LePage Family Pooch Passes

Gov. Paul LePage's communications director says that the Maine governor's family dog, an 11-year-old Jack Russell terrier mix named Baxter, has died.

Peter Steele said in an email sent out Wednesday night that Baxter died Tuesday following his third bout with cancer. That according to a Portland Press Herald report.

Baxter joined the LePage family in 2008 when the governor's daughter adopted him from an animal shelter in Florida.

Maine's "first dog" will be remembered for greeting guests of the governor and numerous photo-ops inside the Blaine House. Baxter also had two Facebook pages and a blog that was active from April 2011 to June 2012.

LePage political adviser Brent Littlefield says the governor's "circle of current and former co-workers, friends and supporters will miss Baxter."