We’ve all seen this four-legged cotton ball traipsing about campus with her family, the notorious and esteemed Dr. Ian Isherwood, his lovely wife Sam, and their gallant son, Henry. You may have even bent down to pat her head and gaze into her eternal, glowing eyes. But what do we really know about Penny Isherwood, the mysterious Westie? Annika Jensen, goat herder extraordinaire, has the interview, and the answers may surprise you.
HC: Why do you like Gettysburg so much? What makes it a great area for a dog?
Penny: Squirrels. Cheeky ones at that. They are both plentiful and slow. And the students adore me, which helps.
HC: How would you define yourself in terms of a famous literary work? (My dog, for example, would be Big Trouble by Dave Barry because he is cute and funny but sometimes excessive.)
Penny: I am both Jeeves and Wooster simultaneously. A perfect blend of frivolity and disapproval.
HC: What is your favorite thing to chew on and why?
Penny: This is far too personal a question.
HC: Which famous historical figure inspires you?
Penny: Horatio Nelson. Long live his Lordship’s memory. If only I had his sea legs. Or Sir Edward Pellew.
HC: On a scale of 1-10, how scary do you think you are?
Penny: 10, of course.
HC: Alternatively, on a scale of 1-10, how cuddly do you think you are?
Penny: 3 (looks are deceiving)
HC: What’s the best method of fighting off intruders?
Penny: Fire a full broadside of sass. Reload. Don’t wait for the smoke to clear before firing a second. #terrierstyle
Our interview was cut short when the tricky terrier eluded me to pursue a particularly devious squirrel. This only goes to prove that Westies like Penny can never be tamed, not even by tenacious Isherwoods.