State Rep. Matthew Bierlein has introduced legislation that formally honors some of the state’s most loyal companions, aims to spur adoptions and works to save taxpayers money.

Bierlein’s House Bill 6398 designates the shelter pet – animals residing in or adopted from a licensed Michigan animal shelter or rescue organization – as the state’s official pet. The shelter pet would join the ranks of Michigan’s other cherished state symbols like the state bird (American Robin), state fish (Brook Trout), state fossil (Mastodon), state game mammal (White-Tailed Deer), and state reptile (Painted Turtle).

“There’s a real fiscal impact for our local communities through this proclamation,” said Bierlein, of Vassar. “A higher number of adoptions creates additional revenue to support hardworking staff and volunteers at publicly funded animal shelters while easing the strain on taxpayers, making this effort much more than just a symbolic gesture.”

The idea for the proposal came from a legislative essay contest Bierlein hosted for students across the 97^th House District earlier this year. California, Illinois, Ohio, Colorado, Georgia, Tennessee, and Oregon have all made similar designations for shelter animals in the past decade, most with broad bipartisan support. Colorado named the shelter pet its official state pet in 2013 and data reported since has shown a dramatic increase in adoptions to over 100,000 per year.

HB 6398 has been referred to the House Government Operations Committee for further consideration.