(Cedar Falls, IA) -- A four-legged member of the University of Northern Iowa Panther Marching Band has become a crowd favorite at football games. The Golden Retriever, named Winnie, is a service dog who belongs to Percussionist Gabi Reissen, who has a medical condition. UNI Panther Band Director Justin Mertz says having a service dog in the band is a first, but it's working out well. On game day, Winnie wears purple & gold and a small hat similar to one worn by Reissen and the rest of the Panther Marching Band. He says Winnie also wears ear protection, because it can get very loud inside the UNI Dome.
He says Winnie is so calm, she can be sometimes be seen napping on the sidelines during rehearsals. Mertz says Gabi even temporarily dyed Winnie's fur purple for their last game.
There are 250 members of the Panther Marching Band, plus Winnie.