Over the last few years, Webster, an eight-year-old English lab, has been coined as the “unofficial mascot” of Smith College. Sporting a variety of colorful bandanas during the day and an LED light-up harness at night, Webster walks around campus with his owner, Robert Abuza.
English labs are known for their boxy heads, according to Abuza. Because of his head shape, Webster often appears to have a big grin.
“Students seem to like him because he always looks like he’s smiling,” he explained.
“He was the smallest and mellowest in the litter,” said Abuza. “My youngest daughter and wife got him so I would exercise.”
Abuza’s daughter, Rebecca, named him after Webster Brook in Maine, the state where she now resides.
Webster has lived near Smith’s campus since he was adopted by Abuza and his late wife, Mardi ’78. The couple began walking the campus following her diagnosis of a neurological condition that limited her mobility.
“[The Smith campus] is always clear in the wintertime, it’s well lit, it’s flat — she was safe,” Abuza said. “She loved this campus and she loved seeing the students pester Webster.”
Abuza believes Webster has met about half of the student body, if not more. On their walks, Abuza introduces Webster to students using a well-known phrase on campus: “Have you met Webster?”
“They come up and say, ‘You know, he’s the campus mascot,’” he said. “The most common refrain you ever get is ‘Oh, I miss my dog.’”
Throughout Webster’s time on the campus, he has formed special bonds with many students. Abuza told stories of students who would spend time with the dog on campus; some even shared how Webster had helped them through their most difficult times.
“It was the first week in September, and [a student] came up to me and said, ‘Last May, during exams, I was really stressed out […] but you and your wife came by and let me play with Webster, and you saved me,’” said Abuza.
“I started crying, […] when I went home to tell my wife, she cried,” he said. “I told our friend in counseling services and she said, ‘Never underestimate the therapeutic power of animals.’ That’s why we like having Webster walk on campus.”
The students weren’t the only people who had grown to love the remedial presence of Webster. As Mardi’s condition developed, he sat by her side and provided her with irreplaceable companionship.
“We’re blessed to have a therapeutic dog,” said Abuza. “He helped my wife all through her illness. She would go over to the sofa and pat him and just say, ‘Oh Webster, I love you.’”
Smith alumnae who formed bonds with Webster during their time at Smith will pay him a visit when they return to campus. One alumna planned a reunion with Webster following her graduation and met Abuza and Mardi behind the Campus Center.
“She went ballistic, Webster went ballistic — it was great,” Abuza said. “He has a fan club.”
“I would say that Mardi and I were going to need therapists because it’s terrible having a dog 10,000 times more popular than we’ll ever be in our lifetimes,” he said.
Upperclassmen who have had the privilege of getting to know Webster throughout their years at college often hear a different phrase than the typical, “Have you met Webster?”
Webster greets them with a big, goofy smile and Abuza says, “Oh, I know you’ve met Webster.”
