As displayed in the assembly about where to sit and what to do during assemblies, it’s been difficult for the administration to fill all the Panther Time blocks. Many of these assemblies have been rip-roaringly fun! The one on perfectionism was one hundred percent perfect and left me waiting impatiently for the one that fits my style of goodenoughism. The issue still remains that there just aren’t enough ways to fill the 25 Panther Times we have every week, until now!

In an effort to fill our many Panther Time blocks, the administration has purchased 12 large-sized panthers from Tim’s Beasts and Bureaus. Tim’s is known for providing the highest quality, semi-trained carnivores in all of northern Virginia. They also sell wooden furniture at a great low price. The panthers are supposed to provide emotional support for students while helping the football team’s offense.

Many students are celebrating this decision, but some question whether the panthers will be a safety concern. We interviewed an expert jungle cat trainer to see if these concerns are valid. When asked about the risk of biting she said, “Panthers can bite with a force twice as strong as that of a tiger. A student who got bitten would certainly feel some discomfort in the region where the panthers are penetrating the skin.” Panthers are far safer than many common animals. In all the years with the panther mascot, not one student has been bitten, excluding the salami incident of 2004. A quick Google search supports this thesis: there were over 4 million dog bites in the US in 2023, but there wasn’t a single panther bite.

Studies have shown that therapy dogs can help reduce anxiety and stress. With all the stress at Potomac, therapy animals will surely prove beneficial. Technically, these studies haven’t been recreated with panthers, but it’s worth a shot. If the panthers do end up reducing stress levels, not only will students benefit, but the school will have conducted groundbreaking research. Fully untapped fields of research are rare and bring loads of positive attention; without even looking, Potomac has found one! Hopefully, these studies can help bring the joys of panther-human interaction to light.

All in all, while there are risks involved, the benefits make bringing in panthers an opportunity that we can’t pass up. A bite or two never hurt anyone, especially if you have extremely low-stress levels at the time of the bite. The panthers are sure to be a staple of the Potomac environment for years to come!