Yale University's mascot, Handsome Dan XVII, has died and it was most likely from a heart attack, according to Yale University Athletics.
Handsome Dan XVII, also known as Sherman, died on Thursday in the Quonochontaug neighborhood of Charlestown, Rhode Island.
Sherman was appointed Yale's mascot in 2007. He was 9 years old when he died.
He was in Rhode Island with his caretaker, Chris Getman, who said the dog had experienced seizures earlier in the summer, but was on meds and doing well.
In his 9 years, Sherman was appointed a midshipmen by the United States Naval Reserve with the title of Midshipmen Captain in 2015 and he was the Chairman of the Board of Canine Cognitive Behavioral Studies Center, according to Yale.
He met former presidents George H. W. Bush and Jimmy Carter, as well as Sir Paul McCartney.
Yale Athletics has not yet determined a plan to find a successor.
