Let’s send a shelter dog to the White House!

Let’s send a shelter dog to the White House!

When Barack Obama’s family talked of getting a new dog, nearly 40,000 of you said they should adopt – NOT buy – their future pooch.

Best Friends Animal Society is continuing the petition through the weekend, so you can still add your name, and pass this e-mail along to a friend or family member, too. Remind them that every year, dogs are still being killed by the millions in shelters while people buy from pet stores and commercial breeders.

See what it’s all about at obamafamilydog.com, and sign the petition urging the Obama family to adopt (not buy) a four legged friend this November.

If Sen. Barack Obama becomes president, he'll instantly be faced with decisions that will affect millions of Americans. Obama will also soon be making a decision that could affect millions of American dogs. It has been reported that once the election is over, the Obamas will be looking for a new four-legged family member (much to his daughters' delight).

The American Kennel Club (AKC) has suggested five types of purebred dogs that would fit the Obamas' lifestyle. While the Best Friends Society doesn't disagree that it's important to choose a dog that matches well with the family, mixed breeds should certainly be considered along with pure breeds. Also, whether purebred or mutt, Best Friends Society believes that the Obamas should make a winning choice and adopt a family dog, not buy one.

Whether you're a Democrat or a Republican, left-wing, right-wing or any other wing, please sign the petition urging the Obama Family to adopt, and encourage all your friends and family to sign it, too.

Across the country, in both red states and blue states, millions of dogs are killed each year in America's shelters, in large part because there aren't enough families for them. For a candidate focused on "hope" and "change," adopting a homeless pet is the right choice. Win or lose, this is an opportunity for Obama to effect change on this very important issue.

I agree completely.

Best Friends Animal Society is very closely affiliated with all the major and some minor Animal Rights organizations.

Obama has a history of voting almost completely in line with the HSUS agenda.

IMO, it is up to the Obama family to decide whether to adopt or buy a dog and I will not support an AR organizations attempt to sway that decision.

Replace Obama with "Summitview" and you could sum up this entire thread.

Here, here.

I think he needs a APBT hell all the congress need one.
IT will be the only way to educate the idiots writing laws.

But I can tell u if I loved him and he did not have a dog I would not vote for him.

Why should anyone.. have others dictate what pet they will love. That is like sending a petition to say that he should remarry a person from a specific place. If he and his family want to adopt thats great. If they want to go with a good breeder that is also great.

Yup.. my thoughts exactly..

Well, it is totally the family's decision. But, frankly, I WOULD sign that petition but for the sponsor.

Although there is nothing wrong with getting a dog from a good breeder, is Obama becomes the President, his actions will inspire others. Most people don't have any idea how to pick a good breeder, and don't want to bother . . . they'll just pick the same breed as he got. But if he gets a dog from a shelter, it may well convince people to take that route instead of going to a pet store, a mil, or a BYB to get their next pet. So, I WOULD sign . . .except that I will not back an AR organization who will undoubtably be lobbying him throughout his presidency, and may be more than glad to point out repeatedly that they were responsible for his wonderful dog. I know someone closely affliated with his campaign . . . I'll send a letter myself, making it clear why I'm sending it myself.

However, thanks for raising the issue.

Holy cow. The Obamas seem like bright people, certainly bright enough to pick out their own freakin' dog. Choosing a dog is a very personal decision, and Best Friends and the AKC should leave them the heck alone.

The truth is, THEY probably won't be picking their dog. Often aides are assigned the task of finding a dog. I don't feel like there's anything wrong with making suggestions . . . just as I would for a friend. But I will not back Best Friends.

I agree that HE should decide whether to buy or adopt. But I also do agree that, in his current position, he is a role model for others. If he is just looking for a family dog, I think it would be good if he adopted a dog. It would send a good message and hopefully get some people who would pick a byb or mill dog to adopt instead.

The only benefit I could really see from him getting a shelter dog would be getting an APBT or other "bad rap" breed...but there's pro's and con's to each.
Pro - it would probably squash a lot of BSL problems
Con - Added popularity would add to the problems with Mills and BYB's and poorly bred animals of the breed. Though I think this will happen with any breed they choose.
But on a serious note, is the life of a president really ideal for a pet? I imagine the long hours and such would be a strain on attention for the pet, and all the traveling etc. Of course I'm sure they'll hire someone to take care of the dog, but doesn't that defeat the purpose?

I'm sure he'll be traveling alot but what about his family? Also, I'm sure it's easier to travel with a dog as the president... I doubt people would say "no you can't come in with that dog!"

While I think it would be interesting if he ended up adopting a Vick dog from BF, I personally have suspicions about any public figure like that getting a dog. How often is it just a publicity stunt?

Most of the time.

But I'm sure his daughter will love it.

But the President's dog is him or herself a public figure and part of the President's image. Frankly, even if someone else takes care of it, it will live a pretty good life. If its a shelter dog, it will be better than the odds would have given it. If its a purebred . . . well, its better than the lives of many purebreds.

Actually, I don't think it has to be a "bad rep" breed. Shelter animals have a somewhat dubious reputation in some circles . . . and just making people consider a mutt or a rescue woudl be a benefit. . . many people think "I want a dog" and immediately start picking a breed to get a puppy of. They don't even really consider the other options.

My thought is that nobody is president forever...so what happens to the dog once they are out of the lime light?
I don't mean just while the person is president, but as a long term future? Do they just ditch the dog when they are out of office because it's no longer something for PR or what?
I guess I'm just pessimistic about the reasons behind them getting a dog.

Nah. They usually keep it, or give it away to a staff member who has become fond of it. The dog doesn't end up homeless . . . imagine the PR on that one . . . former President's dog found in shelter.

But you're right. They're doing for the image. The President is pretty much required to have a dog, if not two. Even the Clinton's didn't get away with it forever . . . thus Buddy the Chocolate Lab (though I have heard Mr. Clinton did become fond of the dog and was very upset when he was killed in an accident).

Mr. Obama's daughter appearently wants a dog, but I have no idea if her parents do. As a practical matter, they don't realy have that much choice. But the Presidental dogs are always well cared for, and never end up homeless. So, in terms of the lives of a lot of dogs out there, they do pretty well. That's actually one reason I'm thinking of writing on my own . . . not only because of the influence on the public, but because for a shelter or rescue dog, its a really good outcome. Is it a perfect home? Probably not, though a real social animal of a dog would probably love it. Is it a bad home? Not at all.

Yeah when I said "ditch" didn't mean they'd dump it on the side of the road or it would end up in a shelter...it would definitely be bad juju...look at what happened with Ellen DeGeneres with the dog she rehomed and they reclaimed and what not. Right, wrong, or indifferent it still made big news.
What I was aiming at is kind of like if I go get a shelter dog (or any dog) and I'm gone all the time and I have someone that feeds it for me, walks it, and takes care of it...it may be my dog on paper but as far as bonding I don't see it happening. I'm not saying the dog would have a bad life, but why would "I" get a dog for someone else to take care of? That was my point on being pessimistic. It seems like it's all for show.
I'm glad to see that some of the dogs are loved by the people who own them, and not given away to someone else who took a liking to the pet because the owner just didn't care anymore.
I guess it all boils down to responsible ownership. Sure I can own the dog on paper, have someone take care of it's every need and it will be a healthy and well taken care of pet...but I'm not the person responsible for it other than monetarily. Then if I just give it away to someone because it's no longer a status symbol for me, that seems irresponsible. Granted it's a good life for a pet but it doesn't lead by example. It goes back to animals are disposable.
I do remember awhile back our current president had a black and white Spaniel of some sort named Cubby or something? He truly acted like he cared about the dog (it was on some news show where he was on his ranch and was playing fetch while talking to reporters) - though I don't care for our current president in particular, I did like the fact that he cared about the dog (or at least did where the nation saw it)

He seems to like his little Scotties too. Honestly, I think most Presidents, no matter how they ended up with a dog, end up liking the dog. Honestly, do we want someone as President, who has a dog around, and DOESN'T like it? But to an extent, it is for show. As for responsible ownership, to a large extent I agree with you. On the other hand, the dog will never be mistreated and neglected. I guess I've become jaded enough, living in WAshington, to understand that the President must have a dog, whether he really wants one or not, and his aides will get one for him, whether he wants it or not. Its just the way it works.

Taking that as a given, that sooner or later, the new President will get a dog (does McCain already have one?) I'd rather see that dog be a shelter or rescue dog, preferably mixed, but a purebred rescue could work too. Its all show, its all image, its all influence and "message." Since I know that, I'd rather that message be one that will motovate people to get "second-hand" dogs rather than buy from breeders . . . not because there is anything wrong with buying from a breeder, but because the majority of people who will motovated to get a dog because the President has one wouldn't know a good breeder if he or she kicked them in the butt. And the reason I will write alone or with other people from Chaz is much the same reason . . . its all influence . . . I don't want Best Friends to seem to have more support than it has, or to have more influence on the President. Because the President can't be an expert on everything, he depends on "experts." I don't want to help Best Friends set themselves up as "experts" on animal issues.