NC State Mourning the Loss of Beloved Live Mascot, Tuffy II

Meghan Overdeep
·2 min read

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Wolfpack fans are reeling after this morning’s announcement that NC State’s iconic live mascot Tuffy II died on Monday night.

The school’s canine ambassador, who has delighted fans for a decade, was recently diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, or DCM, a serious though common heart disease that decreases the ability of the heart to pump blood.

The sad news came not long after Tuffy II’s owner, Joe Downey, set up a GoFundMe page for his medical bills and informing fans that the beloved Tamaskan was fighting for his life. As of Tuesday evening, $11,470 had been raised, surpassing Downey’s goal of $10,000.

NC State Athletics

“It is with deep sadness that we share that Tuffy II passed away in his sleep last night,” the NC State Athletics Department announced on Twitter Tuesday. “Our thoughts are with the Downey family, Tuffy II left a lasting impact on the NC State community.”

Social media tributes to the handsome pup continue to pour in.

Tuffy II is the brother of the original Tuffy. Tamaskans, a Husky-like breed of dog from the U.K., were chosen by the school for their wolf-like features. NC State’s previous live mascot, Lobo III, served from 1966 to 1970. According to WRAL, Lobo III was thought to be a wolf, but he was eventually revealed to be a coyote.

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“He was the best boy.”

“NC State's other attempts at having a live wolf as a mascot did not end well, as wolves are notoriously skittish around crowds,” the news station noted.

Cardboard cutouts of Tuffy II have been placed in the end zones at Carter-Finley Stadium.

Rest in peace, good boy!