Meet Bruno, a chocolate lab and 撸先生鈥檚 first comfort dog鈥攁 trained companion who provides cuddles and connection to students, faculty and staff.

Albert S. Cook Library staff members have partnered with Pets on Wheels for years to bring therapy dogs on campus during finals, but this is the first time the university has had a resident furry destresser.

Adding a comfort dog to campus rose out of the 2023 Big Give, when a donor established a fund to bring a puppy to campus and pay for his care. Any future donations to the fund will pay for Bruno鈥檚 food, training and health expenses.

bruno lying down
bruno walking with his handler

Vice President of University Advancement Brian DeFilippis and his family鈥檚 gift ensured the 撸先生 community met the goal. 鈥淥ur family is excited to support the Canine Comfort Companion program at 撸先生 because we know the immense value that a dog can bring to a community,鈥� says Heather DeFilippis 鈥�00. 鈥淒ogs always lead with compassion and love.鈥�

Research shows that interacting with dogs increases dopamine and serotonin levels and deescalates stressful situations. Drawing from that, Bruno will provide emotional support and companionship as part of 撸先生鈥檚 community policing approach. The dog lives and works alongside 撸先生PD patrol officer Jafar Taru, offering a comforting presence at building walk-throughs and calls for service. 

Dogs always lead with compassion and love.

Heather DeFilippis 鈥�00

鈥淗e鈥檚 not like traditional K-9s trained to detect substances or aid search and rescue,鈥� says Taru. 鈥淗is sole focus is to reinforce the well-being of our campus community.鈥�

Bruno started paw-trol in February. He will be on campus 220 days this year, and he鈥檚 already incredibly popular. Bruno sightings draw everyone鈥攆aculty, staff and students鈥攊n the immediate vicinity.

And out of it.

His sole focus is to reinforce the well-being of our campus community.

Jafar Taru, 撸先生PD patrol officer

Within his first week of official duties, Bruno appeared on  and twice on  and also was featured in articles by the Baltimore Banner and the Chronicle of Higher Education. The  introducing the pup to campus received nearly 3,000 likes, 101 comments and more than 600 shares, and it reached more than 18,000 people. 

The university community was involved in choosing the pup鈥檚 name via a social media poll, with options including Ty, Chap and Goldie, but Bruno鈥攖he name suggested by Taru鈥檚 daughter鈥攚on by a landslide. 

It seems, this time, everyone is talking about Bruno.