worked closely with her professional trainer, Kay Stephens, and her newly appointed mascot corporal throughout the summer for her return for football season. Despite several stints in obedience school, Reveille's manners at times needed work. Though other incidents have been suspected, in 2007, it was reported that Reveille VII bit her handler after having her tail stepped on during a morning run. On February 13, 2008, her impending retirement at the end of the school year was announced at a news conference at the Corps Center. In the summer of 2008, she began her retirement at the age of 7 living with two other dogs under the care of Paul and Tina Gardner in Wellborn, Texas. Texas A&M University president R. Bowen Loftin reported via Twitter that Reveille VII died on May 30, 2013, at home in Aggieland. Reveille VIII Reveille VIII (died June 25, 2018) assumed her duties as the official mascot of Texas A&M University in August 2008, just before the fall semester, following the retirement of her predecessor at the conclusion of the spring semester. She was introduced formally at the August 31, 2008 season-opening football game at Kyle Field. A May 1, 2008 memo released by Dean L. Bresciani revealed some of the features of the new dog. She would be a mature female, meaning she would be at least a year and a half old. The special committee assigned to look for Reveille VIII looked for a mascot that would be medium to large size, healthy, have an upbeat personality, be at ease around crowds and like people, be able to be calm around loud noises, and be positively motivated, as well as not highly reactive. Perhaps most importantly, to prevent the behavioral problems seen in Reveille VII, “professional training protocols and oversight [are to] be established, implemented, and periodically evaluated, [and will include] a transition period to help Reveille successfully acclimate to and carry out her role as the mascot of Texas A&M University.” On August 11, 2008, Texas A&M University announced the selection of Reveille VIII, a two-year-old female Rough Collie, formerly named Kelly. She was donated by the Rough Collie breeders Julie Hinrichsen and Russell Dyke, owners of Juell Collies in Topeka, Kansas. In compensation for the new mascot, Texas A&M Corps of Cadets donated $5000 in private donations to the Collie Club of America and the former owners donated $1000. In