bart Brady ’95, Sammy’s handler, initially applied four years ago after seeing the success of a Canine Companions dog with the Hyattsville Police Department, where he used to work. The organization provides all of its dogs for free thanks to donor funding (one would typically cost about $50,000) but retains ownership, and requires handlers like Brady to go through a rigorous vetting process. He completed an initial two-week training in Long Island, and will continue with virtual and in-person follow-ups to keep Sammy up to speed on his commands. 

The high-spirited pooch arrived on campus in mid-February but has mostly been behind the scenes to acclimate. He’s attended games at Xfinity Center to get used to big crowds and smooth floors, sent off the women’s basketball team before the NCAA tournament and taken in all the sights, sounds and smells on walks across campus. 

Now, Sammy’s ready to fully step into his working dog role, going to traditional events like Maryland Day, Coffee with a Cop or the Halloween dog parade, and will be featured in future events for Terps with disabilities. In crises, he’ll be a boon to the team because of his specialized training. 

“If someone’s in distress or having a really bad day, he’ll automatically go to them because he can sense it,” said Brady. Then, Sammy can “cover,” laying across a person “like a weighted blanket” if they’re sitting on the ground, or “visit” and “lap,” putting his paws or head on someone’s legs if they’re in a chair. 

In addition, he could be part of workshops on sensitive topics like sexual violence prevention. “How do you get people to participate?” said Reiss. “If you tell them a dog will be there to help soak up their anxiety, more people may be apt to join in.”  

While Teddy is steady and content to live life in the slow lane, Sammy has all the energy of a teenager, bounding after balls when he’s let loose and constantly exploring his surroundings. 

“They’re very, very, very smart dogs,” said Brady. During a recent Zoom session to debrief with Canine Companions staff, he was told to pull back on the number of treats he was giving for each command or interaction, since Sammy kept pushing for more. “He knows how to work the system.” 

Like Teddy, Sammy lives with his handler. Brady has four other dogs at home, including two Chihuahuas, but he’s fit right in with the pack, rolling in the backyard during the rain and heading to the beach on weekends. 

UMPD just launched an Instagram account and is still working on an email address for Sammy, said Public Information Officer Lt. Rosanne Hoaas, but once those are finalized, the UMD community will be able to reach out and request visits, just like they do for Teddy. Having a second dog to interact with the community benefits both the department and the pups, since “dogs can get burnt out too,” said Brady.

As Sammy trotted down the steps alongside ODK Fountain, pausing to watch the flowing water and smell a patch of red tulips, more students paused to pat his head. 

“I love seeing the reactions,” said Hoaas. “They’ll say, ‘I have a dog at home, I miss them.’ … It gives us a chance to interact with students in non-critical moments, and that gives us a boost as well.”