Husky 'Testifies' Supporting Bill To Name CT State Dog And Candy

CONNECTICUT — You've probably heard of state flags and official state birds and flowers, but soon Connecticut could have a specially designated state dog and even state candy.

If the bill is enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in the General Assembly, effective Oct. 1 the Siberian husky would be the official state dog, and the lollipop — which was invented by George Smith in New Haven in 1908 — would become the state candy, the bill states.

There was a public hearing to discuss the matter Friday, during which the University of Connecticut mascot, a husky named Jonathan XV, made a remote appearance.

During the hearing, Jonathan — named after Connecticut's first governor Jonathan Trumbull — 'testified' with the help of UConn student Laura Centanni, who spoke on behalf of the four-legged icon.

Jonathan noted that the school, the state's flagship university, has had huskies as mascots for more than nine decades.

"Obviously being one myself, one could certainly accuse me of bias when championing the traits of a Siberian Husky," Jonathan said. "But words such as friendly, gentle, alert, outgoing, dignified, and intelligent are all characteristics used to describe Siberian huskies like me by the American Kennel Club ... It would be a great honor to me and my Siberian husky brethren to be designated as our great state's official dog."

The Connecticut General Assembly shared more testimony on its website from those in favor of the bill.

"My name is Juliana O’Brien, I am testifying in support of lollipops becoming the official state candy of Connecticut," one letter of testimony began."When I joined my elementary school I didn't know anyone. When my best friend Jacqueline helped me join this project I suddenly had some new best friends from lollipops!"

Another resident, Laura Sheiman of Fairfield, said that "designating official state foods, candy, and other symbols like the state dog help us feel a sense of identity as a state."

"These designations can also generate interest in the state by creating special days or events which benefit our local businesses," Sheiman continued.