Ohio Lawmaker Introduces Bill to Make Labrador Retriever State Dog

Via the Cincinnati Enquirer, an Ohio lawmaker has introduced legislation to make the Labrador Retriever the state dog. It would join the buckeye (state tree), the black racer (state reptile), the red carnation (state flower) and the Northern Cardinal (state bird), among others, in the roster of state symbols.

State Rep. Jeffery Rezabek (R-Clayton), who had grew up with Labs, introduced House Bill 539 last week, which would make the designation official.

He told the Enquirer that other than being ranked as America’s top breed for 26 consecutive years by the American Kennel Club, the Lab “embodies the values of the state of Ohio.”

“It’s a sporting dog and a working dog,” Rezabek said, evidently referring to Ohio’s ‘passion for sports’ and ‘work ethic.’ “When you talk about Ohio, we always consider ‘The Heart of it All,’ and the Labrador is like the heart of your home,” he said.

There are currently 12 other states with official state dogs. They are as follows:

•Alaska: Alaskan malamute.
•Delaware: Golden retriever.
•Georgia: Any adoptable dog.
•Louisiana: Catahoula Leopard Dog.
•Maryland: Chesapeake Bay retriever.
•Massachusetts: Boston Terrier.
•New Hampshire: Chinook.
•North Carolina: Plott Hound.
•Pennsylvania: Great Dane.
•South Carolina: Boykin spaniel.
•Texas: Blue Lacy.
•Virginia: American Foxhound.
•Wisconsin: American Water Spaniel.

This article appears in Mar 14-20, 2018.