"Rescue Mutt" - one of the lucky dogs. Photo by Andrew Dixon/Flickr (noncommercial use permitted with attribution / no derivative works).
Official State Pet of California
California designated "a shelter pet" as the official state pet in 2015 (Georgia, Tennessee and Colorado also recognize shelter and rescued pets as state symbols). All State Dogs & Cats
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Concurrent Resolution No. 56
WHEREAS, There are currently around eight million abandoned pets living in animal shelters in the United States; and
WHEREAS, Three to four million of these dogs and cats are euthanized every year; and
WHEREAS, The Legislature seeks to raise public awareness of shelter animals; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby declares a shelter pet as the official State Pet.