Kansas state dog bill stalled

WICHITA, Kan., March 13 (UPI) -- A Kansas legislative committee declined to hear a bill naming the cairn terrier as the official state dog, stopping its progress for the current session.

The House Standing Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources declined to hear House Bill 251, which would have named the cairn terrier -- the breed of Toto from "The Wizard of Oz" -- as the official state dog of Kansas, The Wichita (Kan.) Eagle reported Tuesday.

State Rep. Ed Trimmer, D-Winfield, who introduced the bill, said he plans to reintroduce the legislation next year.

"That's what we will probably do," Trimmer said Monday. "We had great responses from kids. And, I think this will give me a chance to go into the classrooms and visit with them, let them know this is part of the learning process and sometimes when you ask the first time, and the answer is no, you have to learn how to ask again. If it is something you want, you have to be persistent."