Meet Holly the comfort dog!

Pearl Marvell • April 12, 2024

Not only is Holly a good girl, she is a busy one. Since joining the Portsmouth Police department, and riding alongside her handler Police Officer Westley Lemar, Holly has been busy attending lacrosse games, reading events at the Portsmouth Public Library, and providing joy and comfort to children at Portsmouth Middle School and beyond. Holly's training was entirely paid for by community donations (a big shout out to Clement's Market!) and her overall upkeep and any additional training will continue to be funded by donations. Needless to say, Holly has been a wonderful addition to the Aquidneck Island community, and has provided children with a way to destress and decompress, even when other forms of help haven't been as effective. Who doesn't want a little bit of puppy love!




How old is Holly now?


A little over a year and a half, she'll be two in July. She's still pretty young. When we get home, she's got more energy than all these kids combined!


You already have a dog at home. How is that interaction?


Oh, she's obsessed with him. He's going to be five next month, so he's not old, but he's getting a little up there. Yeah, but he'll he'll wrestle and stuff. Just something. She's a little much for him. Sometimes he'll be like, all right, enough. I'm going to take a nap. But, uh, she's just completely in love with him.


Did you know that she would be living with you?


 I wasn't sure how this whole thing was going to go when I first pushed it. Yeah, I kind of figured that a dog would live with me. I just I didn't want to get a puppy because a lot of people around here had puppies, and I just didn't have the time or energy to train a puppy. As much as I love puppies, I just wasn't sure about that. I was pretty sure she was going to come home with me. I wasn't sure how he [his other dog] was going to take it.


They are very much like kids, you love them, but you also know when you have reached you limit of how many you can have.


Two is is my limit too [laughs], I'm good with that.


 How did this whole process start?


This is my second year and sometime at the end of last year/ beginning of this year, we just had a casual conversation with the school [Portsmouth Middle School], talking about comfort dogs and what not, and kind of word made way to my department that I was talking about it. I got a call into someone's office and they said, "Hey, we know you're talking about it and the chief's all for it. He's with you if you want to do this." you can go.


I started kind of just googling and looking into different companies that do the trainings and what not. And when I went to a comfort dog symposium at Brown University, I found out about this organization, Puppies Behind Bars. They told me about it and how they get the puppies and they raise them in prisons and train them there. And when they're ready, I go to New York for two weeks, train with them, and I bring her back. And I thought that was absolutely perfect because, like I said, I just I didn't want a puppy, and it saved a lot of money with all donations. I actually planned on doing this next year. I thought I was gonna have the dog ready for next year, but I emailed Puppies Behind Bars and they said in November, "Yeah, we have a class in January." So things went super, super quick, but it's worked out so well. I mean, she's been huge impact on the school.


Is she going to go to all the different schools or just Portsmouth Middle School?


All the elementary schools too. I bounce around.


Can you walk me through a normal day with her?


So I come in around 7/730 am.  A normal day is kind of tough because every day something different. Sometimes, I'll go into certain classrooms and because she was new, I introduce her, talk about her, show off a few of her commands. She's got like, 40 commands, so I do about 7 or 8 for the kids in the class. I let them pet her, and I'll do that in 6 or 7 classrooms a day. Other times I have the social workers send me a schedule of certain kids they think really need Holly for the day, for therapy session. Today, one of the kids who earned points for one of our clubs gets to sit with her and play fetch with her. Two weeks ago, I was at one of the schools and Holly and I read a book to one of the kids. It really depends on who emails me first and gets to me is kind of how we schedule it.



I assume she must be in high demand


She's in very high demand here. I keep telling myself I have to get a planner for her so that I can remember everything.  It's unbelievable that just when people see her, their faces just light up.



That's awesome. I mean, for you, it must be really interesting going into these schools and just kind of getting that interaction with her and the kids. That must bring you a lot of joy on a daily basis.


I'm a huge dog person, so that was incredible, and yeah, whenever I walk in in the morning, it's every staff member. They just light up, and come and pet Holly. And then the kids come in and do the same thing. It's just huge. The principal was telling me that it's a huge game changer just to have a dog in the school.  Even the police station, whenever people see her, the morale just boosts when she's in the room.


The last question is what does she like to do during the off time like on the weekends and and after hours? 


That's a good question and important question. So actually during school hours I give her between 20 and 30 minutes of fetch time outside. I take a long lunch so she can, you know, just be a dog. When we're at home, I actually live near a school in Westport. and there's a big field there. She likes to play fetch. We go to dog parks that she loves. When the weather gets warmer, she's a big swimmer, so I have to take her on some hikes around lakes. She loves the water.


You can follow Holly on Facebook here and follow her on Instagram @comfortdogholly! Donations can be made out to and/or dropped off to the Portsmouth Police Department.





 

























A police officer is posing for a picture with a black dog.
A photo of a black labrador and a police officer.

Grief in the Real World

By Pearl Marvell • May 27, 2026
Grief doesn't follow a schedule. It doesn't end after the first year, and it certainly doesn't come with instructions. On Thursday, June 18, from 12:30 to 2:30 PM, Middletown Public Library is hosting a free class designed to explore those quieter, often invisible dimensions of grief. The session, titled Grief in the Real World: People, Identity & the Long Haul, will take a candid and compassionate look at what grief really looks and feels like beyond the early stages. The session will be facilitated by Memorial Funeral Home's Director of Community Relations, Kim Shute. Topics will include how to respond when others say the wrong thing — something many grieving people encounter more than once — and how loss can quietly reshape your sense of who you are. It will also address why grief can feel different, or even more intense, as time passes, a phenomenon that often catches people off guard. The goal is to offer a supportive, approachable conversation with practical tools that attendees can carry into daily life. Sharing is entirely optional — there is no pressure to speak. The event is open to everyone, and no registration is required. Everyone is welcome. When Thursday, June 18 12:30 – 2:30 PM Where Middletown Public Library Free & open to all

Learning to Talk About Death and How We'll Be Remembered

By Pearl Marvell • April 28, 2026
May 14: New & Innovative burial options  There's a reason most of us avoid talking about death. It feels morbid, premature, or simply something that we'd rather not think about. But a new lecture series at Island Cemetery in Newport is making a gentle, practical case that these conversations — held early, held openly — are among the most meaningful we can have. Death and Dying is an evening series of talks that brings together experts and community members inside the historic Belmont Chapel at Island Cemetery for evenings that are all about intention. Memorial Funeral Home's Kurt Edenbach will be leading a conversation on May 14th in which he will address a question more people are asking: are there alternatives to traditional burial and cremation? The answer, increasingly, is yes — and the options have grown significantly in recent years, shaped by environmental concerns, personal values, and new technology. From green burials and conservation cemeteries to aquamation, human composting, and other emerging methods, the landscape of end-of-life choices is expanding in ways many people haven't yet heard about. This lecture offers a grounded, accessible look at what's available, what's legal, and what might align with your own wishes — or those of someone you're helping plan for. To reserve your spot, click on the link here .

Kim Shute's Review of Nothing to See Here

By Kim Shute • April 28, 2026
I just love it when I pick up a random book and it transports me to places, I never could have imagined. Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson is one of those rare finds. I was pulled in from page one by the story of a poor girl trying her luck as a scholarship recipient at a private boarding school for the ultra-elite, set against the backdrop of down-home Tennessee. The book vacillates between current day and flashbacks from her earlier life. Our narrator and main character, 28-year-old Lillian Breaker, is, quite honestly, a bit of a mess. She is living in the attic of her self-absorbed mother’s house, and her life feels stagnant at best. Beneath the humor, this is a story that touches on childhood neglect and the sharp divides of income and social status. We learn about Lillian’s complicated relationship with Madison, her former boarding school roommate who reappears with a mysterious and highly confidential job offer. What unfolds is a story about misfits that made me laugh out loud one moment and feel unexpectedly emotional the next. I struggled at times with the dynamic between Madison and Lillian. Given their history, I found myself questioning why they remained connected at all. Yet many of us are guilty of staying in relationships that do not reward us with reciprocity. Still, as the story unfolds, witnessing the trust develop under such unusual and often untenable circumstances helps to restore a bit of faith in human connection. There is a strange magic to this book. It leans into the weirdness in a way that is both disarming and oddly comforting. As Lillian herself suggests, I hope this story “hypnotizes you with weirdness” as you make your way through it. Let us know if you decide to give it a read or a listen, and what you think.

What is terramation and why should I care?

By Pearl Marvell • March 27, 2026
It's likely that you've never heard of it before, but it is the process of naturally breaking down the body into soil.

Kim Shute's Review of The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife

By Kim Shute • March 16, 2026
A case of mistaken identity turns into a sense of security for an octogenarian.

Creative Ways to Honor Your Loved One's Ashes

By Pearl Marvell • March 3, 2026
Losing someone we love is one of life's most profound experiences, and finding a meaningful way to memorialize them can bring great comfort during the grieving process. While keeping a traditional urn at home is a time-honored choice, today there are more ways than ever to celebrate a life well lived. One of the most personal options is transforming ashes into wearable keepsakes. Some companies will pressurize ashes into a diamond, which you can then set into a ring, necklace, or other jewelry item of your choice. Our very own Director of Community Relations, Kim Shute, took some of the ashes of her late husband and made a diamond ring, which she absolutely loves. Parting Stone is another company that offers a beautiful way to memorialize your loved one by transforming their ashes into a collection of polished stones that can be held, shared, and cherished forever. The process uses scientific precision to solidify cremated remains into clean, ceramic-like stones that vary in size, shape, color, and texture — making each collection as unique as the individual it honors. Rather than an urn tucked away in a closet, families can carry the stones in their pocket, display them in a memorial garden, scatter them meaningfully, or divide them so that everyone who loved the person can keep a piece close — making Parting Stones a deeply personal and lasting way to stay connected to those we've lost. For those who feel a connection to nature, there are several meaningful earth-friendly options. Tree urns allow a loved one's ashes to nourish and give life to a tree, which provides a living, growing tribute that endures for generations. Another eco-conscious option is a coral reef memorial, where ashes are incorporated into a concrete reef structure that helps restore natural marine habitats. Scattering ashes in a meaningful location is another deeply personal choice. If your loved one had a passion for travel, you could take their ashes on a journey and scatter them in places that were meaningful to them — perhaps somewhere they always dreamed of visiting. Scattering at sea can also be a beautiful send-off, especially if they loved the beach or were a boating enthusiast. For the creatively inclined, ashes can be woven into works of art. You can commission an artist to create a painting using paint mixed with your loved one's ashes, with popular choices including a portrait of the deceased or a scene from their favorite landscape. Companies can also press ashes into a vinyl record , allowing you to preserve a loved one's favorite songs as a lasting musical tribute. As you can see, there are so many ways that we can honor our loved one’s ashes. If you have any questions, reach out to us!

Winter Proofing Your Independence

By Kim Shute • February 28, 2026
Asking for help with heavy snow today may be the very thing that keeps you independent longer tomorrow.

Kim Shute's Review of Eternity

By Kim Shute • February 24, 2026
A movie about figuring out who to spend eternity with.

Expanding End-of-Life Choices in Rhode Island: An Introduction to Water Cremation

By Pearl Marvell • February 4, 2026
As society evolves, so do the choices we make—especially when it comes to end-of-life care.
An image of a man and a woman hugging,

Kim Shute's Review of Song Sung Blue

By Kim Shute • February 4, 2026
This film is based on a true love story of Mike and Claire Sardina. The film follows them from the moment they meet through the many struggles life throws at them.