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.

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: …read more