After last night’s acceptance speech by U.S. President-elect Barack Obama, wherein he mentioned his two young daughters had earned a puppy, I wondered what other pets had followed their families to the White House.

I found that there really weren’t many domesticated pets in the first few years: The majority of “pets” the early presidents and their families had were horses, goats, cows, and birds, and John Quincy Adams apparently had an alligator. There are dogs mentioned here and there but they pretty much belonged to the First Ladies or their children, with no other info given.

George Washington had four Black and Tan Coonhounds named Drunkard, Taster, Tipler and Tipsy. John Adams had two dogs named Juno and Satan and Rutherford Hayes apparently had the first Siamese kitten to reach America in the late 1870’s. James Garfield had a dog named Veto, and Theodore Roosevelt had Pete, a bull terrier, Sailor Boy, a Chesapeake Retriever, and a mongrel named Skip.

Things really picked up in the early 1900’s: While Warren Harding “only” had two dogs – an Airedale named Laddie Boy and an English Bulldog named Old Boy, Calvin Coolidge owned and/or cared for 12 dogs during his administration (among many other animals), and Herbert Hoover had 8 dogs. There were 7 dogs in the White House with FDR and his family, while Truman had just one, “Feller, the unwanted dog.”

Eisenhower had a Weimaraner named Heidi, and JFK’s young family had several pets, including a cat, a canary, parakeets, ponies, hamsters, a rabbit, and five dogs. Lyndon B. Johnson had three beagles named Little Beagle and Him and Her, as well as Blanco, a white Collie and the famous Yuki, a mongrel.

Richard Nixon acquired his dog Checkers while still Vice President, and gained three more dogs during his presidency. Gerald Ford had a golden retriever named Liberty (pictured above). Ronald Reagan had Lucky, a Bouvier des Flandres who was sent to the ranch when she grew too big, and was replaced by Rex, a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel.

George Bush had Millie, a Springer Spaniel and then Ranger, one of Millie’s puppies. Bill Clinton had Socks the cat and a chocolate lab named Buddy, who did not get along with Socks. George W. Bush has Miss Beazley, Barney, and Spot, and a cat named India.

Other interesting finds: Millard Fillmore was apparently a founding member of the Buffalo chapter of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and Andrew Johnson is probably most well-known for feeding flour to white mice as his presidency crumbled around him.

[images: wikipedia; wikipedia]

Post from: Blisstree

Pets in the White House

A little humor for your Saturday! How many dogs and cats does it take to change a lightbulb? According to this little gem it depends on which breed you ask:

Golden Retriever: The sun is shining, the day is young, we’ve got our whole lives ahead of us, and you’re inside worrying about a burned out bulb?

Border Collie: Just one. And then I’ll replace any wiring that’s not up to code.

Chihuahua: We don’t need no stinking light bulb.

Dachshund: You know I can’t reach that stupid lamp!

Rottweiler: Make me!

Boxer: Who cares? I can still play with my squeaky toys in the dark.

Lab: Oh, me, me!!!!! Pleeeeeeeeeze let me change the light bulb! Can I? Can I? Huh? Huh? Huh? Can I? Please, please, please!

German Shepherd: I’ll change it as soon as I’ve led these people from the dark, checked to make sure I haven’t missed any, and made just one more perimeter patrol to see that no one has tried to take advantage of the situation.

Jack Russell Terrier: I’ll just pop it in while I’m bouncing off the walls and furniture.

Old English Sheep Dog: Light bulb? I’m sorry, but I don’t see a light bulb!

Cocker Spaniel: Why change it? I can still pee on the carpet in the dark.

Greyhound: It isn’t moving. Who cares?

Australian Shepherd: First, I’ll put all the light bulbs in a little circle…

Poodle: I’ll just blow in the Border Collie’s ear and he’ll do it. By the time he finishes rewiring the house, my nails will be dry.

Corgi: Sure, problem. I’ll need a ladder. And a treat. Now hand me the bulb. And a treat. Take this burnt out one. Gimme a treat. And we’re done. I need a treat. And while you put away the ladder and throw out the old bulb, I’ll hoover the carpet looking for any crumbs I may have dropped. Look how clean this rug is. Gimme another treat.

Boston terrier: You want me to do what? Change what light buld? That light bulb? Does it squeak? Are you sure? And your certain it’s that light bulb you what changed?

Hound Dog: If you slept all night and most of the day like a sane person you would not need that stupid light.

…

How many cats does it take to change a light bulb?

Cats do not change light bulbs. People change light bulbs. So, the real question is: “How long will it be before I can expect some light, some dinner, and a massage?”

[image: flickr, flickr]

Post from: Blisstree

How Many Dogs and Cats Does it Take to Change a Lightbulb?