Sherlock Holmes might call it “The Curious Incident of the Dog who Did Not Bark.” Town officials are calling it ensuring a comfortable and productive working environment for everyone. But at the Center at the Heights, seniors are saying the disappearance of Chubbs the Cavapoo is more a tragedy than a mystery.
For the past seven years, Assistant Director of Programming and Transportation Aicha Kelley has been bringing her dog, Chubbs, with her to the center on Thursdays and Fridays. The hypoallergenic canine has been a big hit with seniors who seek him out and bring him treats.
Recently, however, Chubbs has been missing, and residents have been missing him. In October, Director of Human Resources Tatiana Swanson sent out an email to all town employees instructing them not to bring pets with them to work anymore. Originally, when Chubbs was just a puppy, Kelley had received the permission of Council on Aging Director LaTanya Steele to bring Chubbs into the center.
“While we appreciate the joy that pets bring,” Swanson said, “we must consider the diverse needs of our team members, including allergies and other sensitivities.”
The new guidance applied to all town-owned buildings, including the center. In some cases, employees’ pets made an occasional appearance but in others they were a regular presence.
Nancy Sterling, whose mother is a regular at the Center on the Heights, thinks the policy goes too far. “I’m not a dog person, so I get that,” Sterling said, “but Chubbs is in a special category.”
Sterling suggested that Chubbs should be trained as a therapy dog so that he can continue to visit the center. “He does such a great service for the seniors of Needham,” she commented.
Amy Haelsen, the town’s director of communications and community engagement, said the town would be open to having Chubbs trained and certified if Kelley were interested. However, it remains unclear who would cover the cost or oversee Chubbs’ training.
The Police Department’s two trained community resource dogs, Ghost and Rocket, will still be allowed to visit the center and other public buildings. The center has also occasionally invited trained therapy animals from the Pets and People Foundation to join seniors for special events, underscoring the role animals play in combating isolation and fostering connections among seniors.
Unlike pets brought in by employees, trained therapy or service animals like Ghost and Rocket undergo rigorous certification processes to ensure they are prepared for public interactions. Haelsen said the town would be open to increasing their presence at the center if that is something the Council on Aging wanted to pursue.
While Chubbs is not a certified therapy dog, his presence at the center brought joy and comfort to seniors in ways that studies have shown can reduce stress, lower blood pressure and combat feelings of loneliness — especially for older adults.
Betty Leary is one senior who is feeling the bite of Chubbs’ absence. The 98-year-old, who sings every Tuesday with the Vintage Voices, clipped out a photo of Chubbs from the center’s newsletter and carries it with her in her wallet. The dog lover said she would agree with pets being banned from other town offices, but not at the Center at the Heights.
“Chubbs was perfect,” Leary said, “and I’m not just saying that because I happen to be in love with him.”
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