Kentucky state lawmakers join Kentucky townsman to celebrate Senate Bill 37, designating the train Walker County noon as the official state dog.

The bill also recognizes dogs and cats adopted from shelters as the official pets of the Commonwealth.

More about this and tonight's legislative update.

We want to welcome everybody to this ceremony celebrating Senate Bill 37, which started out as a one topic bill.

And then ended up embracing a lot of other, good things here in the Commonwealth.

Sometimes some people say, don't all have better things to do, and we do a lot of good.

You know, we we have a budget here.

I worked, many hours on that, but I've worked on this bill for several years now, and it it just means a lot to me personally.

I wanted to get it done before I retired or died.

I worked very closely with the American Kennel Club and have been their legislator of the year, and I'm very proud of that.

And, this is the tree and Walker Coon hound is the only breed that Kentucky can lay claim to as far as registration.

Today we celebrate an important piece of our heritage, like designating the train Walker Coonan as Kentucky's official state dog train Walker Coon hounds history runs deep in Kentucky.

Developed from from here, from early American Foxhounds and refined through generations of careful breeding, they reflect the pioneer spirit that defines Kentucky and its people.

This designation will help to preserve a tradition that is part of our culture, while educating future generations about our outdoor heritage.

Sometimes when the bill goes or the house is like in a session, we're like, oh man, you know, it's not going to make it.

It's going to run out of time.

It's become Christmas tree.

We like this Christmas tree came pretty good.

Sometimes people think that bills like this are small, but I believe moments like this matter because they remind us that we can all find common ground together.

And I think that this bill has the spirit of collaboration and bringing things together and something that's important.

State symbols.

They may seem small, but they're what brings us together.

Here are common values, our common cause, and things that we can come together on.

I've carried this bill.

Several other people have carried this bill over the past several years.

And today, this session, we honor, Senator Webb for the collaboration and including the shelter animals and the advocacy for shelter pets across the state.

It is an honor to be here today and to recognize adopted shelter dogs and cats as the official pets of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Every day, shelters and rescue organizations across Kentucky help animals begin a new chapter.

But the most important part of that story happens when someone chooses to adopt.

Anyone who has welcomed an adopted pet into their family knows the joy they bring.

They greet us at the door after a long day, make us laugh when we need it most, sit beside us for life's hardest moments and remind us to appreciate the simple things.

This recognition celebrates more than dogs and cats.

It celebrates second chances, the families who say yes to adoption, and the belief that a pet past does not define its future.

Senate Bill 37 also designates the eastern spotted skunk as the official state non-game mammal, and the eastern hellbender, a large salamander, as the official state amphibian.