New Jersey has a state flower, turtle, and even a bug. So it’s about time the Garden State picked a dog.
Gov. Phil Murphy on Tuesday signed a bill into law making the Seeing Eye dog the state dog.
The oldest guide dog school in the U.S., The Seeing Eye, has headquarters in Morristown. The organization has trained and paired more than 17,000 guide dogs with owners who are blind, according to its website.
The school launched in Nashville in 1929 but relocated two years later to New Jersey, where a more mild climate made training the dogs easier.
The term “Seeing Eye dog” specifically refers to those trained at Seeing Eye Inc. All others are called service or guide dogs.
State Sen. Anthony Bucco’s father, the late state Sen. Anthony R. Bucco, introduced this legislation (S2849) in July 2018.
“My father and I shared a passion for the work of The Seeing Eye organization and its mission to increase the independence of those who are blind and visually impaired,” Bucco, R-Morris, said in a statement. “This was one of the last bills that we worked on together prior to his passing. I couldn’t think of a more fitting tribute to my father than the signing of this legislation which encapsulates his deeply held belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to live with dignity and respect.”
The state Senate passed it 37-0 and the state Assembly 73-0 earlier this month.
This story has been updated with a statement from Bucco.
Amanda Hoover can be reached at ahoover@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @amandahoovernj. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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