One guest at the Republican National Convention’s night two festivities quickly managed to steal the show, despite not even giving a speech. 

Babydog, the canine companion of Gov. Jim Justice, R-W.Va., stole the spotlight from her owner as onlookers fawned over the pooch, who was given her own chair on stage while the governor spoke. 

Chants of “Babydog!” followed the governor’s entrance to the stage on Tuesday night. “I know that a lot of you want to meet my little buddy,” said Justice. “So if Babydog could come on out here.”

His dog quickly trotted out to roaring applause before being set up in her own seat beside him. 

BIDEN CAMPAIGN, DNC RESTART REPUBLICAN CONVENTION COUNTERPROGRAMMING AFTER TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT

Who is Babydog?

Babydog is one of three canines owned by Justice and his family. They also have two Boston terriers named Lucy and Ellie, according to the governor’s campaign website for his U.S. Senate bid in November. 

A spokesperson for Justice’s office told Fox News Digital she was born on October 27, 2019. The friendly canine is 4 years old and will turn 5 later this year. 

Justice’s son and daughter surprised their parents with Babydog for Christmas in 2019. “Since then, she has become a favorite among West Virginians across the state. Babydog travels with the Governor to nearly every stop and is the only one who rivals his popularity. She has truly become a mainstay in West Virginia politics,” a spokesperson said.

Babydog Justice was given her own seat on stage at the RNC. (Getty Images)

Babydog is an English bulldog. Like most bulldogs, Babydog is white, tan and brown, with stubby legs and an abundance of folds around her face. 

PELOSI ‘CONVINCED BIDEN WILL LOSE,’ WORKING THE PHONES WITH HOPES TO ‘EASE HIM OFF THE TICKET,’ REPORT SAYS

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Justice made Babydog a mascot for his vaccination sweepstakes. A website was even set up to encourage vaccinations for coronavirus, titled “DoItForBabydog.wv.gov.”

According to the West Virginia governor’s official website, “Whether it be special appearances on the biggest of stages, like the Governor’s State of the State address, or simply meeting people and shaking paws in her travels, Babydog always makes everyone smile everywhere that she and the Governor go.​”

LIVE UPDATES: REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION

Babydog Justice walked out onto the stage after her owner called for her at the RNC. (Getty Images)

She has been accompanying her owner to events for several years. 

Babydog is also featured on Justice’s Senate campaign website, where she was given her own section. “At the heart of Jim Justice’s campaign team is Babydog, the beloved English bulldog,” the site reads. Babydog “symbolizes warmth, love, and connection,” his campaign says. She also “spreads cheer and fosters unity.” 

His campaign team is even selling merchandise featuring Babydog, including T-shirts, mugs and koozies. 

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice’s bulldog “Babydog” is traveling in a folding wagon during the second day of the 2024 Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on July 16, 2024. (ANGELA WEISS / AFP via Getty Images)

Justice has already won the Republican Senate primary in West Virginia, fending off an effort from Rep. Alex Mooney, R-W.Va. He is expected to easily win the race for U.S. Senate in November against Wheeling’s Democratic Mayor Glenn Elliott. Non-partisan political handicapper the Cook Political Report rated the race, “Solid Republican,” with Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W.Va., not seeking re-election. 

The West Virginia governor previously told Fox News’ Brian Kilmeade that Babydog will be accompanying him to the Senate if he is elected. “Absolutely,” he said, noting she may not be able to follow him into “all the different halls.” 

“But she’ll make the trip,” he said. 

Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.

A spearfisherman in Florida recounted how he survived a lightning-fast shark attack thanks to a friend who confronted the ocean predator.

Jose Abreu, 37, told WSVN-TV that he was spearfishing near a reef in the waters off Key West on Monday when a bull shark suddenly swam up and bit him multiple times.

“He’s too fast, he’s too fast,” Abreu told the station of the 8-foot shark. “I only say that this the end for me.”

The attack took just 13 seconds, according to Abreu, with the shark biting him on the leg and shoulder and attempting to chomp his chest. He said his only option for survival was to escape.

SHARK WATCH: TOP 10 MOST DANGEROUS BEACHES INVOLVING SHARK ATTACKS, SURFER DEATHS

“You don’t have time to be scared,” Abreu told WTVJ-TV. “Only you need to escape the shark. It’s the only option.”

Abreu said he was lucky to have been in the water with a friend, who swam up to the shark and jabbed it in its mouth with his speargun. After scaring the shark away, the friend called for help. 

Abreu says he survived the shark encounter thanks to a friend who attacked the shark with a speargun. Seven Mile Bridge, pictured above, connects many of the islands that make up the Florida Keys. (iStock)

If not for his brave friend, Abreu believes he might not have survived.

PORTIONS OF NEW YORK CITY BEACH TEMPORARILY CLOSED AFTER SHARK SPOTTED, NYPD DRONE FOOTAGE REVEALS

“He saved my life,” Abreu told WSVN.

Abreu was treated ashore on Stock Island and then airlifted to a Miami hospital, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office said.

CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Abreu was expected to recover from his injuries, according to local media.

Special Counsel Jack Smith has filed a notice to appeal a Florida judge’s decision to toss his case against former President Donald Trump related to his handling of classified documents. 

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon on Monday dismissed Smith’s case, citing that Smith’s special counsel appointment by Attorney General Merrick Garland was unconstitutional.

“Former President Trump’s Motion to Dismiss Indictment Based on the Unlawful Appointment and Funding of Special Counsel Jack Smith is GRANTED in accordance with this Order,” Cannon, a Trump appointee, wrote in the Monday ruling. “The Superseding Indictment is DISMISSED because Special Counsel Smith’s appointment violates the Appointments Clause of the United States Constitution.”

Trump had faced charges stemming from Smith’s investigation into his possession of classified materials at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence. He pleaded not guilty to all 37 felony counts from Smith’s probe, including willful retention of national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice and false statements.

CLASSIFIED DOCS CASE DISMISSAL MEANS ‘GREATEST’ LEGAL ‘THREAT’ TO TRUMP IS ‘GONE’: EXPERTS

The notice of appeal was filed in the 11th Circuit. The Justice Department had no further comment Wednesday. A spokesperson for Smith had previously said that “the dismissal of the case deviates from the uniform conclusion of all previous courts to have considered the issue that the Attorney General is statutorily authorized to appoint a Special Counsel,” and that the Justice Department has authorized the Special Counsel to appeal the court’s order.

The Appointments Clause says, “Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the Supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States be appointed by the President subject to the advice and consent of the Senate, although Congress may vest the appointment of inferior officers in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.” 

Smith, however, was never confirmed by the Senate.

CLARENCE THOMAS SWIPES AT SPECIAL COUNSEL JACK SMITH’S APPOINTMENT IN SCOTUS IMMUNITY CASE

Former President Donald Trump holds a rally in the historically Democratic South Bronx on May 23, 2024 in New York City. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

“Upon careful study of the foundational challenges raised in the Motion, the Court is convinced that Special Counsel’s Smith’s prosecution of this action breaches two structural cornerstones of our constitutional scheme – the role of Congress in the appointment of constitutional officers, and the role of Congress in authorizing expenditures by law,” Cannon wrote Monday.

TRUMP VIP RALLY ATTENDEE SHARES WHAT HE EXPERIENCED DURING THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT

A court sketch depicts former President Donald Trump as he appears in federal court in Fort Pierce, Florida on Thursday, March 14, 2024.  (Lothar Speer)

“The Framers gave Congress a pivotal role in the appointment of principal and inferior officers. That role cannot be usurped by the Executive Branch or diffused elsewhere – whether in this case or in another case, whether in times of heightened national need or not,” she continued.

“In the case of inferior officers, that means that Congress is empowered to decide if it wishes to vest appointment power in a Head of Department, and indeed, Congress has proven itself quite capable of doing so in many other statutory contexts. But it plainly did not do so here, despite the Special Counsel’s strained statutory readings,” Cannon added. 

Steven Cheung, Trump campaign spokesperson, reacted to Smith’s appeal notice on Wednesday, saying, “As we move forward in uniting our nation after the horrific events on Saturday, this dismissal of the lawless indictment in Florida should be just the first step, followed quickly by the dismissal of ALL of the Witch Hunts.” 

“The Democrat-led Justice Department should drop these politically motivated, election interference efforts against President Trump immediately. Let us come together to END the weaponization of our justice system and Make America Great Again!” he said.

Cheung was referring to the assassination attempt against Trump at a Pennsylvania campaign rally days earlier.

Fox News Digital’s Bill Mears contributed to this report.