Recently, Minnesota announced that it would be accepting submissions for a new state flag and seal.


However, rather than limit the competition to design firms or people with any sort of artistic talent, they left the submission process open — meaning that anyone with a copy of MS Paint and a bad idea was free to submit.



Duck? Snake? You tell me.


This led to many decent submissions, a few okay ones and a deluge of absolutely terrible creations unbefitting of a state so great (you know, -ish) as Minnesota.


One submission, though, stood head and shoulders above the rest. Amidst the seemingly endless trove of state outlines and terrible crests on a blue background emerged one hero: some dude’s dog.



Unlike other submissions, this dog isn’t trying to prove a point. He isn’t trying to support the trendy political causes of the day. He’s literally just chilling — a perfect mascot for the state that once boasted Jesse Ventura as its governor.


Quickly, internet users gathered around this pup, with many users taking to “X” (Twitter if you’re normal) to voice their support.





Unfortunately, it seems like there are few obstacles standing in the way of this simple hound becoming the state’s flag. “According to state statute, the new designs ‘must accurately and respectfully reflect Minnesota's shared history, resources, and diverse cultural communities,’” write Steve Swanson and Derek James for CBS News. “However, ‘symbols, emblems or likenesses that represent only a single community or person, regardless of whether real or stylized, may not be included in a design.’”


It’s unclear if a dog is counted under the latter rule, but the outlook isn’t great.


Plus, despite the submission process being open, the actual voting will not be done by the public, but by a group called the State Emblems Redesign Commission, which will choose 25 finalists, narrow it down to five, *then* ask for votes — meaning that our beloved pup will likely not even make it past round one.


But hey, if you’ve got nothing better to do, why not call your local legislature and let them know that you’re down for F156? C’mon, give them a ring — they can’t have anything more important going on.