Pint, UC Davis' Beloved Wonder Dog, Passes Away
UC Davis mourns the loss of Pint, a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever who captured the hearts of Aggies for over a decade. Pint passed away on May 19 at the age of 14 ½ years from metastatic lung cancer.
For ten seasons, Pint was a fixture on the sidelines of Aggie Stadium as the official kicking tee retriever. His enthusiastic sprints onto the field after each kickoff, tee in mouth, became a beloved tradition, earning him the nickname "Wonder Dog" from announcer Larry Swanson. Pint's presence wasn't just about retrieving tees; he brought canine enthusiasm to every game, drawing joyous cheers from fans.
Beyond the stadium, Pint was a cherished member of the UC Davis community. Owned and trained by Dr. Danika Bannasch, a faculty member and the Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Education at the School of Veterinary Medicine, Pint served as an ambassador of the school.
Pint was also a popular star of the screen. He was featured on ESPN for his on-field exploits, and a UC Davis Athletics Aggie Rundown video featuring Pint was their most-viewed video of the series.
When a dog was needed to lead a 2014 video tour of the veterinary hospital, Pint was a natural fit. The video has been viewed more than 15,000 times by potential clients and animal lovers, whom Pint charms with his excitement and playful voiceover.
Pint’s well-mannered composure on camera also made him an immediate choice when Jeopardy! came to the campus in 2015 to film several veterinary medicine-related clues. Pint joined the “Clue Crew” for one of the segments and was prominently featured on the hit game show.
Pint’s registered name with titles is CH Aqueus Hop To It MH AX MXJ T2B RATCH. The name is a reference to his lineage, titles and other coded information. Pint holds the record as the youngest Master Hunter in the breed, earning the title at two-years-old. He also has sons who serve as avalanche search-and-rescue dogs and even as a police dog in Norway.
The idea to have a dog retrieve the tee was the brainchild of Scott Brayton who was then the assistant athletics director. He contacted the VMTH director, Dr. David Wilson, who approached Bannasch, who wanted to pay back the school for saving Pint’s grandmother, who was accidentally poisoned.
“I wanted to find a way to give back after the incredible work our faculty did to save her,” said Bannasch. “Pint has also been a recipient of the hospital’s high-quality collaborative specialty care, having gone through a surgery and other care that extended his life.”
Pint attended 44 games in his career and retrieved 387 football Tees. “Pint made thousands of people smile and cheer at every game,” Bannasch said. “He loved all of his fans and was happy to pose for pictures with the band, cheerleaders, dance team and of course the players.”
When Pint retired in 2022, Cori—a retriever owned by School of Veterinary Medicine faculty member and associate dean of academic personnel Dr. Lisa Tell and her husband, former school photographer Don Preisler—stepped in to carry on the tee-retrieving tradition.
Pint's legacy extends beyond retrieved tees and roaring crowds. He leaves behind a reminder of the special bond between humans and animals, how an unwavering spirit can bring joy to any occasion, and the profound impact a good dog can have on a community.
Bannasch wants Pint’s memory to inspire further advancement of veterinary medicine. Pint lost his battle with cancer, but through research, Bannasch hopes someday other dogs can be saved.
You can make a gift in Pint's name by donating to the Veterinary Center for Clinical Trials.
Farewell, Pint (12/23/2010-5/19/2024). We will forever miss you.
Media Resources
Please direct media-related questions about Pint to Tom Hinds, Director of Communications, thinds@ucdavis.edu.