At 140 pounds, Mac is hard to miss.
The Anatolian Shepherd's size may turn heads, but it is his gentle nature that has won over the hearts of police officers, students, and residents throughout Denville.
Today, Mac calls the Denville Police Department home, where he serves as the department's future therapy dog. His journey to headquarters, however, has been anything but ordinary.
“There are no words to describe what a gentle giant he is,” said Denville Animal Shelter manager Meredith Petrillo. “He has captured the love of not only the Denville Police Department but also the community.”
Mac arrived at the Denville Animal Shelter last August after suffering a devastating leg injury that required emergency surgery and months of rehabilitation. The six-year-old Anatolian Shepherd sustained a compound fracture after jumping from a deck, resulting in multiple surgeries and a lengthy recovery process.
Despite the setbacks, his calm temperament never wavered.
“I've never met a dog that is more tolerant,” Petrillo explained. “Every day I'm sticking him, poking him, changing his bandages…I'm putting pills down his throat, and he never growls.”
As Mac recovered, a second chance was quietly taking shape just a few miles away at Denville Police Headquarters.
Captain Fred Jackson had spoken with Petrillo about bringing a department dog to headquarters—one that could boost morale, provide comfort, and eventually serve the community as a therapy dog. The right dog never seemed to come along…until Mac.
The shelter began bringing him to the police station for visits. It didn't take long for officers to fall in love with the gentle giant, and soon a plan was put in motion to make him a permanent member of the department.
When Mac met Police Chief Scott Welsch, he made quite the impression.
“Mac came in to meet the chief and automatically handed him his paw,” Petrillo recalled.
Since the end of February, Mac has lived at police headquarters, where officers and staff have embraced him as one of their own. The Department of Public Works even built a special outdoor enclosure so he could safely spend time outside during his recovery.
Anatolian Shepherds are flock-guarding dogs originally from Turkey, bred to protect livestock in open fields. According to Petrillo, Mac's instincts remain very much intact.
“When Mac is in headquarters, the officers are his flock,” she explained. “If he hears something that he doesn't like, maybe somebody coming in that's making a loud complaint, he'll bark. That's the only time he barks. He will alert [the officers] and then he goes and lays down.”
While he may look imposing, Mac's true role is one of comfort.
“He doesn't have a mean bone in his body,” Petrillo said.
Although his recovery has temporarily delayed his therapy certification, Mac has already passed the Canine Good Citizen test with the help of local trainer Beth Bradley. He was preparing to complete the next step of his certification when doctors discovered another complication with his leg, requiring additional surgery.
For now, the focus remains on healing.
Even so, Mac has already become one of Denville's most recognizable four-legged residents. He has attended school events, visited local businesses, spent time with children at Denville Dairy, and represented the department at community gatherings.
Children routinely hug him, lean against him, and shower him with affection.
For many residents, Mac has become more than a therapy dog in training. His story has come to symbolize resilience, recovery, and the bond between the police department and the community it serves.
There is just one catch.
“He does have a little stubborn streak,” Petrillo said with a laugh.
One officer learned that lesson firsthand when Mac decided he was perfectly content relaxing outside and had no intention of returning indoors.
For a 140-pound Anatolian Shepherd, that is not a debate many people are going to win.
As Mac continues his recovery, the Denville Police Department and Animal Shelter remain focused on helping him get back on all four paws. Once he is healthy enough to return to training, the hope is that he will continue bringing comfort to the officers, students, and residents who have already embraced him as one of their own.
Until then, the gentle giant remains right where he belongs—watching over his flock.
Residents interested in supporting Mac's recovery can make donations through the Denville Animal Shelter's dedicated fund for his ongoing medical care.