Befriending Bean:

BU’s Cutest Campus Resource

by Olivia McKenley

Bean, a one-year-old golden retriever, joined BU’s campus at the start of 2024 as the official campus resource dog. Since her arrival, the pup has made quite the impression, never failing to greet students walking about Comm Ave.

“She’s like a celebrity who enjoys seeing her fans,” said Detective Matthew Quinlan of the BU Police Department (BUPD), Bean’s secondary handler.

Don’t be mistaken, Bean is good for much more than just puppy love—she is in the middle of completing her extensive Community Resource Dog (CRD) Training.

CRD training aims to prepare service animals, like Bean, to support students of all backgrounds in versatile situations confronting mental well-being. Bean trains at Golden Opportunities for Independence (GOFI) in Walpole, a training organization for Golden Retrievers, three days a week to learn de-escalating tactics.

Bean’s currently ten months into her training, but she still has a ways to go. She won't officially be on campus full-time until she passes her obedience test, most likely next fall.

Currently, Bean’s training is focused on five core skills: sit, stay, down, up, and come. Over time, she's begun taking on new commands that are more specific to spatial adaptation. Skills like “under” teach Bean to hover under a chair to avoid people potentially tripping over her or “press,” where she practices using her nose and paws to turn on light switches and open automatic doors.

“This is good for the dogs as it gets them used to people approaching them from all different angles or directions,” Quinlan explains.

Community Resource Dog Training, though comprehensive, is crucial to tending to the distinct needs of disabled and neurodivergent students.

While Bean continues to train at GOFI, her impact on the BU community is no less potent. In the little time she’s been on campus, Bean has been a semblance of home for many students far from their own furry friends.

“Lots of people have or had a dog at home. They miss their dogs and being able to interact with Bean helps to ground them. It might seem small, but for some people, it can be a big deal,” Quinlan says.

She’s also booked and busy off campus, meeting with preschoolers to high school students across the region. Recently, Quinlan accompanied Bean to support Junior High students who experienced threats of gun violence.

“We went in a bunch of classrooms. Students would interact with Bean and the other dogs…just let them be kids having fun with a dog,” said Quinlan.

It is clear Bean is the ultimate resource for students, a familiar face, and a companion to the BUPD, ready and willing to dissolve the stressors of college life one visit at a time.

Quinlan attests to her selflessness, saying “Fun fact, Bean has yet to [even] bark.”

To request time with Bean, visit the BU Police Department website.

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