Bill naming Labrador Ohio’s official dog lands lawmaker in deep doo-doo

State Rep. Jeff Rezabek wants to name the Labrador Retriever as the official dog of Ohio but the People for the Ethical Treament of Animals would rather that the American mutt get the special designation.

PETA, an animal rights group with 6.5 million members, fired off a letter to Rezabek, R-Clayton, to tell him that his well-intentioned legislation could end up hurting Labradors.

Puppy mills would cash in on the demand, while Ohio’s animal shelters would see an uptick in Labradors when new owners discover that they’re expensive, time consuming, and in need of training, according to PETA.

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“The last thing that Ohio’s already severely crowded animal shelters need is a deluge of yet another type of dog,” said PETA President Ingrid Newkirk in a written release. “If Ohioans’ hearts are set on naming an official state dog, PETA suggests the humble, healthy, and 100 percent lovable all-American mutt.”

Rezabek introduced the Labrador bill earlier this month and it has yet to receive a hearing. He said he had not yet seen the letter from PETA.

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