Purple and golden
Purple and golden
UNI student and service animal capture hearts across the nation
Home football games in the UNI-Dome this year brought us an extra special duo in the Panther Marching Band. Dressed in her very own uniform — including the accompanying hat — you’d find a golden retriever named Winnie with UNI sophomore elementary education major Gabi Riessen.
Winnie helps Riessen navigate postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), which causes her to pass out without warning. The service dog is trained to sense an oncoming spell and alert Riessen to get to safety.
“Winnie has made it where I can be like a normal person again,” said Riessen. “I can do band, because she’ll let me know if I’m okay, and I can go to my classes. Before her, we didn’t know if college was going to be an option.”
Transferring to UNI
Gabi wanted to participate in band and theater while attending a different college out of state but met barriers due to her need for a service animal. After transferring to UNI, friends recommended she contact marching band director Justin Mertz. “I reached out to him to see if being in the band with my dog could even be a possibility, and we met and talked about it. I think he’s more excited to have a dog in the band than I am!”
Riessen is grateful for the support not only that Winnie provides, but also the support she has received from the UNI community as a whole.
“I’m not gonna lie, I cried after the first couple days of being here, because I’ve never felt so welcomed,” she said. “I don’t have a visible disability, so some people look at me and wonder why I need a dog. At UNI, we walk around and everyone gets excited. It just makes me feel good. I belong here.”
Making headlines nationwide
The story drew widespread coverage from ABC News, Good Morning America and People magazine.
