Surrounded by Huskies, Aiken Students Celebrate State Dog During Visit with Gov. Lamont
Gov. Ned Lamont shakes hands with Laurie Maulucci, president of the Connecticut Federation of Dog Clubs and Responsible Dog Owners, at a ceremony at Aiken School in West Hartford. Sept. 4, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Students at West Hartford’s Aiken Elementary School were greeted Wednesday morning not only by Gov. Ned Lamont, but also by five Siberian Huskies.
Aiken students pet Saber, one of the Huskies that visited the school Wednesday morning as Gov. Ned Lamont celebrated the naming of the Siberian Husky as Connecticut’s state dog. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
By Ronni Newton
There was a lot going on at West Hartford’s Aiken Elementary School first thing Wednesday morning, where not only were the students greeted by Gov. Ned Lamont, who officially welcomed them back to school, but they also got to participate in an event celebrating the naming of the Siberian Husky as Connecticut’s state dog.
The students embraced the activity – and many also embraced the dogs.
An Aiken student poses with one of the Huskies that visited the school Wednesday morning as Gov. Ned Lamont celebrated the naming of the Siberian Husky as Connecticut’s state dog. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
On June 5, 2024, Lamont signed Public Act No. 24-121, which takes effect Oct. 1, 2024, and which in part names the Siberian Husky as the state dog of Connecticut. The state’s most famous Husky – University of Connecticut mascot Jonathan – was among those who lobbied for the naming of the state dog, but so did the Connecticut Valley Siberian Husky Club, which had several members visit Aiken with their dogs on Wednesday morning.
The bill was also supported by the American Kennel Club and the Connecticut Federation of Dog Clubs and Responsible Dog Owners – and their representatives were also at Aiken, and gifted the governor a painting of a Husky.
Stacey Ober from the American Kennel Club with the commissioned painting of a Siberian Husky presented to Gov. Ned Lamont. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Laurie Maulucci, president of the CFDRDO, is the grandmother of two Aiken students. She said she worked very closely with Stacey Ober from the American Kennel Club’s Office of Government Relations. “We were the ones to put this event together, to have the Siberian, who is our new state dog, celebrate the signing of the bill.”
The official painting of the Husky, which they hope will be able to hang in the Capitol of Legislative Office Building, was commissioned by the Federation and the AKC. The Connecticut Valley Siberian Husky Club is one of 57 AKC-affiliated clubs in the state, Ober said.
Saber, the dog who served as the model for the portrait, was one of the Huskies who visited Aiken on Wednesday.
Saber enjoys belly rubs from the Aiken students. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
“Thank you, thanks to the Federation. We love the Husky,” Lamont said. While Siberia is cold, desolate, and gray, “the best thing that comes out of Siberia is the Husky,” the governor said. “It’s beautiful, it’s smart, it’s elegant, energetic – just like Connecticut. That’s why it’s the Connecticut mascot dog, that’s why Jonathan’s the mascot at the University of Connecticut. Thank you for representing the best of our state.”
Lamont high-fived the students, as he greeted them with Principal Shannon Mlodzinski. While the kids are enthusiastic about the start of the new school year, he added, “the Siberian Huskies were excited to see the kids here at Aiken Elementary School in West Hartford. … Dogs just bring out the best in folks, and we bring out the best in the Huskies.”
Gov. Ned Lamont, with Aiken Principal Shannon Mlodzinksi, greets students on Wednesday morning. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
A total of 20 students – one from each classroom – were chosen to pose with the Siberian Huskies and the governor. Many of those students had previously raised money for the Humane Society, Assistant Principal Amy Schmelder said, and they were also sure to choose kids who weren’t afraid of dogs.
The rest of the Aiken community also had a chance to meet the Huskies, as the dogs paraded around the school with their owners.
The naming of the Siberian Husky as Connecticut’s state dog was celebrated at an event at Aiken Elementary School in West Hartford on Sept. 4, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The naming of the Siberian Husky as Connecticut’s state dog was celebrated at an event at Aiken Elementary School in West Hartford on Sept. 4, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Gov. Ned Lamont, with Aiken Principal Shannon Mlodzinksi, greets students on Wednesday morning. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Gov. Ned Lamont, with Aiken Principal Shannon Mlodzinksi, greets students on Wednesday morning. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The naming of the Siberian Husky as Connecticut’s state dog was celebrated at an event at Aiken Elementary School in West Hartford on Sept. 4, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Aiken students pet one of the Huskies that visited the school Wednesday morning as Gov. Ned Lamont celebrated the naming of the Siberian Husky as Connecticut’s state dog. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The naming of the Siberian Husky as Connecticut’s state dog was celebrated at an event at Aiken Elementary School in West Hartford on Sept. 4, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Aiken students pet one of the Huskies that visited the school Wednesday morning as Gov. Ned Lamont celebrated the naming of the Siberian Husky as Connecticut’s state dog. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Aiken students pet one of the Huskies that visited the school Wednesday morning as Gov. Ned Lamont celebrated the naming of the Siberian Husky as Connecticut’s state dog. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Aiken students pet one of the Huskies that visited the school Wednesday morning as Gov. Ned Lamont celebrated the naming of the Siberian Husky as Connecticut’s state dog. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Gov. Ned Lamont with Laurie Maulucci, president of the Connecticut Federation of Dog Clubs and Responsible Dog Owners, at a ceremony at Aiken School in West Hartford. Sept. 4, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Superintendent Paul Vicinus (left) with Gov. Ned Lamont and members of the Connecticut Valley Siberian Husky Club at the naming of the Siberian Husky as Connecticut’s state dog was celebrated at an event at Aiken Elementary School in West Hartford on Sept. 4, 2024. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Gov. Ned Lamont joins Aiken students and staff, as well as Siberian Huskies and representatives of various organizations to celebrate the naming of the Husky as the state dog. Photos credit: Ronni Newton
Commissioned painting of a Siberian Husky presented to Gov. Ned Lamont. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Aiken Principal Shannon Mlodzinski (left) and Assistant Principal Amy Schmelder, greet Gov. Ned Lamont. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
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