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Last month, Babydogòòò½ÊÓƵ™s likeness was immortalized when her image was included in a new mural of West Virginia culture and attractions at the State Capitol. Many complained, but few complained about a cellist and ballroom dancers in the same scene. To most West Virginians, Babydog is probably more associated with the state than ballroom dancers and cellists are.

And now has come word that a Babydog bobblehead is available for sale in limited quantities. A bobblehead was inevitable given Babydogòòò½ÊÓƵ™s fame.

For a while, Babydogòòò½ÊÓƵ™s constant presence beside Justice was almost a joke. When Justice was scheduled to appear at an event, people wondered if Babydog was coming, too. But now itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s expected.

But Babydog isnòòò½ÊÓƵ™t the first dog to become a player in West Virginia state politics. Huntingtonòòò½ÊÓƵ™s own Fred the Dog was a political icon long before Babydog was born.

The late Dave Peyton was a columnist for The Herald-Dispatch of Huntington in 1988, and to add some levity to the 1988 gubernatorial election between incumbent Gov. Arch Moore and challenger Gaston Caperton, Peyton promoted his dog Fred as an alternative write-in candidate. A photo of Fred was used on coin-operated boxes selling The Herald-Dispatch. At the time, Fred was the newspaperòòò½ÊÓƵ™s biggest celebrity. In the election, Caperton defeated Moore and Fred finished third. Peyton liked to say Fred was the leading candidate among losers who were not later indicted.

Fred has long since departed this vale of tears, but Babydog remains. Even people who donòòò½ÊÓƵ™t like dogs in general are used to her being by Justiceòòò½ÊÓƵ™s side. It seems that if you donòòò½ÊÓƵ™t like Justice, then Babydog is an embarrassment to the state. If you do like Justice or if you are neutral about him, then Babydog is a welcome diversion from the sarcastic back and forth of politics.

Really, whatòòò½ÊÓƵ™s wrong with that?

Babydog turns 5 years old in October. Justice will probably mark the occasion, and thatòòò½ÊÓƵ™s OK. Her time in the governoròòò½ÊÓƵ™s office is limited, as Justice cannot run for a third term. If he wins election to the U.S. Senate as expected, it will be interesting to see how much exposure Babydog gets in Washington, D.C.