LePage’s new pet Veto is a rescue dog from New Orleans

There’s a new resident of the Blaine House from Louisiana and, no, it isn’t former Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal.

The LePage family has adopted a new Jack Russell terrier in the wake of the death of the former first dog, Baxter. Baxter, also a Jack Russell, died in March at age 12.

According to Peter Steele, LePage’s communications director, the new dog is named Veto and was a 2-year-old stray in New Orleans before the LePages adopted him through the Greater Androscoggin Humane Society.

Steele never strays far from his messaging:

“The governor named him Veto because he is the mascot of good public policy, defender of the Maine people and protector of hard-working taxpayers from bad legislation,” wrote Steele in an email to the Bangor Daily News. “We expect he will have a more prominent role in the administration than Baxter, perhaps even delivering vetoes to the second floor.”

That’ll take some training, but repetition will help.

Christopher Cousins

About Christopher Cousins

Christopher Cousins has worked as a journalist in Maine for more than 15 years and covered state government for numerous media organizations before joining the Bangor Daily News in 2009.