Efforts are underway to have a resilient heritage animal, which is unique to Labrador, protected.

A petition was introduced in the House of Assembly last week to have the Labrador husky recognized as a heritage status animal—similar to the Newfoundland pony.

Only 51 pure-bred animals have been identified and Lake Melville MHA Perry Trimper says with continued interbreeding threatening the breed’s genetic integrity, time is of the essence.

He says dog teams are seeing a bit of a revival among enthusiasts in Labrador, and while the larger Labrador husky is slower than some other huskies, it’s tough, strong, and is known for its endurance.

Trimper believes that having the breed formally recognized for heritage status will go a long way in helping to preserve the animals.