DU student and Onyx

While millions of Americans are bringing their furry friends to the office June 26 for National Take Your Dog to Work Day, one Davenport University employee does it every single day. Meet Onyx, a 5-year-old English black Labrador retriever who serves as a vital full-time member of the Davenport University Public Safety team.

Alongside her handler, assistant director of Public Safety at Davenport Brett Windsor, Onyx works a 40-hour work week and often puts in overtime for weekend campus events. This year alone, Onyx has logged more than 110 hours of dedicated community outreach, proving that her role on campus goes far beyond that of a typical office pet.

Davenport holds a unique distinction in the region’s higher education landscape: it is the only private higher education institution in Michigan with a dedicated therapy dog on its Public Safety team, and the second university program established in the state.

“The most memorable part of my job is watching this program grow and seeing Onyx’s community recognition skyrocket,” said Windsor. “We attend regional events like National Night Out, hosted by the Kent County Sheriff’s Office, and community members with no official ties to Davenport are starting to recognize and remember her from previous years.”

A typical 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. workday for Onyx involves campus walks, greeting prospective students and visitors at the Public Safety office and attending major events, including Davenport football games and student life activities. They recently traveled to Davenport’s Lansing campus to visit a “Relaxation Station” event in advance of exams. Windsor said that the duo is always looking for opportunities to visit Davenport’s other campuses in Warren, Midland and Lansing.

“Her main responsibility at these events is to break the ice and start conversations with individuals we might not normally have the chance to connect with,” Windsor said.

The impact of her presence is felt by the student body. Windsor recalled a particularly emotional day when a student, who had just suffered the loss of their childhood dog, crossed paths with Onyx while she was playing fetch in the gym. The student was able to spend time playing with and loving on Onyx, finding a moment of relief during a difficult time.

Navigating a “human” working world does come with unique challenges for a campus canine. “The largest challenge we face is that we simply can’t always stop for a visit,” Windsor said. “There are occasions where we are trying to get somewhere urgently, and everyone wants to stop us to chat and pet her.”

When she is off the clock, Onyx enjoys the simpler things in life. During the workday, she can be found napping on her bed or proudly carrying her stuffed animal, which the team calls “Puppy.” At home, she acts like any pet dog, enjoying naps while hogging the air conditioning vents, chewing on sticks and swimming in any water she can find.

To support the future of the program, Davenport will soon be launching a fundraising initiative. Supporters and dog lovers are encouraged to keep an eye on Davenport’s Spirit Store, which will soon begin selling official Onyx patches and coins to help offset operational expenses and fund the program’s growth.

For more information about Davenport University’s Public Safety team and the campus therapy dog program, please visit www.davenport.edu/campus-life/public-safety. You can follow Onyx on Instagram at @k9__onyx.