TOPEKA, Kansas -- A Kansas legislator is getting flak from People for The Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) over his proposed bill that would give Kansas an official state dog.PETA is asking that Representative Ed Trimmer withdraw his legislation.
It might not be a heavily debated bill going through the Kansas legislature, one that would make "Toto" or the Cairn Terrier the state's official dog.
"At this point they'll pat me on the back and say, ‘Oh, you're the dog legislator,’” said Rep. Trimmer.
PETA is hoping this bill doesn't see the light of day.
A PETA representative emailed Rep. Trimmer about the issue.
“Naming a state dog would drive up demand for these dogs and entice puppy mills to churn out litter after litter of the breed, meaning fewer dogs would be adopted from your state's animal shelters,” the email read.
"Glorifying a specific breed can lead to an increase in demand for that breed, and then you'll have homeless animals in shelters dying,” said Carrie Snider, a PETA spokeswoman.
Rep. Trimmer says he has no intention of withdrawing the bill and that PETA's arguments don't match up.
He told the Wichita Eagle Thursday, “I don't see a causal relation between naming a state dog and the proliferation of puppy mills."
So, with both sides digging in it seems Toto is the center of yet another Kansas debate 70 years later.
