WEST HARTFORD, Conn. — The lab work didn’t take place in the classroom on the University of Hartford campus on a sunny Tuesday; instead, it took place outside the Student Union.
Around 10 K9 comfort dogs from across the state came to UHart to celebrate the third birthday of the college’s most beloved employee, K9 Officer Teddy. Teddy has worked on campus for the past 18 months offering his support to students and faculty.
Officer Michael Calderon, who is Teddy’s partner and best friend, said, “It’s all about comfort, it’s all about helping the students, helping our staff and our faculty get through their busy day.”
For his birthday, Team Teddy asked people to participate in Teddies for Teddy, an initiative requesting funds and teddy bears that will be donated to Connecticut Children's Hospital.
University of Hartford Police Chief Michael Kaselouskas said, “We are donating the bears, we are going to bring them over to the children’s hospital, and Teddy is going to visit with them…with a sleigh full of Teddy Bears.”
Calderon said that his partner Teddy is "always paying it forward, helping people, helping others and making people feel better.”
Teddy and several other Police Comfort K9’s in the state are graduates of the “Puppies Behind Bars” program, which was showcased in a FOX61 feature three years ago. To see the story click here.
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Jim Altman is a reporter at FOX61 News. He can be reached at jaltman@fox61.com. Follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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