The Notre Dame Police Department has a new recruit from Texas, weighing about 90 pounds and covered in long golden fur. While Buck may not wear a badge, he is working to fill a high demand for NDPD’s Comfort K9 program.
Buck, a golden retriever, is the newest member of the Comfort K9 program, an initiative designed to support student mental health and strengthen connections between NDPD officers and the campus community. Whether he’s stationed in a student lounge, attending a campus event or walking through high-traffic areas, Buck’s presence tends to draw a crowd.
Junior Ryan Davey said his first interaction with Buck was simple but memorable.
“Very soft, very calm,” Davey said.
Buck’s path to campus began long before he arrived in South Bend. His handler, Trina Barlow, said he had already been working as a therapy dog in Texas before making the move.
“When we got here, I knew someone at the Robinson Community Learning Center and started him in the after-school program,” Barlow said. “Then we started connecting with the police department and offering him as an additional resource.”
Buck has now officially joined the department’s Comfort K9 team, helping meet a growing demand for visits across campus. The department expanded the program after seeing early success with its first comfort dog.
“We added Finn and Buck after Orla, once we saw that student, faculty and staff wellbeing was improved by Orla’s presence and availability on campus during high-stress times, or even everyday life,” NDPD’s Molly Di Carlo, marketing program director and public information officer, wrote in a statement to The Observer.
Di Carlo said the program began in October 2024 with the introduction of Orla and has grown since then to include Finn and now Buck. The department also has two Vapor Wake dogs, Barkley and Boomer.
While the Vapor Wake dogs are trained for security purposes, the comfort dogs serve a different role: one centered on emotional support and community engagement.
“The mission of the Comfort K9 program is to support campus mental health, provide comfort during crises or traumatic events, and enhance community outreach,” Di Carlo wrote.
While the department does not track a specific number of requests tied to mental health incidents, Di Carlo said officers regularly respond to calls where comfort K9s serve as a resource.
“Notre Dame Police Department does see mental health calls in which these comfort K9s provide a big resource,” she wrote.
Handlers say Buck’s personality makes him especially well suited for the role.
“He’s been a very calm dog even since he was a puppy,” Barlow said. “We knew early on he would be great for this kind of work.”
Comfort K9s are a daily presence across campus, often partnering with University departments and appearing in student spaces.
“Comfort K9s are out on campus every day,” Di Carlo wrote. “You can usually find us walking the quads or in the dining halls.”
“We have multiple requests for a visit from the Comfort K9s on a daily basis,” Di Carlo wrote. “This shows that the K9s are not only valuable, but are a meaningful part of the Notre Dame community experience.”
In addition to in-person visits, the program has introduced new ways to engage students and spark conversation.
“We just began the trading card program this winter,” Di Carlo wrote. “The trading cards are a great bridge for our officers, and our comfort K9 handlers to bridge a conversation with a student, faculty or staff member. We’re getting a ton of interest from them!”
The cards, which feature each of the dogs, have become popular among students. For officers, they also provide a natural opening to connect with students who might not otherwise engage with campus police.
For now, the department plans to focus on the current team of dogs rather than continued expansion.
“Right now, there are no plans to expand the program further,” Di Carlo wrote.
