Cedar Falls, Iowa — University of Northern Iowa football fans are delighting in watching a new four-legged member of the Panther Marching Band take the field at halftime this season. Winnie, a golden retriever, is the service dog for sophomore student Gabi Riessen, who has a chronic condition called POTS, or postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome.
Riessen transferred to the Cedar Falls campus when her old school didn’t allow her to join activities because she would need her service dog with her. UNI marching band director Justin Mertz says Riessen and Winnie are now local celebrities.
Riessen plays cymbals and mallet percussion in the band’s stationary frontline ensemble. Winnie accompanies her human, dressed in full gear and attached to her by a leash around Riessen’s waist. You can watch Riessen and Winnie perform next at UNI’s Homecoming football game against Missouri State on October 26th.
