Oklahoma governor settles on ‘Okie’ for new puppy

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – With the public’s help, Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin and her husband have settled on "Okie" as the name for their new white Labrador retriever puppy.

Fallin announced the puppy’s name on her Facebook page Monday after receiving more than 1,000 suggestions. Among the ideas offered on her page were names like Freedom, Reagan, Sooner and Cowboy. Several people suggested names connected to the Oklahoma City Thunder basketball team, like Lightning or Rumble.

Some users also used the forum as an opportunity to take shots at the governor, suggesting names like One-Term or criticizing her for various policy decisions. Fallin is up for re-election in November.

Fallin and her husband, Wade Christensen, already have a young Labrador mix named Burney, a rescue dog found abandoned after a grassfire two years ago.