Meet Mason, Portsmouth police's first comfort dog: 'Little guy can do wonders'

Ian Lenahan, Portsmouth Herald
·4 min read
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PORTSMOUTH — City police, in partnership with Stratham-based nonprofit Hero Pups, are bringing on Mason, a 4-month-old black Labrador retriever, as the department's first comfort dog.

The Portsmouth Police Department has partnered with Hero Pups, an Exeter non-profit that partners support dogs with veterans and first responders, to bring in Mason, a a four-month-old Labrador retriever, as a comfort dog.
The Portsmouth Police Department has partnered with Hero Pups, an Exeter non-profit that partners support dogs with veterans and first responders, to bring in Mason, a a four-month-old Labrador retriever, as a comfort dog.

Comfort dogs have a different role than dogs that serve as K9 officers, which help apprehend criminals, sniff out drugs and search for suspects. Mason will be a presence in the public eye, available for head scratches and belly rubs, enhancing police interactions with the community. More importantly, the dog will be a source of support for officers, victims of crimes and people affected by violence, tragedy or trauma.

“The best work that this dog will do will be behind closed doors,” said Laura Barker, the founder of Hero Pups, which has placed nearly 200 dogs with veterans, first responders and law enforcement agencies since its formation in 2016. “It’ll be things that you’ll never know about. It’ll be that child in need, that officer that wanted to have a conversation.”

In a vote by Portsmouth Police Department members, the dog was named after Capt. John Mason, labeled the founder of New Hampshire despite famously never setting foot in the state before his death in England.

Mason, a rescue dog, trotted around a police station conference room and bounded up to department members he'll serve with upon the completion of training this fall.

Who is Mason's handler?

The Portsmouth Police Department has partnered with Hero Pups, a Stratham non-profit that partners support dogs with veterans and first responders, to bring in Mason, a a four-month-old Labrador retriever, as a comfort dog. Officer Mike Nicoli is Mason's primary handler.
The Portsmouth Police Department has partnered with Hero Pups, a Stratham non-profit that partners support dogs with veterans and first responders, to bring in Mason, a a four-month-old Labrador retriever, as a comfort dog. Officer Mike Nicoli is Mason's primary handler.

After a round of interviews, officer Mike Nicoli was selected as Mason’s handler.

“A lot of people in our day and age are more apprehensive to go up to a police officer and strike up a conversation,” he said. “Having Mason there kind of opens that gap.”

Nicoli and his new companion train with Hero Pups once a week, with Barker noting Mason is learning by working with other police comfort dogs.

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What work will Mason do?

Portsmouth police Detective Rochelle Jones greets Mason, the department's comfort dog in training, at the station Wednesday, March 8, 2023.
Portsmouth police Detective Rochelle Jones greets Mason, the department's comfort dog in training, at the station Wednesday, March 8, 2023.

According to Nicoli, the department will look to bring Mason to as many community events as possible to introduce him to the public.

“We’re going to try and make it to as many as we can, just so we can get out there, see people and make sure that the first time they see him isn't at the scene of a crime or some sort of violence,” he said. “Maybe the first time they see him will be in Market Square or at one of the many Portsmouth 400th anniversary events this summer.”

The pup’s most important work will be to support members of the public and police officers who are experiencing hardships.

Nicoli and Barker said Mason, like other comfort dogs, could be utilized by the local Children’s Advocacy Center during interviews with children, offering them a source of comfort and helping them communicate during a difficult period.

Like other comfort dogs, Mason may also be brought to schools, nursing homes and hospitals to meet with members of the community.

“But the most important thing about these dogs is that they’re ice breakers,” Barker said. “They get people talking.”

Hero Pups, which works largely with shelter and rescue dogs, has another four puppies training to become comfort dogs with law enforcement agencies, an endeavor the organization began in 2018.

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How did Portsmouth police get a comfort dog?

Officer Mike Nicoli and Mason have the support of Hero Pups and the Portsmouth Police Department, as seen Wednesday, March 8, 2023.
Officer Mike Nicoli and Mason have the support of Hero Pups and the Portsmouth Police Department, as seen Wednesday, March 8, 2023.

As the department was looking to expand its focus on officer wellness by working with Hero Pups, AT&T’s New Hampshire branch approached Hero Pups about placing a comfort dog with a local law enforcement agency. Hero Pups selected the Portsmouth Police Department to take Mason upon the completion of his training.

AT&T has a first responder-focused program called “FirstNet” and provided a donation to city police to cover the costs of the comfort dog program.

“The FirstNet mission is to deploy, operate, maintain, and improve the first high-speed, nationwide wireless broadband network dedicated to public safety,” reads a description from the Portsmouth Police Department.

Laura Barker is the founder of Hero Pups, an organization that trains service dogs and is at Portsmouth Police Department with Mason, a 4 month old lab who will be a comfort dog at the department.
Laura Barker is the founder of Hero Pups, an organization that trains service dogs and is at Portsmouth Police Department with Mason, a 4 month old lab who will be a comfort dog at the department.

Owen Smith, president of AT&T New Hampshire, said the company has provided funding for 30 comfort dogs for law enforcement agencies around the United States. The closest AT&T-funded comfort dog to Portsmouth works with Maine State Police at the agency’s headquarters in Augusta.

Looking on as Mason sniffed around the station, wagging his tail and gazing up at department members, Smith said, “This little guy can do wonders.”

In the next year or two, according to Smith, the company could donate more money to provide more law enforcement agencies with comfort dogs.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Mason first comfort dog for Portsmouth NH police