FRANKFORT, Ky. - A bill designating shelter pets as the official state pet of Kentucky passed out of committee Thursday.

The House State Government Committee unanimously approved House Bill 27, which would officially designate sheltered dogs and cats or pets that have been adopted from Kentucky animal shelters as the Commonwealth’s officials pets.

Several lawmakers have cosponsored the bill, including state Rep. Joe Graviss, D-Versailles.

“This is a very simple bill, it’s only a quarter of a page, but it’ll do a whole lot good for the least of us animals out there,” Graviss said.

Graviss said the idea came from Ethan Branscum, 7, of Midway, who wrote to Graviss about the issue. “I thought that people would be more inclined to get shelter pets,” Branscum said.

Another one of the bill’s sponsors, state Rep. Kevin Bratcher, R-Louisville, said he’s hopeful the bill will improve the state’s public image when it comes to the treatment of animals.