 Babydog in 2021 | |
| Species | Dog |
|---|---|
| Breed | English Bulldog |
| Sex | Female |
| Born | October 24, 2019 West Virginia, United States of America |
| Owner | Jim Justice |
| Weight | 60 lb (27 kg) [1] |
Babydog Justice [2] [3] is an English bulldog owned by Jim Justice, the Governor of West Virginia. [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]
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] She loves chicken nuggets from Wendy's and hates celery. [8]
In February 2024, Babydog successfully underwent ligament surgery. [9]
| External videos | |
|---|---|
 Speech by Justice at the 2024 Republican National Convention featuring Babydog, C-SPAN |
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 against COVID-19. [10] [11] [12]
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, becoming a sort of meme figure within the state. One particular event in 2022 gained national attention: 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". [13]
In 2023, a waterfall in Babcock State Park was renamed to "Babydog Falls" in her honor. [14] Additionally, in June 2024, a mural depicting West Virginian history was unveiled at the West Virginia State Capitol, and it included a likeness of Babydog. [15] [16] In August 2024, associates of Jim Justice registered a political action committee named the "Babydog's Almost Heaven PAC". [17] [18]
Babydog appeared with Justice on the second day of the 2024 Republican National Convention, which garnered cheers from attendees. [1] [19] The New York Times stated that her reception had "an energy generally reserved only for former President Donald J. Trump". [20]
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