The Obama Dog

[lindajdunn]

I am SO disappointed. I was hoping the Obamas would acquire a shelter dog.

http://www.tmz.com/2009/04/11/white-...ma-family-dog/

Apparently, the puppy's original owners returned it to the kennel (which reminds me somewhat of a Charlie Brown special about Snoopy returning to his original owner).

The dog is now 6 months old and is from the same line as Ted Kennedy's dogs and will be presented to the family by Ted Kennedy.

Apparently, there are some restrictions regarding gifts to Presidents and the fact that the dog is being "rehomed" (whatever that means) makes it acceptable.

Nothing was said about whether or not the dog had any prior problems with tax returns and/or whether or not any of the Republican members of congress were putting a "hold" upon the appointment until they had an opportunity to interview the dog about his past experience.

I have problems with this dog appointment. I wanted a shelter dog. I think most of us wanted a shelter dog and the fact that the dog was returned to the original owners rather than to a shelter or a rescue group rather spoils it all.

Why couldn't the kennel owners have just discretely directed the original owners to a no-kill shelter and then called the shelter and Ted Kennedy and made arrangements for a nice, win-win PR stunt?

Surely Ted Kennedy, as experienced as he is in the world of politics, should have seen the advantages to that kind of arrangement.

[Inquartata]

Come on, the Kennedy connection ensures the continuity of the "Camelot II" comparisons of Obama to JFK.

This also ensures that there will continue to be a Texan in the White House.

[kmwong]

For some reason, I just can't find myself to care too much what kind of pet the president has.

It seems like if his bathroom so much as runs out of toilet paper it becomes national news. Dunno.

[vitecommeunchat]

I heard about that as well. I don't care too much about Obama, either, but I'm all for adopting animals from shelters instead of kennels, and it's unforunate that he's not taking advantage of his fame to contribute to this good cause. But, nobody's perfect, yet people seem to be under the false notion that Obama's some kind of saint...

[kmwong]

But, nobody's perfect, yet people seem to be under the false notion that Obama's some kind of saint...

Yeah. He may be a good person. I mean, I have no doubts that Former President Bush was a good person if you were to just bump into him on the street...but deep down, they're all just politicians with an agenda.

Sorry I'm being bitter! It's unfortunate Obama didn't adopt a dog, when there are SO many out there that desperately need a home.

[Inquartata]

If he were really serious about his sympathy for people in dire economic straits he'd adopt a homeless person from a shelter.

[Capt. Slo-mo]

Yeah...but they just got the carpets cleaned from the prior administration's mess....

[seak]

His oldest daughter is allergic, Portuguese water dogs are hypo-allergenic. I'm all for adopting shelter dogs (and have one of my own), but you can't be sure that any shelter dog will be hypo-allergenic and its not worth risking someone's health over. My parents have now owned 3 dogs, the first and the current one were both shelter, but the middle was a purebred from a respectable breeder because they were worried that my brother was allergic to pets (first dog died before he was born). All of them were/are great dogs.

Pres. Obama has said they will make a donation to a shelter. Those people that are getting even the slightest bit worked up over the fact that it wasn't a shelter dog, esp considering the health reasons need to relax just a little bit. (note not intended at Linda, just seen waaaay to many hysterical posts on the wapo website about this.)

[I_luv_saber]

I saw this was a story on CNN and almost cried.

[dcmdale]

IIRC, there are some touchy international diplomatic considerations that this gift bypassed. Like the other posters, all of my pets are shelter/rescue animals, but in this case, the risk of offending certain countries may have outweighed making a strong statement about sheltered animals. If Kennedy had given Obama a street mutt, even a hypo-allergenic one, I am not sure that it would have worked.

[telkanuru]

Let me be absolutely clear: I could give a damn.

[lindajdunn]

I cannot fault the Obamas too much for bypassing shelters as their daughters must come first and one of them is allergic. I do give them some credit for doing this right in that they waited until after they moved and were settled in before acquiring the dog and they had a trial visit to insure the dog would adapt well to their familiy. However, the downturn in the economy has led to many people abandoning their pets and this means the shelters and rescue groups are overwhelmed with some really wonderful pets that simply have nowhere to go. I wish the Obamas would do something more than just make a contribution to a shelter.

That said, I would not adopt a shelter dog. I work too many hours at present to have a dog in my life. The cats, however, are perfectly content with my long hours. It gives them more time to conspire against me.

I note that all our cats have been rescue cats.

[MyrddinsPrecint]

I saw this was a story on CNN and almost cried.

I know the dog is cute, but doesn't crying seem a bit much?

[Inspector Gadget]

I think it's a nice dog. If he gets into the spirit, maybe a couple more? I really like them. But not too much starch please! I like the garden the first lady is making - though the name "Victory" garden is a bit dated it goes back to WWII, when the country was living on coupons they all made home gardens to fight the nazi's. I like their way of doing things, but enough photo opportunities; I'm really hoping that he'll relax more and get down to the nitty gritty of his work. JFK's style was that he read about a dozen newspapers every day, - from everywhere.

[I_luv_saber]

I know the dog is cute, but doesn't crying seem a bit much?

I lol'd

[academe]

If he were really serious about his sympathy for people in dire economic straits he'd adopt a homeless person from a shelter.

Inq, you wouldn't really leave Arizona, would you?

[seak]

However, the downturn in the economy has led to many people abandoning their pets and this means the shelters and rescue groups are overwhelmed with some really wonderful pets that simply have nowhere to go. I wish the Obamas would do something more than just make a contribution to a shelter.

I agree, but what would you have liked the Obama's to do? Given that the dogs bloodlines needed to be known due to the allergen issue most purebred dogs have rescue groups and the reality is that those sorts of dogs almost never end up in shelters. This dog was returned to the breeder, and those dogs can actually be very difficult to place since most people seem to want 14 week old puppies.

[lindajdunn]

I agree, but what would you have liked the Obama's to do? Given that the dogs bloodlines needed to be known due to the allergen issue most purebred dogs have rescue groups and the reality is that those sorts of dogs almost never end up in shelters. This dog was returned to the breeder, and those dogs can actually be very difficult to place since most people seem to want 14 week old puppies.

Given the constraints they're working under, an interview with some young reporters and talking up the benefits of adoptiing from shelters would be the next best possible thing.

Unfortunately, the same constraints that make a mutt adoption problematic also rule out such things as a photo ops volunteering at a dog shelter.

I'm somewhat amused by PETA's actions in urging them to have the dog neutered.

The dog was already neutered which is, btw, a good example for other dog owners.

[Purple Fencer]

I agree, but what would you have liked the Obama's to do? Given that the dogs bloodlines needed to be known due to the allergen issue most purebred dogs have rescue groups and the reality is that those sorts of dogs almost never end up in shelters. This dog was returned to the breeder, and those dogs can actually be very difficult to place since most people seem to want 14 week old puppies.

Having done cat rescue for 8 years, I'll confirm that. ANY adult pet is more difficult to adopt out...next in line are the ones that come back. Potential owners always assume it's the pet's fault.

I'm really hoping that he'll relax more and get down to the nitty gritty of his work.

I'd say he IS doing so....ask the captain of that freighter. There have been some commentators who are saying he's trying to do too much right now (splitting his attentions).

Complaining so loudly tha he didn't ge a shelter dog is stupid....this is not a broken campaign promise...his daughter's health has to come first.

Besides....the donation he made to the local humane society was probably greater than the cost of adopting a puppy from there.

The people hassling the breeder who sold the German Shepard pup to VP Biden are even more stupid....they should leave BOTH of them alone.

[Inquartata]

Given that the dogs bloodlines needed to be known due to the allergen issue most purebred dogs have rescue groups and the reality is that those sorts of dogs almost never end up in shelters.

The day of the story, a local TV news station found three in area shelters.

A Google search will turn up several more.

However, shelter animals often come with behavioral problems that might make them problematic. That alone is a good enough excuse, when there are stupid reporters around to get bitten...