Ask Ohio Committee to Support Making Labrador Retriever the State Dog on Tuesday (4/10)

On Tuesday, April 10, the Ohio House State and Local Government Committee will be taking testimony on a bill that will declare the Labrador Retriever the State Dog of Ohio.

State Representative Jeffrey Rezabek, himself a Lab owner, said that he chose the Labrador Retriever because he felt that the breed “reflects the state’s passion for sports and the work ethic that defines its communities.”  The Lab is also the most popular breed in the state.

Read AKC’s blog for more information on House Bill 539.  AKC supports this bill, which will make Ohio the 11^th state to designate a purpose-bred dog as its state dog.

Some animal rights groups, however, are publicly opposing this measure, and AKC encourages Ohio dog owners, or those who participate in events in Ohio, to do the following:

• Attend the April 10 committee hearing and express your support for House Bill 539:

  Ohio House State and Local Government Committee
  Tuesday, April 10
  2:00 pm
  Ohio Statehouse, Room 17
  Columbus, Ohio

  If you plan to attend, please notify the sponsor Rep. Rezabek’s office at Rep43@ohiohouse.gov.

• Contact the committee and express your support for House Bill 539. Please also send a copy of your letter to Rep. Rezabek’s office at Rep43@ohiohouse.gov so they can submit it as official testimony.  This must be submitted by the afternoon of Monday, April 9 to be a part of official written testimony.

  The committee contact information is as follows:

  Marlene Anielski, Chair
  (614) 644-6041
  Email Form

  Rep. Stephen Hambley, Vice Chair
  (614) 466-8140
  Email Form

  Rep. Glenn Holmes, Ranking Member
  (614) 466-3488
  Email Form

  Rep. Steven Arndt
  614-644-6011
  Email Form

  Rep. Michael Ashford
  (614) 466-1401
  Email Form

  Rep. John Becker
  (614) 466-8134
  Email Form

  Rep. Janine Boyd
  (614) 644-5079
  Email Form

  Rep. Richard Brown
  (614) 644-6002
  Email Form

  Rep. Rick Carfagna
  (614) 466-1431
  Email Form

  Rep. Bill Dean
  (614) 466-1470
  Email Form

  Rep. Brian Hill
  (614) 644-6014
  Email Form

  Rep. James Hoops
  (614) 466-3760
  Email Form

  Rep. Michael O’Brien
  (614) 466-5358
  Email Form

  Rep. Rick Perales
  (614) 644-6020
  Email Form

  Rep. Scott Ryan
  (614) 466-1482
  Email Form

AKC Government Relations will continue to provide updates on this bill.  For more information, contact AKC GR at doglaw@akc.org.