On any given day, walk outside and take in the beautiful scenery Witt has to offer. Take in the trees, the people and the wonderful animals. No, I am not referring to those cute little kitties or the pesky crows that love to swarm innocent bystanders at night. Nor am I referring to the ninja-like squirrels who like to wait by the back steps of Woodlawn.
The animals I am talking about are those precious 4 Paws puppies. With the start of the spring semester, a new flow of puppies has joined the student body. Though I have not had the pleasure of meeting all the new pups, there is one in particular who I feel everyone must get to know; her name is Tyka.
She is that fun-loving and energetic golden doodle you will often catch in the Science Center or Hollenbeck. New to the Wittenberg campus, she seems to show much progress in the science department. She keeps herself busy with the trivial task of playing keeping her tennis ball in her mouth, and she especially seems to be excelling in Napping 101.
When she is not hard at work, she prefers the warm and comfy feel of her handler’s, senior McKayla Blake, numerous blankets. For fun, Tyka likes to play fetch with her favorite tennis ball. If you ask nicely, she might even do a trick or two for you.
Tyka’s breed is a mix between the golden retriever and the poodle. In recent years, they have been used as guide dogs, therapy dogs, diabetic dogs, search dogs and rescue dogs. Golden doodles have also become increasingly used as domestic pets due to their affection towards families, as well as their friendliness and patience with kids and strangers.
Tyka chose to enter Wittenberg in order to better her social skills. After attending college, Tyka hopes she will pass advanced training and eventually be placed with a family who needs her. Thus far into the semester, Tyka has fallen in love with Wittenberg. She loves to go to class and nap at Blake’s feet, going to Geiger house and playing for hours with other dogs.
When asked to tell her favorite thing about Tyka, her handler had much to say.
“She’s so calm and loves kids,” she said. “Many dogs, when they come to Wittenberg, are very skiddish, [but] she immediately fit right in. She is a giant love bug, and I couldn’t have asked for a better dog to socialize my last semester at Wittenberg! She furever [has] my heart!”
If you happen to see Tyka around campus, do not be a stranger and say hello. She is a kind-hearted creature who would love to make a new friend.
