Remember Bo? Remember Checkers? Millie? Buddy?
They’re all the names of dogs owned by recent presidents. Bo was the Obamas dog, the Nixon family had Checkers and Millie was George W Bush’s dog while Buddy answered to the Clintons.
In fact, one of the U.S.’s presidencies longest standing traditions is presidential dogs. George Washington had fantastically charming names for his. He owned two breeds. Washington’s American Staghounds were called Sweet Lips, Scentwell and Vulcan. His black and tan coonhounds were named Drunkard, Taster, Tipler, and Tipsy.
The Economist Magazine noted this week that Donald Trump has broken the mould of the American presidency becoming the first commander-in-chief without a pet in nearly 150 years.
Last time a president was in office who was pet-less was Andrew Johnson who left the White House in 1869. He was one of only two presidents to be impeached. (Bill Clinton was the other one and he had a dog and a cat).
May we suggest, if Donald was looking, that he could find a dog or pet at the Instagram account where hapless dogs are trumped.
According to the Presidential Pet Museum, the White House has been home to over 300 animals, ranging from dozens of dogs, horses and birds to the occasional bear, tiger and alligator. Theodore Roosevelt had by far the most impressive menagerie: while in office, the famed outdoorsman and conservationist cared for some 50 animals, including a badger, a barn owl and a one-legged rooster.
Although animals are beloved by Americans of all political stripes, their appeal in the Oval Office has not been quite so bipartisan: Democratic presidents have averaged six pets each compared with nine for Republican ones.
h/t: The Economist, http://dogtime.com/dog-health/general/5668-list-of-us-presidents-and-their-dogs
