Spring Break
Obama dog ushers in breeder vs. shelter debate
Sarah Paeth
Issue date: 4/24/09 Section: Forum
What's black, white, and read all over?
Why, President Obama's new puppy, of course! Though he's hardly been in the White House for a week, Bo the Portuguese water dog is already the center of a media swarm. Google "Bo Obama" and over 19.7 million searches will pop up. According to the New York Times, a children's book featuring the First Dog is already under way. Indeed, the little canine even has several blogs in his honor.
Is it possible that this pup is out-doing his master in people popularity?
Don't get me wrong - everyone loves a new puppy. However, Obama's choice of dog has left me growling.
The Obamas promised a new puppy for their daughters after the family had settled into Washington. Last November, Mrs. Obama announced that the family would adopt a rescue dog; they were hoping to find a hypoallergenic breed to condone daughter Malia's allergies. The family had narrowed the choice down to a Labradoodle or a Portuguese water dog.
Unfortunately, this is one campaign promise that hasn't been upheld.
Six-month-old Bo is a "quasi-rescue dog," according to Wayne Pacelle, CEO of the Humane Society of the United States. The pup is a purebred, coincidentally from the same breeders that bred Sen. Edward Kennedy's dogs. According to the Associated Press, Bo was raised in Washington for a month with different owners, and then returned to his original breeders. The Kennedy family then gifted the pup to First Daughters Sasha and Malia, whom readily accepted the dog.
Though it had different owners, this canine isn't exactly what I'd call a second-chance pet; for Pete's sake, the dog spent a month in Virginia with the Kennedy's personal dog trainer.
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), there are six to eight million strays scattered across the country, three to four million of which are euthanized each year. An estimated 25 percent of strays are purebred animals.
Mr. President, would it have been so hard to find a pet that really needed a home?
Why, President Obama's new puppy, of course! Though he's hardly been in the White House for a week, Bo the Portuguese water dog is already the center of a media swarm. Google "Bo Obama" and over 19.7 million searches will pop up. According to the New York Times, a children's book featuring the First Dog is already under way. Indeed, the little canine even has several blogs in his honor.
Is it possible that this pup is out-doing his master in people popularity?
Don't get me wrong - everyone loves a new puppy. However, Obama's choice of dog has left me growling.
The Obamas promised a new puppy for their daughters after the family had settled into Washington. Last November, Mrs. Obama announced that the family would adopt a rescue dog; they were hoping to find a hypoallergenic breed to condone daughter Malia's allergies. The family had narrowed the choice down to a Labradoodle or a Portuguese water dog.
Unfortunately, this is one campaign promise that hasn't been upheld.
Six-month-old Bo is a "quasi-rescue dog," according to Wayne Pacelle, CEO of the Humane Society of the United States. The pup is a purebred, coincidentally from the same breeders that bred Sen. Edward Kennedy's dogs. According to the Associated Press, Bo was raised in Washington for a month with different owners, and then returned to his original breeders. The Kennedy family then gifted the pup to First Daughters Sasha and Malia, whom readily accepted the dog.
Though it had different owners, this canine isn't exactly what I'd call a second-chance pet; for Pete's sake, the dog spent a month in Virginia with the Kennedy's personal dog trainer.
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), there are six to eight million strays scattered across the country, three to four million of which are euthanized each year. An estimated 25 percent of strays are purebred animals.
Mr. President, would it have been so hard to find a pet that really needed a home?
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