Fayette County, WV (WOAY) This Wednesday morning, Senator Jim Justice and his beloved Babydog came to the Canyon Rim Visitor Center to swear in Babydog Justice as an official “Bark Ranger” of the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.
Eric LaPrice, Acting Superintendent of the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, signed Babydog’s official Bark Ranger certificate and presented her with a badge, as well as a few treats and plenty of behind-the-ear scritches.
Senator Justice said that Babydog’s new title represents an ongoing commitment to promoting West Virginia’s natural beauty:
“Everything about West Virginia and all we can do to promote our parks and who we are and tell our story—let people see our soul—that absolutely just makes us greater and greater.”
Celebrating Baby Dog’s birthday month, the Valkyries Ladies Club, a WV nonprofit motorcycle club, also came to give Baby Dog a few presents following up on her visit to the grand opening of the Heritage Highway motorcycle route in Ghent back in October of 2024.
Shari Workman, Valkyries Ladies Club: “It’s taken a bit, but we would like to present, to Babydog and Senator Justice, these gifts—and now that it’s her birthday month, to let Babydog know that she is officially ride-ready and she can join us any time that she would like.”
Justice: “Can you imagine how they feel, how tough that is, how tough that is for the child? Can you just imagine? And all we ask to do is rename the playground, and we got it passed. We got it passed unanimously in the Senate. We’ve got to get it through the House, but we’ll put it through, but it’s just one more mark for West Virginia and one more mark for this incredible national park.”
Justice said that Babydog loves everyone she meets, and brings a lot with her everywhere she goes, reminding him and others in DC of who they are.
Justice: “It’s unbelievable how we want to be humanized in D.C. just a little bit. I mean, really, truly, we’ve become so plastic. We’ve become so standardized. You know, we really can’t imagine, when I bring baby dog, what happens in D.C.; it’s almost like, you know, everybody is just taking a breath and saying, ‘Did we almost forget who we really are?’ you know? …For now, her being a park ranger or bark ranger, that’s pretty fancy stuff in my book. And she’ll continue to carry the torch and do everything she possibly can to make things good for all of us.”
