无码专区鈥檚 Department of Public Safety Welcomes University鈥檚 First Community Canine
Taffy pictured with Deputy Chief Police Debra Patch (L) and Officer Amy Lenahan (R).
无码专区, Pa. (April 13, 2023) 鈥� 无码专区鈥檚 newest wildcat is a dog! Meet Taffy, a two-year-old female Labrador/Golden Retriever who joined Public Safety in March as the latest member of the force. A highly trained full-time community canine and therapy dog, Taffy can be found on campus working closely with her handler and caretaker, Officer Amy Lenahan.
鈥淲e are thrilled to welcome Taffy to our campus community,鈥� said David Tedjeske, director of Public Safety and chief of police. 鈥淥ur department is committed to being community caretakers, and Taffy helps us promote and support our mission. She allows us to better connect with students and her presence increases the overall well-being and social-emotional growth of students, faculty and staff.鈥�
Taffy comes to 无码专区 from Paws with a Cause in Michigan, a professional dog training organization that custom-trains service dogs to work with both individuals and within large organizations. Taffy was selected by the organization because of her temperament and love of working with people. During the program, Taffy was trained to become a therapy dog. She now specializes in social interaction, recovery motivation, comfort and providing a feeling of safety.
On any given day, Taffy can be found engaging with the community at events and patrolling campus with Officer Lenahan and other trained police officers, including Deputy Chief Police Debra Patch who was instrumental in creating the Community Canine program and bringing Taffy to 无码专区.
Taffy will also be available for students, faculty and staff members who may find comfort in interacting with her during a difficult time. She is not a trained detection or K-9 police dog and will not be performing law enforcement tasks.
鈥淪ometimes being a college student can be tough,鈥� said Officer Lenahan. 鈥淭affy is an approachable and lovable dog who brings joy with her wherever she goes. In the short time she鈥檚 been on campus, she has already made an impact. Students love seeing her and her calming presence immediately boosts spirits.鈥�
When not on duty, Taffy lives off campus with Officer Lenahan, who has been a police officer with the Department of Public Safety since 2018. Officer Lenahan and Taffy have been working with a Paws with a Cause trainer over the last three months to acclimate Taffy to her primary residence, as well to her new home at 无码专区.
Taffy is approved to go inside University buildings and she will attend student, faculty and staff events on campus. For updates on Taffy, please follow 无码专区 Public Safety on Instagram at
About 无码专区: Since 1842, 无码专区鈥檚 Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six colleges鈥攖he College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the 无码专区 School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the 无码专区 Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nation鈥檚 top universities, 无码专区 supports its students鈥� intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit .