"World’s Greatest Beagle" Sweet Pea supervises English courses and takes unofficial residence in the Creative Writing Program at UH.
Even after undergoing ACL surgery to rejuvenate her aging joints, Sweet Pea still walks around campus with owner and English professor James Kastely, in his trademark straw hat to greet people.
Kastely, who also serves as Creative Writing Program director, described the interaction between himself, his dog and the people who stop to greet them as "a moment of humanity."
The professor believes the presence of a friendly, approachable animal placates people. Students feel calmer during conferences when Sweet Pea ambles toward them with her nose sniffing curiously at their shoes and tail wagging.
"One of the nice things about having a dog around is that people behave better," Kastely said.
Sweet Pea began attending University courses in Spring 2007 when a home renovation left owners Kastely and wife Lynn Voskuil, professor of English at UH, without a place to keep her during the day.
Kastely put on his straw hat and walked Sweet Pea to his office in Roy G. Cullen Building for the first time.
The eight-year old beagle, called the unofficial mascot of the Department of English by students and staff, ambles from office to office daily in the second floor of the Roy Cullen Building to collect treats and biscuits from her devoted fans.
Sweet Pea’s treat collections additionally take place during the two professor’s courses. Sweet Pea’s classroom visits include greeting college students with enthusiastic tail-wags and inquisitive sniffs.
"It’s fun," said English junior Tiffany Thor on one of Sweet Pea’s regular strolls through the lecture hall of Voskuil’s Victorian literature course. "You feel her brushing against your feet."
Voskuil’s office has a small dog bed especially for Sweet Pea, although she has claimed the warm spot under Kastely’s computer and his office couches as other retreats. After Sweet Pea received ACL surgery on her back joints, Kastely placed packages on his office furniture to deter her from jumping with her old bones.
Instead of sleeping on Kastely’s plush sofa or either of his two easy chairs, Sweet Pea has taken to curling up beside his bookcase.
Sweet Pea occasionally lets out loud snores while napping underneath Kastely’s desk.
"You can’t take anything too seriously when you hear her," Kastely said with a laugh.
When one student was allergic to dogs, Voskuil refrained from bringing Sweet Pea to that particular student’s section by making other arrangements.
Sweet Pea was the last puppy sold from a litter. After Kastely and Voskuil’s daughter begged them to drive 90 minutes to Smiley, Texas in response to an advertisement in the newspaper, the family took her home.
Kastely remembered saying, "Clearly this is a good dog."
