Harvard Dangerfield — Boston’s most popular dog. (Beth Treffeisen)
What could be an ordinary walk in the park for a Bostonian turns into a heart-warming encounter whenever Harvard Dangerfield, a white fluff ball Samoyed, takes his routine walk through the Boston Public Garden. Ready for any occasion with his stylish bowties, this “Pawston” socialite delights passersby who will often stop to ask questions and have photographs taken.
“If I got a penny for every single smile Harvard gets, I would be rich,” said Harvard’s owner, Dana Sullivan.
Dubbed the “most famous dog in Boston,” Harvard, whose full title is Ch. Skilo Bear’s Ivy League, CGC, is a retired champion show dog known for expert snuggling and love for squirrels. He has a following of almost 17,000 on Instagram and hundreds more on Facebook and Twitter.
Sullivan, who is currently studying to become a nurse practitioner at Massachusetts General Hospital, still finds time to bring Harvard to his favorite activities such as reading with children at the Boston Public Library, greeting teachers and students at local elementary schools and attending events at Boston companies. Harvard, who turned 11 on June 1, held a fundraiser birthday party in the Boston Commons for MSPCA’s Pet Care Assistance Program and Sam Urgency that helps rescue Samoyeds and non-rescue Samoyeds. Through the help of Harvard’s friends and followers he was able to raise $1,025. At his 10th birthday party he raised $675 for Massachusetts Vest-A-Dog first aid kits.
But Harvard is about more than just looking cute and socializing. His celebrity status comes from the effect he has on people as a veritable “therapy dog.” Harvard also frequently visits DigitasLBi, a global marketing and technology company located in downtown Boston.
“Person after person, you know these are very serious business people, they go and hug him and their shoulders relax and you just see the immediate affect,” said Lori Magno, the director of corporate culture at DigitasLBi who first met Harvard while he provided therapy to people in the Boston Commons after the Boston Marathon bombing of 2013.
Sullivan credits the spike of Harvard followers to when she took him around Boston after the bombings. Hundreds of Bostonians and people from around the world left comments on social media, thanking him for providing calm and reassurance during an anxiety filled time in Boston.
“People in the community really support Harvard and Harvard really supports the community,” said Katelin Roche, a friend of Sullivan.
“Harvard puts out love, he radiates love,” Magno said, “and that’s what makes him the most special dog in the world.”
Harvard Dangerfield — Boston’s most popular dog. (Beth Treffeisen) 
