Babydog

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This article is about the dog owned by Jim Justice. For juvenile dogs, see Puppy.
Babydog Justice
Babydog in 2021
SpeciesDog
BreedEnglish Bulldog
SexFemale
Born (2019-10-24) October 24, 2019 (age 4)
West Virginia, United States of America
OwnerJim Justice
Weight60 lb (27 kg)[1]

Babydog, full name Babydog Justice,[2][3] is an English bulldog owned by Governor of West Virginia Jim Justice.[4][5] Described by the Washington Post as a "fixture in West Virginia politics", she is known for regularly accompanying Justice at public engagements.[1]

Personal life

Babydog was a gift to Jim Justice from his children in 2019. According to Justice, she got her name as a puppy after Justice would ask "where did that baby dog go?", and the name stuck.[6] Justice has described Babydog as a "little rascal who looks like a brown watermelon that loves everybody".[7]

In February 2024, Babydog successfully underwent ligament surgery.[8]

Life in politics

Babydog and Jim Justice presenting a prize to a winner of the "Do It for Babydog" sweepstakes

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, Justice used the slogan "Do It for Babydog” to promote a vaccine lottery designed to encourage West Virginians to get vaccinated for COVID-19.[9][10][11]

Due to Babydog's frequent appearances with Justice at various press conferences and events within West Virginia, Babydog quickly became a popular figure within West Virginian politics, including becoming a sort of meme figure within the state. One particular event in 2022 gained national attention, as while delivering the annual State of the State Address, Justice responded to a tweet by actress Bette Midler calling West Virginians "poor, illiterate, and strung out" (in response to Senator and former Governor Joe Manchin's opposition to President Joe Biden's "Build Back Better" Plan) by holding Babydog up and telling Midler, as well as his critics, to "kiss her hiney".[12]

In June 2024, a mural at the West Virginia State Capitol was unveiled that included a likeness of Babydog.[13]

Babydog appeared with Justice on the second day of the 2024 Republican National Convention, which garnered cheers from attendees.[1][14] The New York Times stated that her reception had "an energy generally reserved only for former President Donald J. Trump".[15]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Suliman, Adela (July 17, 2024). "Meet Babydog, the 60-pound bulldog who stole the show at RNC convention". Washington Post. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  2. ^ Heim, Madeline (July 17, 2024). "Who is Babydog Justice, the dog onstage at RNC in Milwaukee". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Milwaukee and Wisconsin breaking news and investigations. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  3. ^ Baxter, Holly (July 16, 2024). "Babydog Justice appears on RNC speaker schedule, in surprise twist". The Independent. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  4. ^ "Babydog: WV Gov. Jim Justice's Secret Canine Weapon". June 27, 2024.
  5. ^ Robertson, Campbell (October 15, 2023). "'Big Jim' and Babydog Go to Washington?". The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
  6. ^ Campbell, Colin (July 17, 2024). "Who is Babydog? W.Va. Gov. Justice brings his canine sidekick to the RNC stage". Yahoo News. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  7. ^ Susa, Maggie (October 28, 2022). "Happy birthday, Babydog! Governor's pet celebrates turning 3 this week". The Herald-Dispatch. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  8. ^ Hannahs, Alyssa (February 13, 2024). "Babydog out of surgery, Gov. Jim Justice says". wsaz. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  9. ^ Brown, Erica (June 21, 2023). "West Virginia governor defends "Do it for Babydog" vaccine lottery after federal subpoena - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com.
  10. ^ "West Virginia's 'Do it for Babydog' vaccine lottery coverage | WOWK". September 8, 2023. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  11. ^ BASS, KENNIE (June 18, 2021). "'She makes people feel good:' How Babydog became the face of W.Va.'s vaccine campaign". WSET. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  12. ^ Stracqualursi, Veronica (January 28, 2022). "The ultimate rebuttal: West Virginia governor hoists dog's derrière in cheeky response to critics | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  13. ^ Willingham, Leah (June 30, 2024). "An English bulldog named Babydog makes a surprise appearance in a mural on West Virginia history". AP News. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  14. ^ "West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice appears on convention stage with pet bulldog Babydog". July 16, 2024.
  15. ^ Gold, Michael (July 17, 2024). "Babydog, a Plump Bulldog Who Is Apparently a Republican, Charms the R.N.C." The New York Times – via NYTimes.com.
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