The federal government may be shut down, but Babydog’s sixth birthday extravaganza on Capitol Hill was in full swing Wednesday, Oct. 15, as she greeted fans in a pink tutu and glittering celebration hat. The English bulldog, known for trailing Sen. Jim Justice in the Senate hallways, celebrated with hundreds of Hill staffers and members of the public to mark the milestone. The line of celebration wrapped around the fifth floor of the hallway of the Hart Senate Office Building before Babydog even arrived.
When Babydog made her entrance, 200 people were lined up to greet her. Babydog’s sixth birthday celebration marked her first birthday celebrated during Justice’s time as a senator. The Senate turned out in full force, snapping photos of Babydog posing beneath an arch of balloons. A baker made 450 cake pops and a cake featuring Babydog’s image. After the party, Justice received notice of afternoon votes and scurried off. Meanwhile, Babydog napped in the back of his office.
The party served as a happy moment for the Senate, despite an increasingly polarized atmosphere. But immediately following the party, the Senate took its ninth swing at passing a Republican continuing resolution — a short-term funding bill meant to keep the government running — and it failed again. Clearly, even Babydog’s birthday magic couldn’t inspire unity among senators.
Others have expressed anger toward senators who were celebrating and posting about Babydog’s birthday but cannot agree to end the government shutdown. As NBC News reported, “While thousands of federal workers are furloughed — or fired — and trying to stay afloat without paychecks, the ones responsible for the shutdown are literally, and figuratively, eating cake.” Despite the failed effort, several politicians posted on social media demanding that Democrats join the “bipawtisan” effort by celebrating Babydog, who tried to unite the divided Senate.
This is not the first time Babydog has been involved in politics. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Babydog advertised COVID-19 vaccinations under the slogan “Do it for Babydog,” and gained national attention for her role in the campaign. In 2024, Babydog’s fame grew when she appeared alongside Sen. Justice during the 2024 Republican National Convention. Currently, Babydog has more than 11,000 followers on her X account.
Babydog loves chicken nuggets from Wendy’s and hates celery. Unfortunately, Babydog was banned from the floor of the United States Senate in 2024 because she is not a service dog, but her testimony on the importance of love was admitted to the record without objection in 2025.
Despite the recent controversy surrounding Babydog’s birthday party, her political presence brings joy to the often dark mood of the American political atmosphere. While Babydog cannot cure the division ingrained in the current political system, she can minimize it by uniting all of us in celebration.
