[Gnarly]

THIS IS NOT A POLITICAL POST

As you all know, Barack Obama is our nation's new president elect. He has announced he will be getting a puppy, for his daughters, now that's they've made it to the white house.

The previous presidents have chosen to buy their "first dogs" from top breeders, but wouldn't it be more beneficial if Obama adopted his puppy from a shelter. In the past, the chosen dog breed of the president has become popular with the American people (think the large influx of Dalmation bought and bred after the release of 101 Dalmations), so wouldn't it be fantastic if by adopting a dog in need, the rest of America would consider the option as well?

Obama says he is for change, let's ask for a change that may be small to you or me, but could save potentially thousands of lives, scheduled for death everyday. Lives who look through chain link fences and sleep on cement floors. Who committed no crime, save for being born into a world that didn't want them. Abandoned and homeless dogs.

If we can convince Obama to adopt a dog through letter writing campaigns we could save many more! Look at when the Benji movies came out and everyone started adopting because Benji, a super smart Hollywood star, came from some little pound!

Please help me in writing letters!

Obama for America
P.O. Box 8102
Chicago, IL 60680

 

[padawanslacker]

If they get a pet, I do hope they adopt one from a shelter. That would be quite a journey for a puppy--from the pound to the White House!

Still, I really think he should get a hedgehog.

Now that would be change.

 

[Benus95]

I like your idea. There are a lot of animals out there, not only dogs that need help and I think this is a good way for people to be interested in this issue.

 

[lilhoglet]

Thats a great idea! It would also help reduce people buying puppies from pet stores, which would help out the whole puppy mill problem.

 

[padawanslacker]

Cross-posted from another forum--accuracy not remotely guaranteed:

"Obama just stated in his press conference that he would like to get a shelter dog, but one of his daughters is allergic."

Apparently there are dog breeds that trigger allergies less, but you'd need papers to prove that an animal was one of those breeds.

I still say they should go hedgehog.

 

[PixiesExoticHedgies]

"Obama just stated in his press conference that he would like to get a shelter dog, but one of his daughters is allergic."

This is CORRECT. I watched his speech today and heard him say, "we would like to adopt a Shelter dog, but the problem with Shelters is they are full of MUTS like me."

Yes.....our President elect did call himself a MUT.....the reporters, bystanders, secret service, and Barack himself started to laugh. The expression on his face was priceless. It was kinda like, "did I just say that out loud?" :lol: He noted that this was one of the hottest topics on his website.

 

[laurennicole]

my family is allergic to dogs so we have poodles(know one can be allergic to a poodle)
but im not allergic to any animals.

 

[Melissa]

my family is allergic to dogs so we have poodles(know one can be allergic to a poodle)
but im not allergic to any animals.

It is VERY possible for people to be allergic to poodles. Its believed that people arent allergic to poodles because they have hair not fur BUT people are allergic to the saliva and dander, which poodles have.

Im allergic to my moms poodle for the reasons stated..

 

[HedgeMom]

My objection is not what breed they get, it's that they are getting a dog at all. They've never had a dog, they've never had time for a dog and now that they are in the White House where they have STAFF, they're going to get a dog. Not because they want one, but because it fits an image.

I'm sorry, telling a child who wants an animal "If we win the election, you can have a puppy" is just plain stupidity, IMHO. Nothing about being responsible for the puppy, nothing about learning to care or train the puppy, but hanging it all on something as intangible and unpredictable as an election.

I believe he's just setting the stage for more stupid pet ownership.

 

[lilhoglet]

Not because they want one, but because it fits an image.

I'm sorry, telling a child who wants an animal "If we win the election, you can have a puppy" is just plain stupidity, IMHO.

In one sentence you say they don't want one and in the next you say the children want one. So, somebody wants a doggy!! I think regardless, the girls will provide lots of love and the puppy will be taken care of very well, even if that is by the staff. But thats just my opinion.

 

[PixiesExoticHedgies]

If I were a dog sitting in a shelter, I would surely rather go live at the White House and have full staff care and attention......than the alternative.

 

[lilhoglet]

If I were a dog sitting in a shelter, I would surely rather go live at the White House and have full staffcare and attention......than the alternative.

Exactly! He will be taken care of, walked, cleaned, groomed and everything a dog could ever want.... and I'm sure even if the girls aren't old enough to understand all of that hard work and do it - I'm sure they'll give him the love and affection he needs while the staff helps with the rest. I can only imagine all the toys and stuff he'll have :lol:

 

[PixiesExoticHedgies]

my family is allergic to dogs so we have poodles. no one can be allergic to a poodle.

It is VERY possible for people to be allergic to poodles. Its believed that people aren't allergic to poodles because they have hair not fur, BUT people are allergic to the saliva and dander, which poodles have. I'm allergic to my moms poodle for the reasons stated.

Most often DANDER causes more allergic reactions, than hair/fur. Unfortunately, it's going to be very hard for Barack's family to find a true hypo-allergenic dog in a shelter. Just like buying hedgies from a pet store....you don't know what their lineage will be carrying. What looks like a poodle, may not really be a full blooded poodle (or any other breed for that matter).

 

[laurennicole]

i got a pure bred poodle at the shelter he is a puppy and they got rid of him cause he peed in the flour and he came with akc papers.

 

[Nancy]

The first dog I was allergic to was my aunt and uncle's purebred poodle. We had a german shepherd at the time and she didn't bother me but that darn poodle sure did. My allergy to the shepherd did start 3 years later but the poodle was the one that started first. Although my family never owned dogs, I had been in contact with various dogs all my life but didn't start being allergic to them until I was in my early 20's.

Now, if I'm in the same room as a dog just left at the vets, I start to wheeze.

 

[HedgeMom]

If I were a dog sitting in a shelter, I would surely rather go live at the White House and have full staff care and attention......than the alternative.

And, like Bill Clinton's cat Socks, in four years or eight years when his term is over, the dog goes away. President isn't forever but dogs live longer than 4 or 8 years. And then there won't be staff. Or he could go the way of the Clinton's dog when there was no longer staff to care for the animal. They let him run loose and he got hit by a car and killed.

In one sentence you say they don't want one and in the next you say the children want one. So, somebody wants a doggy!! I think regardless, the girls will provide lots of love and the puppy will be taken care of very well, even if that is by the staff.

The adults didn't want one. If they had, there would be a puppy already. Children shouldn't make the decision on getting an animal, adults should .

 

[PixiesExoticHedgies]

If I were a dog sitting in a shelter, I would surely rather go live at the White House and have full staff care and attention......than the alternative.

And, like Bill Clinton's cat Socks, in four years or eight years when his term is over, the dog goes away. President isn't forever but dogs live longer than 4 or 8 years. And then there won't be staff. Or he could go the way of the Clinton's dog when there was no longer staff to care for the animal. They let him run loose and he got hit by a car and killed.

Anything is possible. But compared to the alternative, I'd still rather go to the White House. Hopefully Barack's family will love the dog and decide to take it home or they will make sure it is well taken care of, afterwards.

 

[PixiesExoticHedgies]

i got a pure bred poodle at the shelter he is a puppy and they got rid of him cause he peed in the flour and he came with akc papers.

It's not uncommon to find purebreeds in the shelters. But rarely will you get one that comes with their AKC papers. When you're dealing with allergies, I'd be still be skeptical -- because unless you purchased it directly from the breeder, you don't know for sure the AKC papers you have are for that exact dog. That is also assuming you'd be buying from an honest/reputable breeder.

 

[j4782]

The adults didn't want one. If they had, there would be a puppy already. Children shouldn't make the decision on getting an animal, adults should .

How do you know?

The delay in getting a dog might have had to do with the girls' ages. They are now old enough to take on responsibilities of doing some chores (they have stated that the girls will continue to do things they did at home, like make their own beds).

The promise of a dog had nothing to do with winning or losing, but when the campaign would be over. They had obviously discussed getting a dog and thought about it, because getting a pet during the chaotic time of being on the road would have been a terrible thing to do to a new dog.

 

[Nancy]

I think getting a dog when there is a family member who is allergic is a huge mistake. Allergies don't go away and usually get worse with time and exposure. If they already know she is allergic to dogs before they even own one, what will she be like when they do own one. Even the supposed allergy free dogs cause allergies, but not quite as much as other breeds.