Trusting eyes in a gentle face, the curious tilt of a furry head, the tender touch of a padded paw: the comfort a dog provides is in its very nature. What better creature to calm us amidst life’s storms?
Since ancient times, dogs have aided humans as loyal companions and helpers, but these days, a chosen few serve an even higher purpose as therapy and comfort dogs. Two of these benevolent animals, Izzy at Portsmouth High School and Mason at the police department, spread love and serenity throughout the Portsmouth community.
The jaunty, wooly-furred Izzy, a two-year-old Goldendoodle, serves as the high school’s therapy dog, assisting her owner, Class of 2026 Counselor Amy Donovan, two days a week. Her sunny countenance greets students in the morning, bringing easy smiles to tired faces and setting a buoyant mood for the day. “She was born to do this,” says Donovan. “She’s a natural.”
Izzy spends most of her time in Donovan’s office, where distressed students can seek help from their counselor and her four-legged colleague. A welcoming loveseat offers a place of respite, where the insightful dog knows when to hop up to rest her downy head on a troubled student’s leg. Donovan says Izzy is so perceptive she can sense who needs her touch and who needs space.
Teachers themselves often require Izzy’s emotional support. “They just stop in and ask for a minute with Izzy,” Donovan says. Just petting the animal’s soft, curling fur is sometimes enough to alleviate their stress. They can also request classroom visits from the Goldendoodle when students are upset or before an exam to reduce anxiety.
Izzy’s mild demeanor is innate, but she and her owner completed an extensive assessment for certification from Pet Partners, a therapy animal nonprofit. Donovan’s comprehensive handler course included learning the role of a therapy dog. While therapy and comfort dogs both supply comfort, therapy dogs volunteer with their owners in schools and clinical settings, while comfort dogs help ease anxiety for traumatized individuals, often at police departments.
At Portsmouth Police Department, handsome, easy-going Mason, the comfort dog, is undoubtedly the force’s most popular member. The silken-coated Black Labrador is only 19 months old, but his handler, Detective Rochelle Jones, says he is “an old soul.” His early maturity enables him to fulfill his duties with the aplomb of a seasoned veteran.
Jones is the department’s Community Outreach Coordinator and finds Mason to be an incredible asset. She and her canine partner visit schools and nursing homes and attend parades and other community events. The gregarious pup quickly disarms citizens who may fear the police, breaking down barriers and building trust. “He wins people over,” says Jones. “Mason’s for everybody—he’s the community’s comfort dog.”
Mason’s core duties go deeper than social outreach. His calming abilities are crucial in easing anxiety for victims of violence, tragedy, or trauma. This highly sensitive dog is so intuitive he heads directly for the most stressed victims. “He knows when someone needs him,” Jones says. The placid Labrador is invaluable in victim interviews, especially with frightened children, where Mason’s gentle presence enables them to open up.
Providing officer support at the department may be Mason’s most vital role. Officers returning from a difficult call can find solace on Jones’s office couch, where Mason happily joins them to work his healing magic. Jones explains, “He gives these officers love when they really need it.”
Hero Pups, a nonprofit that places comfort dogs with veterans and first responders, trained and selected Mason for the department and provided Jones’ handler training, all thanks to a generous donation from AT&T FirstNet. Although Jones is Mason’s second handler, the detective and comfort dog bonded immediately. While the department owns Mason, he lives with Jones, further deepening their connection.
Izzy and Mason represent a growing trend in the use of therapy and comfort dogs on the seacoast. Izzy is one of four dogs in the Portsmouth school district, and several other districts and police departments employ these valuable animals. In an increasingly stressful world, we need our calming canine companions more than ever.
“He wins people over. Mason’s for everybody—he’s the community’s comfort dog.”