Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney today announced the retirement of Mega, a ten-year-old yellow Labrador Retriever that has served as the Suffolk County District Attorney Office’s first facility dog.
“I am proud to announce that Mega is retiring after eight years of dedicated service to countless victims and witnesses of crime in both Suffolk County and Nassau County, comforting them during their most vulnerable times,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Facility dogs contribute to the healing process by providing attention, comfort, and companionship. I want to personally thank Mega and her handler Amanda for their impactful work at the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office and to the people of Suffolk County.”
Born on August 20, 2012, at the Canine Companions breeding facility in Santa Rosa, California, Mega joined her puppy-raisers, the Masters’ family, at their home in Virginia when she was eight-weeks-old. The Masters’ taught Mega all of her basic training and provided her with plenty of love and most importantly, socialization so that Mega became used to all types of environments, people, and stimuli.
At approximately 18-months-old, Mega matriculated into full time professional training at the Canine Companions Northeast Regional Campus in Medford, New York. There, she learned 52 different commands including some as advanced as turning lights on and off. Mega was part of the October 2014 training class when she matched with her facilitator, Amanda Burke. At the time, Amanda was an Assistant District Attorney in the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office. Once she graduated from Canine Companions, Mega became the first facility dog in a District Attorney’s Office on Long Island, and only the second facility dog in a District Attorney’s Office in New York State.
While working at the Nassau District Attorney’s Office, Mega assisted hundreds of victims and witnesses such as sitting with them calmly inside the office while they met with the Assistant District Attorneys, going to detective squads or hospital rooms where a victim was being interviewed following a trauma, by playing fetch with child victims to relieve the tension they felt after talking about what had happened to them, or by waiting quietly outside of court for them before and after their testimony.
Mega was a beloved member of the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office until September 2022, when Mega and Amanda began their jobs in the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office in the Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Bureau. Although Mega has only been working at the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office for a few months, she has made a lasting impact on everyone she has met, including victims and staff alike.
Throughout her career, Mega has served under five District Attorneys, including former Nassau District Attorney and former United States Representative Kathleen M. Rice, former Nassau District Attorney and current Associate Judge of the New York Court of Appeals Madeline Singas, former Acting Nassau County District Attorney and current Queens District Attorney Executive Assistant Joyce A. Smith, Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly, and Mega is currently serving under Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney.
“It was a privilege to welcome Mega as the Nassau District Attorney’s first support dog, and with a gentle paw or nuzzle she gave comfort to countless victims and witnesses throughout her years of dedicated service,” said Rice. “I’m wishing Mega a long and enjoyable retirement filled with love, naps, and plenty of treats.”
“During my tenure with the office, I personally witnessed the benefits of having Mega comfort our witnesses who needed additional support during their presence in our offices and in court,” said Smith. “She has performed an incredible service to crime victims, and we are honored to have worked with Mega.”
“Survivors of violence – especially young people – have a very difficult time discussing traumatic events. Mega helped countless survivors – young and old – feel at ease in the very intimidating atmosphere of a courthouse and a prosecutor’s office,” said District Attorney Donnelly. “At the time Mega began working for us in 2014, she was only the second Canine Companion facility dog to be placed in a district attorney’s office in New York State. We thank our partners at Canine Companions for blessing us with the best coworker and fetch partner you could ever imagine. Mega – thank you for your years of service to the residents of Nassau County. We wish you an easy retirement with unlimited treats, belly-rubs and leisurely walks.”
On Tuesday, February 14, 2023, District Attorney Tierney welcomed Tillman III, a two-year-old yellow Labrador Retriever/Golden Retriever mix, also trained by Canine Companions, who will be taking over Mega’s role as the new facility dog for the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office with Assistant District Attorney Melissa Grier upon Mega’s retirement.
Mega has devoted herself to the victims and witnesses that she has served for over eight years. Now, at 10-years-old, or 80 in dog years, she will be transitioning to the next phase of her life as a beloved pet who spends her days lounging on the couch, going for walks, and playing fetch in her yard.
