Pete the Panther has some serious competition. 

Coming in at about 10 inches tall, Toby — a black-and-white Spanish-speaking Border Collie and Terrier mix with hints of Dachshund and Spaniel — is capturing the hearts of every single student at Chapman's Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. 

"Toby is an icon," said junior public relations and advertising major Brenda Lai. "He is a symbol of the Dodge community. It's such a niche part of being in Dodge, like everyone knows about Toby. He's a legend. He deserves his own masterclass."

When he is not seen strutting around Marion Knott Studios in his spiky collar with his companion Dodge College Dean Stephen Galloway, Toby is just like any other dog that enjoys belly rubs, five-mile walks on Friday nights and movies that feature dogs such as "Marley & Me." 

Galloway told The Panther that Toby's indescribable wisdom that he carries through his persona is what draws people toward him — making him the unofficial mascot of Dodge College. 

"He obviously can't read and doesn't do math, and yet, there is a depth of soul to him," Galloway said. "You look in his eyes and you feel a presence, which we can't explain." 

That soulfulness has been with Toby from the very beginning — with Galloway noticing that characteristic the moment he scooped him up at an animal shelter in San Fernando Valley five years ago.

Toby, who spent the first year and a half of his life in Mexico, was separated from his family due to a devastating earthquake, which led to animal nonprofits taking stray animals to Los Angeles to find a home. As far as the name Toby, that was not up to par for Galloway, who sought to connect his dog to his passion for film. 

"I always wanted a name that reflected his origins," Galloway said, "I thought he had to be named after a Spanish-speaking filmmaker like Guillermo or Pedro. But I couldn't make up my mind, and by that time, the name Toby had stuck."

The day-to-day life of Toby consists of making his morning constitutions, taking naps and the occasional meatball treat before bed — but he spends most of his day accompanying Galloway at work. Galloway said that Toby's enthusiasm to head to campus shows that he is not just someone who punches in the clock at the office like everyone else, but is thrilled to see what each new day brings at Dodge — with the added bonus of seeing squirrels along the commute.

"When I finally say, 'You want to go to work?' he gets excited, and he's literally jumping up and down with joy," Galloway said. "Then when I open the door, he runs out so fast, it's like a bullet running through that door."

Toby's eagerness to meet people allows any student to approach him, even if he just has time for a couple minutes of head scratches. Junior screenwriting major Molly Rose Freeman said that knowing Toby is around, or rather hearing him howl in the building, makes her feel immensely comforted. Since her dog recently passed away, all Freeman had been wanting was some hand-to-paw contact. 

"He just brings a lot of joy to Dodge, especially during stressful weeks, like exam week and even just like a random week where there's a lot of stuff going on," Freeman said. "It's nice seeing him around and knowing that he's there and being able to stop and pet him or just hear him screaming down the hallway. I feel like dogs bring a good general vibe that you sometimes just need." 

While Toby is still on his way to learning new tricks like shaking his paw, his skills include jumping more than three and a half feet in the air, remaining next to Galloway even if the leash is put down and his uncanny recognition skills. 

"If you're the dean and you have 1,600 students and 350 new students each year, it's very hard to remember," Galloway said. "He will see someone he hasn't seen in three months and run up to them."

Lai describes the relationship between Galloway and Toby as a dynamic duo, with Toby's kind heart and welcoming demeanor resembling the helpful and giving spirit of Galloway — proving once again that the behavior of animals resembles that of their owners. Their connection is so strong that Toby has developed envy when other dogs or young children come into the mix — with him on one occasion pooping on a rug for ten days straight out of pure jealousy. 

"It's a really beautiful relationship between Galloway and Toby, because I think it goes beyond just him owning a dog," Lai said. "It's a beautiful friendship. I just love seeing them around. Even in random spots, like the circle, they're always together. It's really rare to see one without the other."

Galloway quickly realized that Toby's traits of cherishing the students and always being in a friendly mood — with a touch of soulfulness — are completely aligned with the values of Dodge. 

"We don't want this to be a cut-throat film school," Galloway said. "We want students to realize we're all together and all be helping each other as our careers move forward. Teams go much further than you can go on your own, and I think (Toby) represents that spirit of warmth and family that we want to create."

To further connect this bond between film school and dog, Toby began to star in several TikToks and Instagram Reels on Dodge College’s social media accounts. Lai, who serves as the lead content creator for Dodge, said she wanted the school to have a face to the name — similar to Duolingo with its green owl.

Toby continues to help with promotion for upcoming master classes and even gave his top movie picks throughout the summer. 

"Whenever we see really popular trends on social media, or with brands, they usually have a key mascot," Lai said. "I just want to associate Dodge with something. Making social media content is a lot about branding. So, I wanted to brand Dodge as the friendly school. Dodge is a great place to be around because of animals like Toby." 

Despite the gray hairs on his fur increasing, Galloway said Toby will always be there for any person who roams the halls of Dodge. Freeman emphasized Toby’s role as a critical member of the community, with each student feeling grateful that his four paws chose to trot along into Dodge.  

"He is Dodge's dog and it's nice having him there and knowing if I'm sad or if I'm freaking out about a test, I can go see this dog and know that everything will be okay," Freeman said.