INDIANAPOLIS — The retired Butler University live bulldog mascot has died.
Butler Blue III, also known as “Trip,” was an English Bulldog who served as Butler’s live mascot from 2013 to 2020. He died Saturday morning after a brief illness.
Trip passed at the age of 12, surrounded by family.
“Trip will long be remembered for his spirit and passion. He reveled in his work and relished
the limelight, taking great pride in his role as mascot. As we mourn his loss, we do so with fond
memories and a debt of gratitude for his service,” said Trip’s “Pops,” Michael Kaltenmark ’02,
who served as Trip’s handler and caretaker.
According to a press release from Butler University, Trip began working as a mascot at just one-year-old on March 9, 2013, during a changing of the Collar Ceremony at Hinkle Fieldhouse. He retired on May 31, 2020.
Adored by the community, Trip amassed a staggering 100,000 followers. During his life, he traveled to 22 states, personally went from door-to-door to paw deliver Butler admission decisions, and famously barfed on the court at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
His distinguished personality was also featured in publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, NBC Nightly News, and CBS 4 Evening News. Trip’s star power even landed him a role in the Netflix series called DOGS.
“I want to thank Michael Kaltenmark, his wife, Tiffany, and their sons Everett and Miles for
pouring their love and time into Trip and the live-mascot program here at Butler. Butler’s live
mascot program serves as the standard among other universities largely due to their efforts,”
said President James Danko.
Butler Blue III’s official portrait will be displayed in the Butler Bookstore inside Atherton Union from Monday, April 8, through Sunday, April 14, for tributes. More details will be announced on Trip’s memorial service on his social media channel, @TheButlerBlue.