Sisters granted wish of meeting Meriden police therapy dog

WATERBURY, Conn. (WTNH) — A Christmas Eve wish happened Tuesday in Waterbury.

Three sisters who never met John, Meriden police’s therapy dog, got the chance to meet the furry friend who spends a lot of time trying to make people smile.

The sisters had heard about John from a profile piece News 8 reporter Jeff Derderian did back in August profiling the K-9.

The sisters gathered Tuesday at the Village at East Farms in Waterbury. It was all smiles when Officer Stephanie Masella walked through the door with her partner.

“John was very, very friendly, and just a sweet boy, very sweet.” said one of the sisters, Fran Nardoia.

Masella and John spend a lot of time making people smile at different places, and they’re also at crime scenes too to comfort kids at times. The duo also does a lot of work helping police officers who see trauma.

“John and I go to a lot of different places, especially places like this, and it lights up their faces when he walks in the room, and he’s such a beautiful dog, and they can’t get over how handsome he is and what a sweet boy he is.” Masella said.

Leah Foley from Hamden saw the story on and told her boyfriend that the dog looked a lot like the dog they were raising as a puppy that would go on to become a seeing eye dog. Foley contacted Masella and learned that John and the puppy, Landon, were brothers. Foley and Masella have since become friends, and that’s how the Christmas Eve wish was granted.

“This is what it’s all about, and I could not have thought of a better day to do this,” Masella said. “I thought Christmas Eve is the perfect day, very fulfilling for me this and this family is just so wonderful.”

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