Connecticut College First Dog Kodachrome “Koda” Chapdelaine Tetreault hosted the inaugural First Dog Day on May 1, welcoming canine companions and their humans to Fanning Green. The event, which organizers expect to become an annual celebration on the first Friday of May, featured dogs from across the college community.
The gathering provided a space for students and staff to connect with each other and enjoy time with dogs. Many attendees said they appreciated the opportunity to interact with animals while away from home.
Koda, wearing a blue velvet InDOGuration robe, was joined by President Andrea E. Chapdelaine and First Gentleman David Tetreault. Other notable canine guests included Utley, Dean of Admissions Andy Strickler’s Lab-shepherd mix; Tune, rescued by Assistant Professor Katie Kwong; Ellie, a toy Australian shepherd accompanied by Stacey Lion; Rocky, visiting with Associate Teaching Professor Laura Little; and Chewie, recently rescued by Deb Dupuis. “He doesn’t like snow or the cold. He likes glamping,” quipped Dupuis’s son Mason during the event.
Students such as Dexter Knight-Richard ’27 attended because they missed their own pets at home. “I have dogs at home and I miss them,” Knight-Richard said. Ben Wildstein ’27 added: “I wanted to hang out with some dogs here… I loved getting to chat with people on such a nice day. I even saw an alum I knew and got to chat with her.” Keshet Weber ’29 described her role as Utley’s dog walker: “Once a day I will pop over to the Office of Admissions, grab Utley, and walk her around campus for 30 minutes to an hour… She says hi to some people and goes about her woofy business.”
Dogs enjoyed treats while attendees sampled chocolate and paw-shaped cake pops decorated in Conn’s colors. Blue tennis balls featuring the college logo were used for games of fetch while pools offered relief from warm weather.
Professor Maria Rosa’s dog Amber was seen relaxing in one of the pools during festivities. “She loves the water,” Rosa said. “I have the best picture of her in the mud with the reef balls behind her.” Organizers hope that First Dog Day will continue as a tradition for students seeking comfort from furry friends.
