Babydog

Babydog, full name Babydog Justice, is an English bulldog owned by Governor of West Virginia Jim Justice. Described by the Washington Post as a "fixture in West Virginia politics", she is known for regularly accompanying Justice at public engagements.

Personal life
Babydog was a gift to Jim Justice from his children in 2019. According to Justice, she got her name as a puppy after Justice would ask "where did that baby dog go?", and the name stuck. Justice has described Babydog as a "little rascal who looks like a brown watermelon that loves everybody". She loves chicken nuggets from Wendy's.

In February 2024, Babydog successfully underwent ligament surgery.

Life in politics
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, Justice used the slogan "Do It for Babydog” to promote a vaccine lottery designed to encourage West Virginians to get vaccinated for COVID-19.

Due to Babydog's frequent appearances with Justice at various press conferences and events within West Virginia, Babydog quickly became a popular figure within West Virginian politics, including becoming a sort of meme figure within the state. One particular event in 2022 gained national attention, as while delivering the annual State of the State Address, Justice responded to a tweet by actress Bette Midler calling West Virginians "poor, illiterate, and strung out" (in response to Senator and former Governor Joe Manchin's opposition to President Joe Biden's "Build Back Better" Plan) by holding Babydog up and telling Midler, as well as his critics, to "kiss her hiney".

In June 2024, a mural at the West Virginia State Capitol was unveiled that included a likeness of Babydog.

Babydog appeared with Justice on the second day of the 2024 Republican National Convention, which garnered cheers from attendees. The New York Times stated that her reception had "an energy generally reserved only for former President Donald J. Trump".