Baxter LePage

Baxter (c. 2005 – March 29, 2016)^[1] was the former first dog of Maine who greeted visitors of the Blaine House.

Baxter

Paul LePage (right) and Baxter (left)
Other name	Snickers (pre-2008)
Species	Canis lupus familiaris
Breed	Jack Russel Terrier
Sex	Male
Born	c. 2005 Florida
Died	March 29, 2016(2016-03-29) (aged 10–11) Augusta, Maine, U.S.
Years active	2011–2016
Known for	Former first dog of Maine
Owner	Paul LePage
http://baxterblogs.wordpress.com

Baxter, a Jack Russel Terrier mix, was adopted by Paul LePage's daughter Lauren LePage in 2008 from an animal shelter in Florida. The LePage family changed his name from the shelter-given name "Snickers" to "Baxter" following adoption. He moved to the Blaine House in 2011 when Paul LePage became Governor of Maine. Baxter often welcomed daily visitors of the Blaine House, many of which were children.

Baxter was also the subject of a blog written by Paula Benoit from April 2011 to June 2012, Blaine House Director and Assistant, to interest viewers in the Blaine House's history and current events. Each post featured photos of Baxter maintaining his role in the Blaine House, sometimes accompanied by text simulating Baxter's viewpoint on a Blaine House event.^[2] Baxter was also the subject of the book Baxter in the Blaine House and two Facebook pages, each simulating Baxter's viewpoint on events.^[3]

He died from cancer at age 11 on March 29, 2016. His death was announced by Brent Littlefield, Paul LePage's political adviser, a day later.^[1]