DOGS OUT? PETS BECOME NEWEST CLUB MEMBERS WORDS Alex Petry I I PHOTOS ·van Su1ean·n_ge11 For several social clubs on campus, the 2017-18 year marked the beginning of a new tradition that brought joy and excitement to the club atmosphere: club dogs. Women's social clubs Zeta Rho, Ko Jo Kai and Delta Gamma Rho (DGR) all adopted new furry friends to join their clubs as mascots. Senior Hayley Tobia adopted DGR's golden retriever, Maverick. Tobia served as DGR's athletic director in fall 2016 and decided to bring Maverick to seYeral club games. lt soon became a tradition for the dog to support the club at every intramural event, and he even joined them at mixers in fall 2017. Tobias thought haYing dogs around campus made the college experience more bearable for homesick students. "l always have people asking me if they can pet him because they miss their dog back home," Tobias said. 'Tm glad Maverick can help." enior t--fadison Ed\,·ards owned Ko Jo Kai' dog, a black lab named Kai. According to Edwards, the idea to adopt a club dog starred as a joke, but the club quickly fell in love with Kai and even helped with responsibilities. "[1] woke up that morning not knowing I'd have a puppy and went to bed that night a dog mom," Edwards said. "[It's] kind of crazy. The girls in the club were supportive and helped pay for the shots and necessities." The puppy soon became a welcomed member of the club, but because Kai \\'as still young and full of energy Edwards said, it could be challenging to take him to events. She always opened her home to members who wanted to drop by and play with the dog for a bit after class. Juniors Emily Tanley and Bailey helton co-adopted Zeta Rho's clog, Rho, a dorkie - a mix between a dachshund and a yorkie. Like Edwards, Tanley and helton became the proud owner of her club dog on a whim. "It was a very spontaneous idea," Tanley said. "\Y/e did not drive to \Y/almart that day planning on leaving with a puppy. But we fell in love with him right away and found it impossible to leave him. I We] haven't regretted it since." Tanley brought Rho along to all of the club's sporting events and mixers and said that the addition of the dog among the clubs added a new element of fun. "It's hard for people not to love dogs," Tanley said. "l think this new trend has proYided another source of entertainment when it comes to clubs, because a <log representing a club brings a new element of pirit and pride." Junior Bailey Shelton, senior Hayley Tobias, and juniors Emily Tanley, Evan RosenZVveig and Madison Edwards spend their morning playing fetch with their dogs in Harding Park on Oct. 7, 2017. Club pets served as the clubs' mascots at mixers, tailgates and club week. // Photo by Evan Swearingen It's hard for people not to love dogs. Ko Jo Kai's Ka, and Sub T-16's Louie represent the1r cl bs at football tailgates. Kai a black lab, and Louie. a golden retriever. were both one-year-old when they JOlned heir clubs.// Photo by Evan Swearingen Delta Gamma Rho's dog, Maverick, sports the club's maroon and navy jersey iri Harding Park on Oct. 7, 201 7. Maverick was an eight week-old golden retriever when senior Hayley Tobias adopted him In 2016. // Photo IJy Evan Swearingen Zeta Rho juniors Bailey Shelton and Emily Tanley share ownership or the smallest o the club dogs, Rho. Rho was a three-month old dorkie, a dachshund and yorkie mix. // Photo by Evan Swearingen I think this new trend has provided another source of entertainment when it comes to clubs, because a dog representing a club brings a new element of spirit and pride. - junior Zeta Rho member Emily Tanley 0 ' C CI) "Tl rn ~ C :::0 rn (f) u, u,
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