79R6981 MMS-D

By:  Castro                                                     H.C.R. No. 108

                 CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

               WHEREAS, The State of Texas has traditionally recognized a variety of official state 

               symbols as tangible representations of the proud spirit and heritage of our state; and

               WHEREAS, Like the Texas longhorn, the Blue Lacy is a Texas original; the only dog breed 

                to have originated in this state, Lacys are named for brothers George, Ewin, Frank, and 

                Harry Lacy, who moved to Texas from Kentucky in 1858 and settled in the area of Burnet 

                County; and

                WHEREAS, The Lacy family bred cattle and hogs, so it was natural that they would also 

                breed dogs to work them; the family is said to have used greyhound, scenthound, and coyote

                stock in creating the animal that took their name; and

                WHEREAS, For a hundred years, Blue Lacys were a common fixture on ranches in the 

                Southwest, where it was said that one such dog could do the work of five cowboys; 

                 intelligent, energetic, fast, eager to work, and easy to train and handle, Lacys herded 

                 cattle, hogs, and chickens, and also served as droving and hunting dogs; and

                WHEREAS, With the declining use of working dogs on ranches, Lacys almost disappeared

                as a breed; since 1975, however, there has been a dedicated effort to save them, and their 

                numbers now total more than a thousand; most registered Lacys are currently bred in Texas

                and sold to residents of the state; and

               WHEREAS, While these gentle, versatile dogs continue to be used on ranches, they are also 

                becoming highly prized again as hunting dogs and are proving valuable, as well, in search and

                rescue work, owing to their keen scent-trailing ability; in addition, their easygoing way with 

                children, their aptitude for jogging, agility courses, and games of Frisbee, and their suitability as 

                watch dogs are all contributing to their growing popularity as family pets; and

               WHEREAS, A medium-sized dog with a short, smooth, sleek coat, the Lacy stands from 18 to 

                25 inches tall when full-grown and weighs approximately 30 to 50 pounds; all Lacys carry a rare 

                blue-color gene, even though they are divided into three color classifications:  blue, red, and 

                tri-color; and

               WHEREAS, Lacys are recognized and registered through the National Kennel Club, Continental 

                Kennel Club, Universal Kennel International, Lacy Game Dog Registry, Texas Lacy Game Dog 

                Association, and American Pet Registry, Inc.; and

               WHEREAS, Along with its place of origin and its ranching pedigree, this companionable dog boasts

                yet another association with the State of Texas:  in the 1880s, the Lacys were one of three families 

                who donated granite from Granite Mountain for the building of the new State Capitol; and

               WHEREAS, The Blue Lacy is a Texas native, a working dog bred to play an essential role in ranch 

                operations, at a time when ranches themselves became one of the iconic Texas symbols, and a dog 

                that has more than pulled its weight on many a Texas spread; this proud heritage assuredly gives the 

                Lacy a unique and powerful claim of its own to represent the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it

               RESOLVED, That the 79th Legislature of the State of Texas hereby designate the Blue Lacy as the official 

                State Dog Breed of Texas.