INDIANAPOLIS — Butler University's ambassador, Butler Blue III, will retire by the end of the academic school year, the university announced on Tuesday.
Butler Blue III, known to many as 'Trip' (short for Triple), served as the school's all-around mascot for eight years.
The English bulldog is aging and ready for retirement. According to Butler officials, Trip is ready to start the next chapter of his life.
Dear Bulldogs: https://t.co/5FMtzSKrkt #OneLastTrip pic.twitter.com/CcY2J0NIvb
— Butler Blue III (@ButlerBlue3) October 22, 2019
"While he loves to work and enjoys being the Butler Bulldog, it's time," Trip's caretaker and Butler's Director of External Relations, Michael Kaltenmark, said. "The average lifespan of an English bulldog is 8-to-12 years, and now that Trip is entering that range, we want to make sure he gets to enjoy the simple pleasures of life as just our family dog."
Trip was adopted in 2012 at seven-weeks-old by the Katenmark family — where he will remain during his retirement.
Before Trip hangs up the leash, the Butler ambassador will embark on one last Trip until May 2020. You can catch him at Hinkle Fieldhouse (of course) for Butler basketball games and other events on campus.
Trip will also accompany the Butler men's basketball team on the road.
"This year is really an opportunity for the Butler community and our fans to celebrate Trip and his service as mascot," Kaltenmark says. "He has served Butler so admirably all of these years, and we want to send him off with a proper farewell."
The Butler marketing team and Kaltenmark, who has devoted the last 16 years to the care of Butler Blue II and Trip, will be working to identify Butler Blue IV in the near future.
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