Greg Hatala/For NJ Advance Media

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New Jersey’s state dog isn’t a breed – it’s an institution

On Jan. 21, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation that officially designated the Seeing Eye dog as the Garden State’s state dog.

While 13 states have official "state dog" breeds, New Jersey is the first to designate the service performed by the animal as what sets it apart.

"As The Seeing Eye wraps up its 90th anniversary year, we are so honored that the great state of New Jersey has recognized the important role that Seeing Eye® dogs have in the lives of the people who raise, train and own them," said Seeing Eye president and CEO Glenn Hoagland in a press release. "When our nonprofit was founded, few people believed dogs could contribute to the health and wellness of humankind in the myriad of ways they do today. The work of our founders paved the way for acceptance of assistance animals in society, eventually leading to their incorporation into the Americans with Disabilities Act."

According to Hoagland, All Seeing Eye dogs are born and trained in New Jersey before they are placed with people who are blind across the United States and Canada. The Seeing Eye is a pioneer of the guide dog industry, paving the way for acceptance of assistance animals in society.

The bill was introduced by Sen. Anthony R. Bucco in 2018; after his death, it was championed by his son, Sen. Anthony M. Bucco, and passed the New Jersey Senate and Assembly with unanimous bipartisan support.

Established in 1929, the Seeing Eye provides specially bred and trained dogs to guide people who are blind. Seeing Eye dog users experience greatly enhanced mobility and independence, allowing them to retain their active lifestyles despite blindness. For more information, go to https://www.seeingeye.org/.

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Animal Alliance

Princess is a 12-year-old female Chihuahua mix in the care of Animal Alliance in Lambertville. For more information, call 609-818-1952 or go to https://www.animalalliancenj.org/.

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South Jersey Regional Animal Shelter

Audrey is a 9-year-old female domestic shorthair in the care of the South Jersey Regional Animal Shelter in Vineland. For more information, call 856-691-1500, email adoptions@sjras.org or go to https://southjerseyregionalanimalshelter.org/.

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Associated Humane Society in Newark

Rocky is a 1-year-old male doberman pinscher/Labrador retriever mix at the Associated Humane Society in Newark. For more information, call 973-824-7080 or go to https://www.petfinder.com/search/pets-for-adoption/?shelter_id%5B0%5D=NJ01&sort%5B0%5D=recently_added.

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Beacon Animal Rescue

Monday is a senior female domestic shorthair in the care of Beacon Animal Rescue in Ocean View. For more information, call 609-390-7946 or email beaconanimalrescues@gmail.com.

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Liberty Humane Society

Edgar Dalloway is an 11-month-old male Catahoula leopard dog mix in the care of the Liberty Humane Society in Jersey City. For more information, call 201-547-4147, email lhs@libertyhumane.org or go to https://www.libertyhumane.org/.

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Edison Animal Shelter

Baby is a 6-month-old female tabby cat in the care of the Edison Animal Shelter. For more information, call 732-248-7278, email eas@edisonnj.org or go to https://www.petfinder.com/pet-search?shelter_id=NJ593 and https://www.facebook.com/edisonanimalshelter/.

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Rawhide Rescue

Monica is an 8-year-old female boxer in the care of Rawhide Rescue in Warren. For more information, email rawhiderescue@hotmail or go to https://rawhiderescue.org/.

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Chance at Life Cat Rescue

Chaandee is a 6-month-old male silver and gray tabby in the care of Chance at Life Cat Rescue in Bergen County. For more information, call 201-982-2219, email chanceatliferescue@gmail.com or go to https://chanceatlifecatrescue.com/.

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Northern Ocean County Animal Facility

Parker is a 3-year-old male pit bull terrier mix in the care of the Northern Ocean County Animal Facility in Jackson. For more information, call 732-657-8086 or email nocaf@ochd.org.

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Associated Humane Society in Forked River

Quake is a 2 1/2-year-old male domestic shorthair at the Associated Humane Society in Forked River. For more information, call 609-693-1900 or go to https://www.ahscares.org/Contentpage/169.

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Trenton Animal Shelter

Meghan is a 4-year-old female American Staffordshire terrier at the Trenton Animal Shelter. For more information, call 609-989-3254 or go to https://www.petfinder.com/member/us/nj/trenton/trenton-animal-shelter-nj43/.

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Tabby's Place

Hamsa is an adult female tortoiseshell cat in the care of Tabby's Place in East Amwell. For more information, call 908-237-5300 or go to https://www.tabbysplace.org/.

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Burlington County Animal Shelter

Pepper is a 4-year-old female hound mix at the Burlington County Animal Shelter. For more information, call 609-265-5073 or go to https://www.petfinder.com/member/us/nj/mount-holly/burlington-county-animal-shelter-nj148/.

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Salem County Humane Society

Osha is a 1-year-old female tortoiseshell at the Salem County Humane Society in Carneys Point. For more information, call 856-299-2220 or email info@salemcountyhumanesociety.org.

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Animal Welfare Association

Mason Jason is a 4-year-old male mixed breed in the care of the Animal Welfare Association in Voorhees. For more information, call 856-424-2288 or email adoptions@awanj.org.

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Humane Society of Ocean City

Gregory is an adult male domestic shorthair at the Humane Society of Ocean City. For more information, call 609-398-9500 or email info@hsocnj.org.

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Second Chance Pet Adoption League

Matilda is an adult female French bulldog in the care of the Second Chance Pet Adoption League in Morris Plains. For more information, call 973-208-1054 or email njwoof@cs.com.

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Associated Humane Society in Newark

Ginger Snow is a 3-year-old female domestic shorthair at the Associated Humane Society in Newark. For more information, call 973-824-7080 or go to https://www.petfinder.com/search/pets-for-adoption/?shelter_id%5B0%5D=NJ01&sort%5B0%5D=recently_added.

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Eleventh Hour Rescue

Pearl Gio is a 3-year-old female bulldog mix in the care of Eleventh Hour Rescue in Rockaway. For more information call 973-664-0865 or go to https://www.ehrdogs.org/.

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Burlington County Animal Shelter

Cali is a 2-year-old female domestic shorthair at the Burlington County Animal Shelter. For more information, call 609-265-5073 or go to https://www.petfinder.com/member/us/nj/mount-holly/burlington-county-animal-shelter-nj148/.

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Associated Humane Society in Forked River

Muffin is a 2 1/2-year-old female English bulldog at the Associated Humane Society in Forked River. For more information, call 609-693-1900 or go to https://www.ahscares.org/Contentpage/169.

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EASEL Animal Rescue League

Charmain is a senior female domestic shorthair in the care of EASEL Animal Rescue League in Ewing. For more information, email apps@easelnj.org, call 609-883-0540 or go to https://www.easelnj.org/.

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Somerset Regional Animal Shelter

Gigi is a 4-year-old female Chihuahua mix at the Somerset Regional Animal Shelter in Bridgewater. For more information, call 908-725-0308 or go to awos.petfinder.com/shelters/sras.html.

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Homeward Bound Pet Adoption Center

Betsy is a 2 1/2-year-old female domestic shorthair at the Homeward Bound Pet Adoption Center in Blackwood. For more information, call 856-401-1300, email info@homewardboundnj.org or go to https://homewardboundnj.org/.

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Wise Animal Rescue

Charlie is a 9-year-old male miniature pinscher in the care of Wise Animal Rescue in Parsippany. For more information, email wiseanimalrescue@gmail.com or go to https://www.petfinder.com/member/us/nj/parsippany/wise-animal-rescue-nj854/.

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Animal Alliance

Cyrus is a 1-year-old male domestic shorthair in the care of Animal Alliance in Lambertville. For more information, call 609-818-1952 or go to https://www.animalalliancenj.org/.

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Edison Animal Shelter

Happy is a 13-year-old male Maltese in the care of the Edison Animal Shelter. For more information, call 732-248-7278, email eas@edisonnj.org or go to https://www.petfinder.com/pet-search?shelter_id=NJ593 and https://www.facebook.com/edisonanimalshelter/.

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EASEL Animal Rescue League

Tiffany is a young female domestic shorthair in the care of EASEL Animal Rescue League in Ewing. For more information, email apps@easelnj.org, call 609-883-0540 or go to https://www.easelnj.org/.

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Rosemarie’s Rescue Ranch

Foxy Danielle is a female Portuguese podengo mix between 5 and 6 years old in the care of Rosemarie's Rescue Ranch in West Caldwell. For more information, text 973-220-1900, email SusanRescue@aol.com or go to https://www.rosemariesrescueranch.com.

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Franklin Township Animal Shelter

Vito is an adult male domestic shorthair between 5 and 6 years old at the Franklin Township Animal Shelter in Somerset County. For more information, call 732-748-7232 or go to https://www.petfinder.com/member/us/nj/somerset/franklin-township-animal-shelter-nj34/.

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Salem County Humane Society

Zeno is an 8-year-old male wire fox terrier/border collie mix at the Salem County Humane Society in Carneys Point. For more information, call 856-299-2220 or email info@salemcountyhumanesociety.org.

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911 Dog and Cat Rescue

Sonny is a 1-year-old male domestic shorthair in the care of 911 Dog and Cat Rescue in Morristown. For more information, call 908-763-2040 or email 911dogrescue@gmail.com.

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South Jersey Regional Animal Shelter

Troy is a 5-year-old male mixed breed in the care of the South Jersey Regional Animal Shelter in Vineland. For more information, call 856-691-1500, email adoptions@sjras.org or go to https://southjerseyregionalanimalshelter.org/.

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Animal Welfare Association

Valentina is a 5-year-old female domestic shorthair in the care of the Animal Welfare Association in Voorhees. For more information, call 856-424-2288 or email adoptions@awanj.org.

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Beacon Animal Rescue

Sherman is an adult male foxhound in the care of Beacon Animal Rescue in Ocean View. For more information, call 609-390-7946 or email beaconanimalrescues@gmail.com.

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Karma Cat and Zen Dog Rescue

Tesla is a 1-year-old female domestic shorthair in the care of Karma Cat and Zen Dog Rescue in East Brunswick. For more information, call 732-568-4694, email info@karmacatzendog.org or go to https://www.petfinder.com/member/us/nj/milltown/karma-cat-zen-dog-rescue-society-nj639/.

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Franklin Township Animal Shelter

Tempo is an adult male pit bull terrier mix at the Franklin Township Animal Shelter in Somerset County. For more information, call 732-748-7232 or go to https://www.petfinder.com/member/us/nj/somerset/franklin-township-animal-shelter-nj34/.

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Somerset Regional Animal Shelter

Sebastian is a 3-year-old male domestic shorthair at the Somerset Regional Animal Shelter in Bridgewater. For more information, call 908-725-0308 or go to awos.petfinder.com/shelters/sras.html.

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Greg Hatala/For NJ Advance Media