Pepper recently had an exam room in the new Elizabethton location of ETSU Pediatrics dedicated to her. Officer Bill Mitchell, owner of the beloved therapy dog, tells more about why Pepper is so much more than just a dog and is actually changing lives of students.
“I have seen such a big change for the better in people’s mood and happiness from the moment just before seeing Pepper and after spending just a few minutes petting and hugging Pepper,” said Mitchell. “So many students have said that they actually picked ETSU over other colleges simply because of Pepper.”
Pepper has only been on campus since late February 2020 and Mitchell describes her as having a very important role for mental health of students and the look of the university itself.
“I place Pepper right beside University of Tennessee Smokey,” said Mitchell. “She gives us more recognition and she represents ETSU very well with her attitude, clothing and good looks.”
Officer Bill Mitchell further explains that he did not expect all of the publicity with Pepper, let alone a room dedicated to just her.
“She loves small children and special needs children because she relates to them in only a way that they understand,” said Mitchell. “So, when we arrived at the Elizabethton clinic I was really speechless with the dedicated area.”
Pepper has come such a long way since she was found abandoned on Cocoa Beach, FL. Mitchell applied to the Sheriff Department to get assigned a dog for emotional support on campus and was assigned Dakota, who is now Pepper. She is now a figure for the university and for the area itself.
“From the Florida beaches we traveled back to the mountains of Johnson City, Tennessee, where Pepper would touch the lives of so many people and hopefully make their day a little brighter,” said Mitchell.
You can visit Pepper’s dedicated exam room at the new Elizabethton Pediatrics location, 1505 West Elk Avenue, Suite 2b, Elizabethton, Tennessee.
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