HAMPDEN – Ever since she showed up as a stray 15 years ago, a chubby black Lab named Sheba has greeted residents and occupied their children as they registered vehicles, purchased fishing licenses and conducted other town business.

But Sheba’s job as the town’s beloved mascot is over. The graying Labrador was euthanized Wednesday after suffering a stroke last week, according to Town Manager Susan Lessard.

“She was at least 15 or 16 [years old],” Lessard said Thursday. “We’ve had people forever who came just to see the dog.”

Police officers found Sheba as a young stray whose owner no longer wanted her, and, ever since, the dog has made herself at home at the town office.

“She was picked up as a stray, and she never went away,” Lessard said.

Sheba spent her days at the town office and her evenings with Hampden police officers and firefighters in the public safety building. On weekends, she often went home with former Town Clerk Paula Newcomb or other town employees, Lessard said.

“She sort of adopted everybody,” she said.

Sheba’s unofficial “mom” was sewer billing clerk Kathy Cole, but other town office employees and public safety personnel chipped in and returned bottles to buy Sheba’s food and pay her veterinary bills.

“It’s been a joint effort forever,” Lessard said. “It’s been a shared responsibility.”

Sheba’s visits to her lifelong veterinarian, Barbara Farren, became more frequent in recent years as the dog developed arthritis. After last week’s stroke, visitors poured in to visit with the dog and check on her condition, Lessard said.

“Barbara [Farren] said she had more visits than the president,” the town manager said.

Sheba’s condition slowly declined, and she was euthanized this week and cremated.

At Monday’s meeting, town councilors voted unanimously to memorialize Sheba on town office property.

“This is her home,” Lessard said.