Bailey joined the University Police force in 2021 and has brought comfort to thousands of students in her four years of service. 

Now, the 6-year-old boxer is retiring from the growing therapy dog program at USF.

But for the last four-and-a-half years, every day has been take-your-dog-to-work day for Corporal Nichole Marchesano. 

Each morning, she hopped in the car with her partner Bailey to head to USF’s Tampa campus. 

“Throughout her service—not only on campus but across the greater South Florida area—K9 Bailey touched thousands of lives, becoming one of the most recognized therapy animals in law enforcement,” UP shared in an Instagram post.

UP spokesperson Michael Lavelle did not say why Bailey is retiring.

UP Chief Chris Daniel said Bailey is retiring in good standing.

Related: Meet Bailey: UP’s first and only therapy K-9 dog 

Meanwhile, across the bay, Officer Mark Lickenfelt and his 3-year-old golden and Labrador retriever mix, named Snowbird, head to the St. Pete campus.

With Bailey’s retirement, Snowbird and Lickenfelt will transition to serving all three campuses, while working primarily at the St. Pete campus, according to the post.

Being part of the K-9 unit with UP is more than just having a furry friend to go on walks around campus with – it’s an opportunity to connect with students, the officers said.

Before finals week in December, stressed students, busy employees and campus guests stopped what they were doing to come up to the officers.

“Can I pet them?” a student asked.

Crouching down to the ground, students petted Bailey and Snowbird for a momentary reprieve from the day’s stress. Marchesano told Bailey to sit, lie down, spin around and shake her hand. 

Lickenfelt said if anyone wanted to sit on a chair, Snowbird would give them a hug. While some were hesitant, others sat down and let the golden retriever and labrador mix stand on his hind legs and put its front paws on their lap.

Snowbird came to USF St. Pete in the summer of 2024, and is still getting used to how busy it is being the campus’ only therapy dog, Lickenfelt said.

After a long day at work, he said Snowbird “loves to be a puppy,” running, playing and sleeping at Lickenfelt’s home, alongside his two cats.

In order to be handlers, both Marchesano and Lickenfelt had to go through special training, a fitness test and home inspections.

“It’s just part of the process,” Lickenfelt said in December. “I will make sacrifices to be a handler.”

To encourage connection with students, the officers do not wear a traditional police uniform but instead dress down, something Marchesano specifically requested.

“Why look scary? We don’t want to look scary,” she said in December 2024.

At the Tampa campus, there is an online form people can fill out to request a therapy dog.

“Sometimes people don’t tell me why they need her,” Marchesano said. “They just said, ‘I need a dog.’”

Marchesano said she had a student who regularly asked for Bailey. The first time the student requested the boxer, she didn’t tell Marchesano much, but after a couple of visits, the student started opening up more.

“We’ve changed somebody’s life around,” Marchesano said. “They were constantly sad and we’ve given them that venue to be happy. Best feeling.”

Nicole Garcia, the coordinator for recruitment, training, and leadership for Housing and Residential Education, said one of her jobs is to help students through busy and stressful times, such as finals.

“I’m really happy to see UP out here as well working with the students really being a part of our community,” Garcia said.

Related: USF students share setbacks, successes in internship hunt

She said she is glad to see the therapy dogs around campus.

“It’s very beautiful,” Garcia said. “It’s a nice little change and pace of the day.”

Bailey will remain a “beloved family pet” at Marchesano’s house, while Marchesano will continue to work as a UP officer.

At home, Marchesano’s kids still call the boxer “Bailey Bubbles” since Bubbles was her name before a renaming contest when she joined the force.

Seeing Bailey interact with her own family, students and staff at USF has changed Marchesano’s life.

“She’s changed not only my life, but she has changed the lives of the people that she meets on a daily basis,” Marchesano said. “I wouldn’t change it for the world.”