Texas State Dog Breed

H.C.R. No. 108

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The State of Texas has traditionally recognized a variety of official state symbols as tangible representations of the proud spirit and heritage of our state; and

WHEREAS, Like the Texas longhorn, the Blue Lacy is a Texas original; the only dog breed to have originated in this state, Lacys are named for brothers George, Ewin, Frank, and Harry Lacy, who moved to Texas from Kentucky in 1858 and settled in the area of Burnet County; and

WHEREAS, The Lacy family bred cattle and hogs, so it was natural that they would also breed dogs to work them; the family is said to have used greyhound, scenthound, and coyote stock in creating the animal that took their name; and

WHEREAS, For a hundred years, Blue Lacys were a common fixture on ranches in the Southwest, where it was said that one such dog could do the work of five cowboys; intelligent, energetic, fast, eager to work, and easy to train and handle, Lacys herded cattle, hogs, and chickens, and also served as droving and hunting dogs; and

WHEREAS, With the declining use of working dogs on ranches, Lacys almost disappeared as a breed; since 1975, however, there has been a dedicated effort to save them, and their numbers now total more than a thousand; most registered Lacys are currently bred in Texas and sold to residents of the state; and

WHEREAS, While these gentle, versatile dogs continue to be used on ranches, they are also becoming highly prized again as hunting dogs and are proving valuable, as well, in search and rescue work, owing to their keen scent-trailing ability; in addition, their easygoing way with children, their aptitude for jogging, agility courses, and games of Frisbee, and their suitability as watch dogs are all contributing to their growing popularity as family pets; and

WHEREAS, A medium-sized dog with a short, smooth, sleek coat, the Lacy stands from 18 to 25 inches tall when full-grown and weighs approximately 30 to 50 pounds; all Lacys carry a rare blue-color gene, even though they are divided into three color classifications: blue, red, and tri-color; and

WHEREAS, Lacys are recognized and registered through the National Kennel Club, Continental Kennel Club, Universal Kennel International, Lacy Game Dog Registry, Texas Lacy Game Dog Association, and American Pet Registry, Inc.; and

WHEREAS, Along with its place of origin and its ranching pedigree, this companionable dog boasts yet another association with the State of Texas: in the 1880s, the Lacys were one of three families who donated granite from Granite Mountain for the building of the new State Capitol; and

WHEREAS, The Blue Lacy is a Texas native, a working dog bred to play an essential role in ranch operations, at a time when ranches themselves became one of the iconic Texas symbols, and a dog that has more than pulled its weight on many a Texas spread; this proud heritage assuredly gives the Lacy a unique and powerful claim of its own to represent the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the 79th Legislature of the State of Texas hereby designate the Blue Lacy as the official State Dog Breed of Texas.