# Kentucky officially names rescue dogs, cats as state pets  
**Published:** 2026-04-29T09:00:19.000Z  
**Source:** [Kentucky Lantern](https://kentuckylantern.com/2026/04/29/a-victory-for-the-voiceless-as-beshears-pen-makes-shelter-dogs-cats-official-ky-pets/)  
**AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001)  
**Canonical:** https://feeds.lexingtonky.news/article/kentucky-officially-names-rescue-dogs-cats-as-state-pets

Governor Andy Beshear signed Senate Bill 37 on Monday, making rescue dogs and cats the official state pets of Kentucky and designating the Treeing Walker Coonhound as the state's official dog breed, according to a [report from the Kentucky Lantern](https://kentuckylantern.com/2026/04/29/a-victory-for-the-voiceless-as-beshears-pen-makes-shelter-dogs-cats-official-ky-pets/). The measure also names the eastern spotted skunk as the state's official nongame mammal and the eastern hellbender as the state amphibian.

The milestone marks the culmination of a seven-year advocacy effort by Frankfort teenager Ethan Branscum, who began pushing for the designation when he was just six years old after seeing news coverage of Ohio making rescue animals its official state pet. The bill will take effect in July.

"I feel very accomplished right now," Branscum said Tuesday, expressing hope that the law "will help raise awareness" about shelter animals in need of adoption. "I hope that this will help get the animals adopted more," he said, adding that he also hopes it will "shine a light on all the shelter workers who are working incredibly hard to get these animals adopted."

Advocates say the symbolic measure could address a critical problem in Kentucky. [The Arrow Fund](https://thearrowfund.org/about-us/), an organization that rescues abused animals, reports that Kentucky shelters face significant overcrowding. According to recent reporting, [Kentucky animal shelters have experienced substantial upticks in animal intakes](https://spectrumnews1.com/ky/louisville/news/2025/08/01/animal-shelter-overcrowding) in recent years, with some facilities reporting that they are well over capacity.

Shelia Joneleit, executive director of The Arrow Fund, called the law "a victory for the voiceless. It's a signal that Kentucky is interested in animal protection, compassion, second chances." She said the law also "destigmatizes" shelter pets by sending a message that "rescue or shelter animals" are "part of our state identity." The organization recently rescued a hound shot in the face that was named Miracle and took in dozens of abandoned dogs from Eastern Kentucky.

The legislation passed after multiple failed attempts in previous legislative sessions. A similar bill overwhelmingly passed the House floor 90-2 in 2020 but stalled in the Senate before COVID-19 derailed efforts. Branscum's proposal was ultimately attached as an amendment to Senate Bill 37, sponsored by Senator Robin Webb.

[The Treeing Walker Coonhound was developed in the 19th century by Kentucky breeders](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treeing_Walker_Coonhound) John W. Walker and George Washington Maupin and [is known for its speed, endurance, and strong tracking ability](https://www.gooddog.com/treeing-walker-coonhound/ky). It became the American Kennel Club's 174th recognized breed in 2012.

Branscum, who runs Ethan's Rescue Pet Project, spends approximately 15 hours a week helping animals in Frankfort. Beyond his legislative work, he maintains a pet food pantry for homeless pet owners and works on disaster relief efforts. He plans to expand these initiatives following the passage of SB 37.

## Sources

- [Kentucky Lantern](https://kentuckylantern.com/2026/04/29/a-victory-for-the-voiceless-as-beshears-pen-makes-shelter-dogs-cats-official-ky-pets/)
- [The Arrow Fund animal rescue organization](https://thearrowfund.org/about-us/)
- [Report on Kentucky animal shelter overcrowding](https://spectrumnews1.com/ky/louisville/news/2025/08/01/animal-shelter-overcrowding)
- [Information on Treeing Walker Coonhound breed history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treeing_Walker_Coonhound)

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This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Kentucky Lantern, enriched with 3 web searches. The original source is available at https://kentuckylantern.com/2026/04/29/a-victory-for-the-voiceless-as-beshears-pen-makes-shelter-dogs-cats-official-ky-pets/.