On March 9th, 2013, I had the pleasure of attending a Butler Men's Basketball game at Hinkle Fieldhouse. It was their last home game and it was total entertainment. Butler beat Xavier by two points. But I was there to see the English Bulldog mascots whom I refer to as the Blues Brothers: Blue II and Blue III. For more than a week the media was talking non-stop about this game's half time event, the Changing of the Collar, the first ever transition of a retiring mascot to a new mascot. Blue III, or Trip as he is nicknamed, is just one year old and has spent this last year in the public eye as the understudy or mascot-in-training. Blue II is healthy but a senior ready for and deserving of a happy retirement. He has worked tirelessly.

I can remember when I first started writing for this publication maybe six years ago. I started writing with a focus on pets because I own a pet supply store. So I wrote frequently on the Butler Bulldog which at the time most readers knew nothing about. Butler had only had one living official Bulldog mascot in the history of the school which goes back to the 1800's. She is still alive and is 12 years old. The staff member that took care of her left the university and took her so another dog was brought in, Blue II, and Michael Kaltenmark, a new staff member with a position in fund raising, stepped up and volunteered to be the new caretaker. His life has been a whirlwind ever since for two reasons: 1) he's a marketing genius with Twitter and Facebook for the dog (s) and 2) the men's basketball team has been outstanding going to the Final Four in 2010 and 2011. Everything is on fire and it is now said to be "The Butler Way".

As for me, I contacted the school in 2006 when I opened City Dogs Grocery to offer to sponsor Blue II and provide his food. I wanted to do this in honor of my parents who were alum from the class of 1932. I'm not sure but I think we must have been the first sponsor. At the time, he was just a campus pet, rather lazy, who slept under Michael's desk and was often led outside by students for breaks. Enter the success of the basketball team led by Coach Stevens and everything changed. I am now feeding Blue II, Blue III and Marcus, the Butler security dog. We love every minute of it and consider it an honor and a privilege to be a part of this media magic. I wish we could do more.

So that brings us to the present with the changing of the collar. Perhaps the best coverage is that of WISH TV. You can see it on YouTube. We had a quiet role in the process, but a very important one. Our store supplied the beautiful blue 1 ½" leather collar and matching lead. We secured it from an independent leathersmith in California who is one of our first suppliers. It was taken to Reis-Nichols Jewelers who embellished it with sterling silver medallions featuring the school logo, university seal and an engraving designed by Michael Kaltenmark dedicating the symbolism of the collar to future Bulldog mascots who give their service to the university. The YouTube video takes you behind the scene to view the craftsmen at work and shows a close-up of the finished collar. It is now under lock and key in a safe and not something we will see regularly.

The ceremony itself was just terrific. At the end, after all was said and done Blue III (Trip) was walked off the center court and left standing in the midst of a sell-out crowd of 10,000 fans was a man and his dog. Michael loves Blue II and was emotional in having to let him step down. For nine years they have been a team working with tremendous energy to serve this school and the community who can't get enough of them. With great strength, pride and a tear in his eye he lifted Blue up high in the air and gave him to a roaring crowd with deafening applause.

I stood and applauded with tears of my own as I am so very, very proud to be such a part of this wonderful enchantment. I stood there thinking my Dad was in his freshman year the year Hinkle Fieldhouse opened in 1928. Last month he would have been 100 years old. He was a young freshman, only 16. I felt his presence along with Mom's. They loved their school and kept up with it. They attended reunions. They were smiling down that night. Everything was good and right. Thank you Blue II. You make us all smile.