After seven years of service as the Texas A&M University mascot, Reveille VIII will retire at the end of the spring semester.

The university announced Thursday that the 8-year-old collie from Topeka, Kansas, originally nicknamed Kelly, will be cared for at the Stevenson Companion Animal Life-Care Center on campus, where she will continue to interact with the community for the rest of her days. Her medical needs will be met by university veterinarians.

“Speaking on behalf of my company we were very pleased with the decision,” said Reveille’s handler, Ryan Kreider. “We’re are happy to know that she will be retired to a wonderful facility on campus and just be a dog.”

Interim President Mark A. Hussey asked Tom Reber, interim vice president for student affairs, to form a 12-member committee to begin an immediate nationwide search for the next First Lady of Aggieland.

Reveille made her official debut as mascot at the 2008 season opening game against Arkansas State at Kyle Field and has been described as mellow, docile and a diva by former handlers.

Reveille’s celebrity causes Kreider’s walk to class to last at least

45 minutes because of students wanting to meet and take pictures with her. Her national celebrity status landed her the No. 2 spot on its list of the American Kennel Club’s top 10 dogs in pop culture between Snoopy at No. 1 and Scooby-Doo at No. 3.

Kreider said Reveille reacted in a very regal manner when he broke the news to her.

“When I told her she looked up at me then went back to sleep, so I think she’s content with it,” Kreider said.

Reveille did not give The Eagle an official response on how she would react when meeting her replacement for the first time in the spring, but Kreider spoke for her.

“She knows she’s the queen,” he said.

This article was written by Sam Peshek and sourced from http://www.theeagle.com/news/a_m/reveille-viii-retiring-search-is-on-for-new-first-lady/article_df7fcc03-34f4-5b99-853b-249ef9302411.html.