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19 T M C P U L S E | F E B R U A R Y 2 02 0 "When our admissions staff tour potential residents or family members, Ms. Kitty will often fall in step and partake in the tour along with any strokes of love visitors are willing to give her," Breed added. ④ Mogie The apricot Australian Labradoodle who calls Ronald McDonald House Houston his home is actually the second pup known as Mogie. After a "passing of the bone" in December 2018, this almost-2-year-old bundle of per- sonality assumed the responsibilities of the original Mogie, a now-retired, golden-locked Labradoodle who was the organization's house dog for a decade. Louis and Marilyn Mogas, longtime supporters of Ronald McDonald House Houston, are the bene- factors of both canine ambassadors. Mogie offers companionship to recovering chil- dren and their families at Holcombe House, the 70-bedroom flagship facility of Ronald McDonald House Houston. ⑤ Sammy the Owl Rice University's 113-year-old mascot, Sammy the Owl, has an illustrious, near-infamous and century-long history of survival. In addition to being elected homecoming queen, Sammy has been kidnapped multiple times since 1917 and was smuggled out of the former Rice Hotel disguised as a corpse. When the Rice Owls won the 2003 College World Series, Sammy celebrated by jumping on a pile of baseball players as they relished the victory. Once a pair of live owls each named Sammy, Rice's mascot trans- formed into a costumed character in the 1970s. The students and volunteers who have occupied the suit have been rous- ing fans, making mischief and witness- ing Rice history for more than 40 years. ⑥ Sunny the Bear This plush toy represents comfort for the young people served by DePelchin Children's Center. A child receives the bear when welcomed into a fos- ter home or in a courtroom where a forever family is made official. ⑦ Tex, Rex and Lex The Texas Southern University Tigers are repre- sented by Tex and his brother, Rex, first introduced in 1996. Known for their outstanding abilities as dancers and game-day hype men, the tigers can be found clowning around courtside at basketball games, tumbling alongside the football field and working parades and pep rallies. Perhaps the most popular pair on campus, the siblings expanded into a cheerleading trio in 2018 when the univer- sity introduced their little sister, Lex, who sports a hair bow and fluttering eyelashes. ⑧ Topper Topper is the Gumby-green costumed giraffe who represents Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital. Pediatric patients typically receive a stuffed Topper upon admission for comfort during their stay. "Topper provides a positive distraction for children to help with their healing process by cheering them up, lifting their spirits and allowing them to actually be a kid," said Susie Distefano, CEO of Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital. The costumed giraffe became a member of the Children's Memorial Hermann family—and earned his name—after patients looked out of their hospital windows to see the tops of giraffe heads across the street at the Houston Zoo, Distefano said. "Years ago, when a new giraffe was born at the zoo, Houstonians and many friends of Children's Memorial Hermann voted to also name that baby giraffe Topper," the CEO added. There's also another tale that a nameless baby giraffe wandered across the street from the zoo with an injured ear that "people doctors" ban- daged before returning him home with a name. Either way, Topper now celebrates the skills of his healers as a tall and terrific hospital mascot. ⑧ Above and facing page: Wrangling a group of mascots for a photograph is no easy feat, as these outtakes reveal. Costumed characters and humans helped calm their canine friends. ④ ⑥ ②