Walking the beat with Mango

Clark University’s newest police recruit wants you to know that he’s happy to see you.

In fact, if you stop to say hi, he might even let you scratch him behind the ears.

Mango is a 2-year-old miniature goldendoodle who travels around campus with his handler, Detective Evan Gaylord of the Clark University Police Department. Earlier this year, Mango completed his training to become a certified therapy dog — and joined the department as its first official comfort dog. He even has a bio on the website. (Favorite activities outside of work? Going on long walks, kayaking, playing with other dogs, and taking naps.)

Gaylord and his wife, Nicole, adopted Mango in March 2023. “I had wanted a big dog,” he laughs, “but we picked out Mango” — who is about a foot tall and weighs 12 pounds.

Mango’s training began with “puppy kindergarten” for socialization, followed by intermediate obedience and “Canine Good Citizen” training, where he learned to interact with people and other dogs and to behave in situations with busy crowds.

“We went to parks and baseball games, and outside of training sessions, I took him to the Concert on the Common in Sturbridge, big stores, and all around campus,” Gaylord says.

After successfully completing Therapy Dog Team Training at Animal Assisted Therapy Services in Millbury — an in-depth program that exposed Mango and Gaylord to different types of real-world situations they may encounter — Mango earned his therapy dog certification. He will be recertified every two years.  

Mango’s primary role as police comfort dog is “to say hi to everybody and just make people feel good,” Gaylord says. “People are welcome to stop by the department to see him if they’re having a bad day. Everyone could use some comfort now and then.”

In the Clark police station, Mango has a small kennel with his bed, food, and water, but he is free to roam around the office. He doesn’t go on every call with Gaylord, but he eventually may start attending less urgent mental health calls to provide support. “If it will help someone to just sit and hang out with Mango, we’ll do that.”

Gaylord says for the most part, Clark students have been thrilled to meet Mango (he acknowledges that not everyone is a dog lover). “I bring him all around campus. He goes into different buildings, like ASEC or the University Center, and he just brings smiles to people. Students want to pet him, talk to him, learn about him.”

Police Chief Lauren Misale says the idea of bringing a comfort dog to the department has been under discussion for a while, and Mango is the perfect fit for the job.

While Mango will mainly be on campus with Gaylord, he occasionally visits other places, such as local schools or health care settings, and is a frequent visitor to AdCare Hospital in Worcester.

“A lot of people laugh when they see him riding in the cruiser with me and realize he’s a police dog,” Gaylord says. “They picture a German Shepherd or a Bloodhound. But he has his vest with his name, department, and badge. And he’s fully trained for the job.

“He’s a good boy.”