Meet the new Augie Doggie — a golden retriever already stealing hearts

If it hasn’t happened already, watch for this guy to quickly become king of the campus.

Meet Ace, otherwise known as Augie Doggie, a tail-wagging ambassador of Augustana University that officially was introduced today.

Ace builds on a legacy that began years ago when a floppy-eared dog — technically, a human in a canine costume — became a beloved figure for students, staff and alumni alike.

After a 20-year hiatus, the Augie Doggie is back — now in the form of an actual dog that’s already beginning to bond on campus.

“I envision that everyone in the AU community will get to know who Augie Doggie is and his name. I want students to recognize him when they see him from across campus and want to spend time with him,” Augustana chief of staff Pamela Miller said in a statement.

Miller, who also is an Augustana graduate and dog lover, is serving as his handler.

“I would like him out in the Sioux Falls community as well,” she said.

In late July, Ace — the Augie Doggie, sponsored by Nyberg’s Ace — became part of the Augustana University community, alongside Ole the Viking.

Hockey history

A 1984 alumnus brought the idea forward to bring back Augie Doggie.

“Wayne (Petersen) said, ‘I have an idea for you guys to bring the dog back,’ and he started telling us about what the (Minnesota) Wild does. They adopt a dog that becomes part of their culture for the time that it’s there,” Miller explained.

Petersen, a member of the Augustana hockey promotional development and fan engagement subcommittee, is the senior director of community relations and hockey partnerships for the Minnesota Wild — the professional ice hockey team based in St. Paul. His position includes overseeing the team’s Adopt-A-Dog program.

“I think it’s pretty cool,” Petersen said of Augustana embracing his idea. “Obviously, Ace will not just be affiliated with the hockey team but will be affiliated with all the teams, all of campus. I think it’s awesome that Augie Doggie is making a comeback.”

How Ace found his place

Ace, who is a 6-month-old English Cream Golden Retriever, came to Augustana through B-Squad Dog Rescue, a foster-based rescue. The organization, based out of Brandon, “transports, heals, fosters and finds forever homes for at-risk dogs.”

Ace, and his brother, Phil, were surrendered to B-Squad from a commercial breeder in Missouri because of health issues.

After being surrendered, Ace was placed with a B-Squad foster family — Sam Kremer and Chrisanne Ebertz, who are roommates in the area. Right away, they noticed he was having trouble going to the bathroom, which eventually led to emergency surgery at 8 weeks old.

“I picked him up from the hospital after surgery, and it was like nothing had happened. He was completely unphased by it all. He was running and jumping, feeling better than ever,” Kremer said.

A twist of fate then brought Ace, his foster family and Augustana together. While Miller was in conversation with B-Squad, trying to find the right dog for AU, she just happened to meet Kremer and Ace one night in downtown Sioux Falls. 

“I met Pam, and you could just tell she had such a big heart and a soft spot for dogs. She instantly fell in love with him and knew immediately he would be the perfect fit for this program. She made it her mission to adopt this dog,” Kremer said.

Then, it was time to find a lead sponsor, which became Nyberg’s Ace owner and president Kevin Nyberg, a member of the class of 1979.

“How could you say no?” asked Nyberg, after agreeing to sponsor Augie Doggie for five years. “I’m so proud to be the first sponsor of the Augie Doggie. This is a great way for Augustana to connect with the community in so many different ways — not just Augustana events but assisted living centers and schools and things like that. The students, faculty and alumni are all going to fall in love with this little guy, and it’s going to be a great venture.”

On July 24, Ace moved to his new home — an emotional goodbye but an exciting new beginning.

“We love dogs and have loved fostering over the past couple of years,” Kremer said. “It’s just so rewarding. It’s obviously emotionally taxing, but at the end of the day, we’re still in contact with those families, and we love receiving updates and holiday cards from them. So it makes it a lot easier to know that they’re going to a good and loving home.”

A loving home of 2,000-plus students and staff — who already are embracing him.

“I think the idea of this program is amazing and love that he’s going to be the first. I know that he’ll set the bar high,” Kremer said. “Stranger danger is not a thing for him. He loves to cuddle and never passes up the opportunity to give kisses. You can’t help but smile when he’s around, so I know he will fit in perfectly on campus and bring so much joy to everyone. He’s going to be a star for sure.”

Ace will receive training at Paws Pet Resort, and Best Care Pet Hospital, the veterinary clinic that Ace visits, also has agreed to provide his medical care in-kind.

To keep up with the #AugieDoggie, follow Ace on Facebook and Instagram at @doggieofaugie.