Puppies are arguably one of the cutest creatures on Earth. So how exciting is it to learn about the upcoming puppy marathon? It will be held here at UMPI. UMPI’s very own psychology professor, Dr. Paul Johnson Jr., will be hosting it. Better yet, it will be something to look forward to after finals.
Though Johnson has never hosted a marathon before, he has a lot of knowledge about them. Johnson said, “You have to worry about chafing on the puppies and humans. Be sure to use Vaseline.” Johnson spoke very lightheartedly about this upcoming event. In his own words, “I’m absolutely excited!”
And now, some more information about this puppy marathon. Though the exact date is not yet confirmed, Johnson said, “Definitely after mud season. We don’t want the puppies to get distracted.” He said, “There will be at least three hundred puppies.” He also said, “There are going to be divisions for different breeds and ages. And then there will be prizes for the different categories.” So, expect to see a multitude of different puppies!
Johnson has some advice about which puppies to root for. “Root for the weird, funny-looking dogs,” and “Expect the unexpected.” He also said, “It’s the ones that you don’t expect to win, that look out of place.” So, watch for the odd puppies, the ones with short legs or the ones with smushed noses. Or even puppies with both.
There are some students buzzing about this event. Kristin Ray said, “I wouldn’t miss it for the world! I’m so excited. I’ve never seen anything like it!” Mark Robichaud said, “I heard it was pretty cool, and I’m going to bring my family.” Another student, Jacob Mondor, said, “I’m rooting for golden retrievers. They’re the best.” Ray is rooting for chihuahuas. She said, “They’re the underdogs. They’re so small and short.” Robichaud is putting his hopes on pugs and dachshunds. His reasoning is that, “They’re so cute.”
Any UMPI student looking to go to this event will not have to pay any admission fees. There will be concessions. Those will not be free. Outside guests will have to pay a fee. It is $5 for adults, $3 for children and teenagers. It will be free for babies and toddlers.
Students can look forward to this event right around the time that finals begin rolling around. It will be a sight to see, and most definitely one of the cutest events that UMPI has held. So, what puppies will you be rooting
