Welcome To The White House Baby Bo
Articles abound on the internet about Bo, the new First Dog. I chose to comment on the Tails Of The City post because author Amelia Glynn seems to share my feeling of disappointment over the choice of a non-shelter dog.
Bo is adorable, and I’m happy there is a dog in the White House, but I can’t help feel an important opportunity was missed here. One that could have had great impact for other rescue dogs.
While this new, cute (and hypoallergenic) First Bundle of Canine Joy prepares to move into his new home at the White House this Tuesday, some shelters and rescue organizations across the country including Adopt-a-Pet.com are expressing disappointment at the Obamas’ choice to acquire a dog from a breeder – a decision that is in sharp contrast to the President’s earlier pledge to adopt from a shelter.
“This is a missed opportunity to set a pet-adoption trend among Americans,” says Abbie Moore, executive director of Adopt-a-Pet.com. “With pet relinquishment up 20 to 30 percent due to the poor economy, pets in shelters can use all the help they can get.”
So, now there is a purebred in the White House, perpetuating the myth that rescue dogs aren’t good enough, have too many issues, or that you won’t be able to find the dog you’re looking for. I am happy that Bo was at least a re-homed pup, things didn’t work out at his first place of residence.
Bo was born in October, along with nine littermates. His breeder was already a big Obama supporter and gave the litter a “Hope and Change” theme. Consequently, all of the puppies had registered names that had something to do with Hope or Change. Bo’s registered name is Amigo’s New Hope – perfect for President Obama’s dog, don’t you think? Senator Ted Kennedy, who also got a puppy from this litter, has a puppy with the registered name Amigo’s Change to Believe In.
When he was old enough Bo was sold to a woman in Washington DC who had just lost her old Portuguese Water Dog. But she still had another old Portie. She thought that the puppy, whom she named Charlie, would be good company for the old girl. Unfortunately, Charlie proved a little too much. For one thing, he tried to nurse on the other dog, which some puppies will do. The other dog was not happy about this situation. And, sometimes bringing a puppy into a home with an old dog, especially if they may be grieving, can be a problem. So the owner decided she couldn’t keep Charlie.
Although Bo is technically re-homed, he is by no means a rescue. He was sent back to the breeder she bought him from and would have been sold again, he is an AKC-registered purebred dog from champion breeding.
The Chicago Sun Times reports that since the Obama’s didn’t adopt from a shelter, they plan to make a donation to a Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) instead. So perhaps it’s not surprising that the HSUS issued a statement today that simultaneously thanks the Obamas’ for taking in a “second-chance” dog and warns of disreputable breeders who may take advantage of the public’s increased interest in Portuguese water dogs.
“There are reputable breeders of these dogs,” says Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the HSUS. “Yet sadly, we expect disreputable puppy mill operators to start producing them as well, intent on cashing in on the heightened awareness of this breed. President Obama can do even more for animal protection, helping us enforce existing animal welfare laws and cracking down on the national shame of rampant puppy mills in America.”
While I realize the Obamas needed a hypoallergenic dog, about a quarter of all dogs at shelters are purebreds. Over three million dogs and cats are euthanized every year because they don’t have homes. That is a number almost beyond comprehension, but we can make a difference one animal at a time. Adopt from a shelter, save a life.
*SOUZA/The Washington Post
I too am disappointed the Obamas didn’t choose a shelter rescue. While making a donation to the HSUS is a
generous offer, it won’t draw as much attention to the plight of dogs in need of saving. With the resoruces he has at hand it seems the President could have designated someone to search shelters across the country to locate a suitable dog to rescue.
I am really disappointed in the Obamas’ choice for a dog. I really thought President Obama really meant it when he said they would adopt a shelter dog. It just goes to show when you make it to the White House, a shelter is not good enough. This really changes my opinion somewhat about Obama. I feel he really let the people who do rescue and assist in animal rescue down. Biden got a German Shepard and now Obama another purebred. I’d saw all those high clas and price breeders are really happy while the rescues are really sad. Both the president and vice president could have saved 2 dogs lives. But instead they let 2 shelter dogs either die or remain homeless.
Very disappointed in not adopting from a shelter.
I have 3 rescue dogs and I am also very disappointed that the Obama’s did not save a shelter dog as President Obama promised. I agree with Barbara it is amazing how things change once they actually get in the white house. What a major disappointment
A re-homed dog is almost the same as getting one from a shelter though. The prior family was going to give the dog up, so he would have ended up in a shelter if the Obamas or another family had not adopted him. There are many breed sepcific resuce organizations that remove the dogs from shelters to be cared for by foster parents until a forever home can be found. I have owned 4 Rat Terriers, 2 came from Seattle Pure Bred Dog Rescue, one I got as a puppy from a breeeder, and 1 I “rescued” myself from prior owners who were not able to take care of her and would surely have put her into a shelter where she would have been miserable and stressed out had I not come along.
Isn’t it better for any dog’s welfare to go directly to their forever home instead of having to go through the ordeal of even being in a shelter in the first place if the original owners need to give them up?
I am a proponent of adopting shelter dogs (I have 6 and help out at our local shelter),and while I would have loved to see the First Family take a pup out of a shelter, it was my understanding that BO was not obtained through a breeder, but rather he was a gift from Sen. Ted Kennedy and his wife. THey knew that the Obamas wanted to adopt a pup, and they are very active in the PWD breed, and they found Bo for them. I am happy that Bo got a second chance, and did not end up in a shelter like so many other less fortunate pups.
I “re-homed” my Buddy from his first home where I lived in the guest house on the property (I knew him from the time he was 7 weeks old), and he surely would have been euthanized if he had landed at the pound if I had not “rescued” him; so frankly, I don’t see a distinction betweened “re-homed” versus “rescue.” It’s still saving a pet’s life. Buddy, who will turn 10 years old in July, has been with me since I re-homed him at 18 months, and what a treasure he has been–truly, the love of my life! I think the Obamas have started a beneficial dialogue which accomplishes the same thing as rescuing a dog from a shelter!
Lets be serious, if Bo had ended up in a shelter or at a rescue he would have been adopted faster then you could say “PWD for adoption”. Dogs like Bo are scooped up right away, its the bigger, less cuter dogs that end up euthanized not cute puppies or full grown Portuguese Water Dogs, they are pretty rare and hardly seen at shelters.
That being said the Obama’s got the dog they wanted and if they are happy then we need to butt out and respect their choice. Adopting a dog from a shelter would have been great but they chose a different route and I wish them and Bo lots of luck and a long life together. He will probably have his own “Doggy Nanny” anyway and be raised by White House staff but life could be way worse.
Good point about the re-homing. I’d lost site of the fact that my Molly was re-homed. Had I not taken her in she would have gone to a shelter and who knows what would have become of her. Roxie’s right, lets respect their decision and be thankful there’s one less homeless dog in the world.
Although Bo is technically re-homed, he is by no means a rescue. He was sent back to the breeder where he was bought and would have been sold again, he is an AKC-registered purebred dog from champion breeding.
All my dogs have come from shelters and two things come to mind; I know they will always be loyal and I never worry about leaving my wife alone at night when I go to work. There is plenty of love in them if you give them a chance,they are my best friends…
Bo is adorable – but if you really want to help animals in California, the Butte Humane Society (the little shelter with a big heart) is trying to win a national contest for a shelter-makeover – and you can help, simply by voting.
With the final round of voting in the competition starting today and running through Sunday evening, BHS is the only shelter in California, and in fact, the only shelter in the west to make the final round.
Please take a moment to register online at buttehumane.org and post a photo of yourself with your pet! You can vote up to ten times per day for BHS.
LOVE the look of that Bo, and I LOVE that he’s a stray! SO good of Barack and Michelle.
I’m disappointed in Obama yet AGAIN! The pup is a cutie pie though.
I would have done the same thing as the Obamas. They have children to think about. If they adopted a dog of which they did not know the background of, that dog could have been a very sick puppy and could have died early or had any number of defects which would have made the girls very sad.
Yes, there are dogs in shelters and we all wish they would get adopted, but the sad fact is that many are unhealthy and have poor genetics, so if someone has the money and the choice, it’s likely that they would choose to buy a dog with a known background. A background with no genetic defects. A healthy dog.
Sorry but I disagree with people pushing shelter dogs on everyone. As long as they are not buying from pet stores or puppymills, I see no problem with buying a dog from a good breeder.
P.S. Obama can do a whole lot more than adopt a shelter pup. So he got one from a breeder, and yeah it’s been said the Teddy gave him the dog but I kinda think it was planned so people don’t get mad at Obama for buying the dog himself.
Anyway, what Obama can do, which will be a hundred times better than having adopted a dog in the first place, is… he can start a new part of the U.S. Kennel inspectors and start closing down and start giving hefty fines to the owners of puppymills. It is my understanding that U.S. inspected kennels are often puppymills and aren’t really inspected anyway. They continue their puppymill operations. So why doesn’t Obama do something about that?
Way too much time is spent on interfering with other countries’ policies and not enough time on America’s own home terf. They need to start working on atrocities committed in their own country. Like poverty, crime, animal cruelty. All those things can be dealt with by a good president. Unfortunately, although many people put faith in these men, they are all corrupt and will continue to care for only what makes the money. Greed runs America and every other government.
I think Bo is a cutie too. We should use all of the “buzz” about Bo not being a shelter dog as an opportunity to educate everyone on the importance of adopting shelter animals.
I agree also. I am disappointed that our new President didn’t pick a shelter dog. I volunteer with a local dog rescue and shelter and know how important it is for our precious fur friends to find forever, loving homes. In this economy our adoptions have gone down but we continue to rescue from County kill shelters and take on as many as we have room for and have foster family’s for. Losing only one dog to a kill shelter is one too many.
I AM NOT DISAPPOINTED BECAUSE WATERDOGS ARE RARE AND WILL NOT FIND IN A SHELTER.
DO NOT BE SO QUICK TO JUDGE WITHOUT HAVEING ALL THE FACTS FROM BOTH SIDES
My first dog was named Bo and I got him at a shelter. I loved him dearly and have missed him every day for nearly 4 years.
That said … come on people, get over this Obama should have gotten a shelter dog. He promised his **daughters** a dog, not the entire country. This is a personal decision and for crying out loud, he’s the president of the United States. Exactly when is he supposed to go to a pound and pick out a dog? And think about it … even if he did choose shelter dog, can you imagine the people who would crawl out of the woodwork with lame ass stories about how it’s their dog?
People, a dog has a home. Two little girls have their wish. Perhaps they will have many dogs in their lifetime and perhaps they’ll adopt from a shelter.
But for now, two kids and a dog have begun a wonderful life together. Don’t take it away from them with stupid talk about how disappointed you are that the president didn’t adopt from a shelter.
Obama could have rescued a dog from a shelter. He IS the president of the U.S. He could have found a PWD in a rescue somewhere in the U.S. Please…
and to the person who think shelter dogs are unhealthy, have poor genetics, and so on. WHAT?? lol are you kidding me?? most dogs in shelters are between 6mths to 2yrs old, pure breed healthy dogs, who were given up because someone didn’t think before they got a puppy.
The ppl who wanted him to rescue are the ppl who watch dogs die week after week. These ppl don’t want fame, they just wanted a life to be saved… and maybe a little hope for other dogs in shelters on “death row”. I do wonder if he’ll neuter BO, or if that will be another “missed opportunity”.
I love poundhoundmom story…she is absolutely right about people coming out of the woodwork.
It get me dissapointed too.. but i think lets not just argue with this matter! The important is.. Obama represent his position as president of US that has loving personality to pets.. And so sure that Obama rule out the must and do’s for all pets, The responsibilities for pets, the law for pets..etc.., happy ending.. :p
I will go all the way with PoundHoundMom – all the way from Switzerland!
Mom of 2 shelter dogs……
wish he adopted from a shelter, but I guess Bo needed a home too.
As for the donation, it was nice, but I think actions speak louder than money. Too bad, a good opportunity for an example was wasted.
If Obama is going to lie about something so simple such as not adopting a mutt just like him, then what else is he going to lie about???
I agree with both of Brandi’s comments above about Obama now having the “power” to do something about animal cruelty and shutting down all the puppymills in america and making u.s. inspections of kennels real and strict
Edith, I’m flattered, but I prefer men with whom I do not need a passport to visit.
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I think PoundHoundMom put it beautifully. As a a long time dog professional, and a new mother, I would have to think long and hard before adopting another shelter dog. I have one rescued dog, a lab, but he’d been here for three years before I had my daughter and I trusted him fully when she was born. Now though? I’m not sure I’d be willing to take the risk of an unknown dog with my daughter so young. Maybe when she’s older, and more trained (my daughter).
The Obama’s are new dog owners, and really a puppy is the best option for them. They got the dog from a responsible breeder, not out of the paper or from a puppy mill. All the hype has brought the plight of shelter dogs to the front page anyway. Give them a break. They have little girls with allergies to think of. The last thing they need is a dog with an unknown background scaring or hurting one of the girls – what great publicity that would be!
I think this was definitely the best solution all around – the girls get their puppy from a reputable breeder, shelter dogs get plenty of press and perhaps other people will choose to adopt – people with a bit more dog experience, and little Bo gets to be a beloved family member.
Yes, it’s great for shelter dogs to get adopted, and I do lots of fostering and volunteering with rescue groups – and knowing what I know, I truly believe that sometimes a rescued dog isn’t the best choice for some families. The Obama’s are one of those families.
Bo is adorable and now the most popular pup in the whole world. *Looks from the videos Bo could use a little leash training, BOL*
Bo was in need of a home, sure he didn’t come from a shelter, but he still needed a home and got the best home ever. Those little girls will spoil him rotten! Way to go Bo! You wiggled your way into the heart of the President and his family and that is a big task!
I was extremely dissappointed to see that the Obamas did not adopt a shelter dog, and also wish that isntead of donating to the HSUS, donated the much-needed funds to an actual animal shelter or rescue group. Of course getting a dog and where to get the dog is a personal decision, but I still can’t help but imagine what good it would have done for shelter dogs all through the nation if they went with their first idea to rescue a dog.
Does Bo travel with President Obama? – Everytime my husband and I go away we bring Mooky to a beautiful country Dog boarding camp called Dogs at Camp. Check it out!
Dog Boarding Toronto
Poundhoundmom and Michelle–THANK YOU!
It’s about time someone pointed out that the Obamas made a rational, PERSONAL family-based and family-focused decision about their first pet–and that they did their homework, met other PWDs, took their time and didn’t make a rash or uninformed choice. They did what I’ve been educating prospective pet owners to do for the last 30 years–do your homework, take your time, understand the responsibility…and if you are considering a purebred, go to a responsible breeder and/or the parent club of that breed for a referral.
PHM, I *love* your line “he promised his **daughters** a dog–not the entire country!” As citizens of this country, we get to vote for the president. But I’m pretty sure we don’t have a constitutional right to vote in a family’s choice of their pet. Period.
“Opportunity missed here”? This is a family’s pet. Part of their private lives. The dog will be with them, with any luck, after they leave the White House. This is not a political decision.
I agree with Poundhoundmom. It’s a dog who didn’t have a home that now does.
This is a personal decision and who are we to judge anyone else.
He promised his daughters this dog. Maybe that is the dog they chose!
I’m all for helping out shelter dogs, but dogs from breeders ARE DOGS TOO!
THEY DESERVE JUST AS MUCH TO BE LOVED!!!