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Rezabek says it is not a slight against Chihuahuas, dachshunds, Yorkies, beagles or any other breed or mix.
The lab, the most popular dog in the Dayton area when my colleague Cornelius Frolik checked county dog license registration data in 2017, is just so awesomely Ohio.
"It is a hard-working dog that enjoys a lot of fun and that is Ohio," Rezabek said. "The slogan says Ohio is the heart of it all. The Labrador is the heart of your house."
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Credit: Submitted
Legislation being pushed by Rezabek has already been approved by committee and this fall, he hopes to convince the speaker of the house to introduce it for the vote.
He’s a life-long lab man.
Besides Brandy, the Grand Island, N.Y., native’s favorite Labrador, his family’s pets have included Buck (Budweiser), Bristol, Bell and his first lab Brutus, who was named for the Popeye character.
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Rezabek said labs are far more than just fabulous pets.
“It is a hunting dog,” he said. “It does search and rescue. It is out there working with the police. It really represents the hard-working people of Ohio.”
Why Rezabek was pulling for the lab, at the same time Brynne Hartley, a fourth-grader at Woodlands Intermediate School in Huron, was also pushing legislators to show the lab a little love.
Rezabek, Brynne and her classmates teamed up to wag for their favorite pooch in the statehouse.
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Credit: Submitted
He’s receive a few calls in support of other breeds, but Rezabek said nothing has been substantial.
Acknowledging there are big fish to fry in the state, Rezabek said there has to be room for fun bills and to encourage young people who want to get involved in government.
“They (the kids) really worked the bill really hard to learn the process,” he said.
And the kids didn’t get a pass just because they are kids … oh, no.
“They (representatives) had some tough questions for those kids,” Rezabek said. “Every time we got a ‘yes’ vote, it was fun to hear those cheers.”
My colleague Laura A. Bischoff recently wrote about an effort to make the shelter pet Ohio's official pet and Rezabek said his bill doesn't compete with that effort.
He said he encourage folks to consider mixed-breed animals — particularly mixed-breed labs — and check shelters first for pets, be it a cat, a dog, a gerbil, rabbit or anything else.
“They all become family members,” he said. “Make sure you can care for the pet.”
So what do you think? Should the Labrador retriever be the state's official top dog or would your vote go to the Chihuahua; pit bull; German shepherd; shih tzu; Yorkshire terrier; boxer; golden retriever; dachshund; beagle or another breed entirely.
Email Arobinson@DaytonDailyNews.com to let her know.
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Credit: Submitted
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