“She’s so cute! She’s a very friendly puppy,” said Uzodinma Omereonye, a political science major. 

Jennifer Griffin, chief of police and vice president for public safety, noted that since joining the department earlier this month, Barkley has been making her way around campus—bringing smiles and brightening the days of many.

“Barkley is another great addition to Temple Public Safety, and her presence will be another opportunity to break down the barrier between young people and public safety,” said Griffin.

Barkley is named after the Philadelphia Eagles’ football player Saquon Barkley, said Chris Willard, TUDPS’ director of tactical and professional development.

“When we went looking for a comfort dog, what really happened was that we didn’t choose Barkley, she chose us,” Willard said. “There were four puppies in the litter, but Barkley kept coming back to play with us. We knew she was the one.”

Currently, Barkley’s “duties” on campus include welcoming students with tummy rubs and cuddles. But according to her handler, Willard, the 3-month-old chocolate Labrador is also enrolled in a rigorous eight-month training program to become a certified therapy dog.

“Right now she’s learning to sit, drop items and to stay. After, she’ll learn additional commands and then advanced manners. After that, she will go through the K-9 Good Citizen Class, and after more training, she’ll go through dog therapy school.” 

Barkley lives with Willard, who jokingly said that it’s similar to raising a toddler. 

“Between the chewing with the baby teeth and getting up two to three nights to go outside, it’s a lot of work. However, we’re adapting to each other well,” Willard said. “We are so excited to see positive relationships continue to grow between Public Safety and students.”

Griffin acknowledged that college can be stressful for students, whether it’s being away from home, keeping up with homework or preparing for exams. Barkley’s mission, however, is simple: to bring comfort to the Temple community. And already, the four-legged public safety rookie is warming hearts.

“So many students and parents have come up to me during Weeks of Welcome to share how much they loved seeing Barkley,” Griffin said. “It’s wonderful to see the smiles on the faces of our Temple community and to know that Barkley is making a difference.”

To support Barkley’s success, TUDPS consulted with several police departments and universities that have launched similar initiatives. The program is led by Director Willard in partnership with Andrew Lee, director of Tuttleman Counseling Services and Temple’s chief mental health officer.

Barkley joins two other dogs within TUDPS. K-9 Falko is a German shepherd who is trained in explosive detection and apprehensions and has been working with the department for two years. K-9 Falko also frequently visits Temple University Hospital to offer comfort to the doctors, nurses and staff. Additionally, K-9 Zaki, who is also a German shepard, joined the department last year and is also trained in explosive detection.  

“We are thrilled to welcome Barkley to the team,” Griffin said. “Together, she and Director Willard make a dynamic duo bringing great energy to the department and, more importantly, comfort and smiles to our campus.”