STORRS, Conn. — Jonathan the Husky submitted his testimony on Friday in the push to make the Siberian Husky the Connecticut state dog.
The UConn mascot appeared via video with his handlers in support of House Bill 5304, which the Government Administration and Elections Committee heard testimony on the proposed legislation.
“Jonathan I, who was named after Connecticut’s first Governor, Jonathan Trumbull, arrived on campus in 1935 when we were known as Connecticut State College and had just begun awarding bachelor’s degrees two years earlier,” Jonathan XV said via his handler Laura Centanni from Alpha Phi Omega. “Four years later, this very General Assembly approved a bill that changed the name of our institution to the University of Connecticut. Since then, UConn has experienced exponential growth, helping to fuel our state’s economy and serving as a source of pride for so many soaring to No. 9 in the Wall Street Journal Rankings of public universities and winning 23 NCAA national championships since 1981.”
He continued: “(Fourteen) Huskies like me presided over the exciting history of the University of Connecticut, and while it’s a great responsibility, I am excited to be the next iteration of a symbol that unites our state and energizes Nutmeggers nationwide!”
Jonathan went on to say that the Siberian Husky is friendly, gentle, outgoing, dignified and intelligent.
“Sure, the word mischievous appears a time or two but there is (a) fine line between mischievous and a dog who likes to have some fun!” he said.
Jonathan XV became the latest in that line with a “Changing of the Collar” event at Gampel Pavilion. Like his predecessor Jonathan XIV, he is a purebred Siberian Husky and represents UConn at athletics matches, campus events, and other venues.
House Bill 5304 would also designate the lollipop the official state candy.
Doug Stewart is a Senior Digital Content Producer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dstewart@fox61.com.
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