UConn live mascot on the road to recovery

Connor Linskey, The Chronicle, Willimantic, Conn.
·2 min read
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Jan. 31—STORRS MANSFIELD — Jonathan XIV, the University of Connecticut's live husky mascot, is on the road to recovery following a medical procedure on Jan. 19 at Fenton River Veterinary Hospital.

That day, veterinary hospital staff found a large mass growing on the dog's spleen. Jonathan immediately underwent surgery to remove both the mass and his spleen.

According to a post Saturday on the mascot's official Instagram page, the dog's biopsy results came back Friday night, revealing that the mass was not cancer.

The same post also said that Jonathan has another three weeks of recovery, much of which will be spent resting. He will continue to recover under the care of his Alpha Phi Omega handlers and host family.

Jonathan thanked those who supported him through his surgery as well as his recovery.

" Thank you UConn Nation for all the get- well wishes, pawsitive thoughts and prayers," read a statement made on Jonathan's official Instagram account Saturday. " It has made all the difference."

The current Jonathan was introduced as UConn's 14th mascot in early 2014. He is nine years old.

According to the UConn website, all of the university's husky mascots are named in honor of Jonathan Trumbull, the last colonial and first state governor of Connecticut.

In addition to the canine version of Jonathan, there is also a costumed version.

The UConn website also states that all but the first real husky mascot, a brown and white dog, had been solid white with one brown eye and one blue eye until 2013 when the university changed its logo to a black and white husky.

The current Jonathan, a black and white husky, was born on Oct. 5, 2013, in El Dorado, Arkansas. He was introduced as UConn's mascot on Jan. 29, 2014, beginning his duties in August of that year.

The husky has been UConn's mascot since 1933, when it was selected by students via a popular poll.

When healthy, Jonathan can be seen at many UConn events, including running onto the field before football games, sitting in the stands at basketball games, open houses as well as HuskyTHON.

UConn Deputy Spokesperson Mike Enright noted that the UConn community will be thrilled to see Jonathan back on campus following his recovery.

" Everybody loves Jonathan," Enright said. " I've told people over the years that the current people working with Jonathan and his predecessor have really done a great job of taking care of the mascot and making him much more visible on campus than he ever has been in decades."

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