Prez Pup Coming to Obama White House Tuesday

[wndycty]

Prez Pup Coming to Obama White House Tuesday

Posted Apr 10th 2009 7:45PM by TMZ Staff

We have lots of exclusive details on the Portuguese Water Dog President Barack Obama and Michelle are getting for Sasha and Malia. The pooch will make its grand entrance on Tuesday, and it's coming from a prominent Texas kennel, with the help of Senator Ted Kennedy's family.

The black dog -- a male -- is approximately six months old. We've learned it was bred at the kennel and sold to someone who gave it back. The kennel is now "re-homing" the dog to the Obamas. The dog was named Charlie, but the Obamas will rename it.

Now here's where the Kennedys come into play. The kennel has sold the Kennedys three Portuguese Water Dogs in the past, all from the same lineage. The dog the Obamas will be getting is from the same lineage as the Kennedy dogs. The Kennedy family will be presenting the new dog to the Obamas, but it's really coming from the kennel.

The reason this all sounds so technical is that there are issues regarding gifts to the Prez. The fact that the pup is being re-homed makes it all kosher.
-snip-

http://www.tmz.com/2009/04/10/white-house-obama-family-dog/

[Cha]

1. First pup! I hope everyone

is happy.

[AtomicKitten]

2. Hooray!!!!

[bluestateguy]

3. Yes, I'd rather Obama not be forced to deliver a "Checkers speech"

nt

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. so the Obamas are really rescuing a pure-bred dog

Most breed associations have programs to "re-home" unwanted pets. This should make those who wanted them to get a rescued animal feel a bit better, but after what happened to the breeder of Biden's pup, I won't be surprised if it doesn't.

[Honeycombe8]

19. What happened to the breeder of Biden's new puppy? nt

[Karenina]

23. She's being HOUNDED!

:hide:

[Honeycombe8]

27. LOL! But really....why? People don't like her? Or hounding her to buy dogs from her? nt

[Karenina]

28. It's not pretty...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=3826303

[old mark]

30. If he shits all over the place, call him Pat Buchanan...nt

[Honeycombe8]

35. Wow, that's too bad. Awful. My dogs are rescue dogs. I contribute to those charities. I have a

I have a sign on my car, "Adopt from Rescue." I totally believe in that.

BUT I do not believe that everyone must always adopt from rescue. Having had a few rescue dogs in my life, I have found that they come with issues, usually, because of their past. I personally accept that and have worked with that. All living creatures have issues. But rescue dogs, because of their past, have more. They are not a clean slate. Still...you can find rescue dogs without many, or serious, issues, and they are more grateful and loving than "bought" dogs; they seem to know that they are lucky to have been rescued. They have been to hell, and so they know heaven when they experience it: a full belly, medical care, a loving touch, a hug, a secure environment, companionship.

But some people, esp. senior citizens, can't cope with rescue dogs. In the Biden's case, the family members are gone a lot, I suspect. Rescue dogs sometimes need more attention.

Not all breeders are bad, IMO. It's those backyard breeders that fill the pet shops and the streets with unwanted, unhealthy "full bred" puppies that are the problem. But there are reputable professional breeders; if it weren't for them, the world would no longer have distinct breeds.

A pity that the Biden's breeder has been treated that way.

[braunfels]

31. Missed Opportunity

Obama missed an opportunity to set a fine example. If the family had gone to a real shelter to rescue one of the millions of unfortunate dogs that are warehoused all over the country, I would feel a lot better about this.

[csziggy]

34. The Obamas had specific criteria to meet - allergies were one

The breed they selected are known for not aggravating allergies. While I strongly believe in shelter adoptions (all my pets for the last 30 years have been strays we kept or from shelters), I can see how it would be very hard to find a pet that meets needs like the First Family has.

One thing that has taken the Obama so long to select a pet was probably so they could try to find a rescue animal of this breed.

[peacefreak]

5. That's re-gifting at its best!

nt

[rug]

6. How wonderful.

[alsame]

7. TMZ got

the scoop? :rofl:

[BattyDem]

8. That's great news!

Now on to the next media frenzy:
"What will the Obamas name their dog?"

[ginnyinWI]

9. Finally! Glad to give this the 5th rec. n/t

[Hepburn]

10. Oh, how cute they are!

[Honeycombe8]

20. They're large, aren't they? And they, of course, will want to go swimming! nt

[hootinholler]

22. I prefer the Lion Cut, but they are great dogs.

Very active and require a good run or swim almost daily. Generally very bright and highly trainable.

-Hoot

[Aloha Spirit]

11. Okay, names time. Frank and Moose will probably get vetoed, but that's allegedly what they wanted

(the girls).

Abe?

[Hepburn]

13. Teddie....

...for several reasons:

Looks like a Teddie Bear and Teddie Kennedy is involved! :hi:

[Aloha Spirit]

16. that's good. I just looked up "dog" in Algonquin. It's attemous. That could be a way of convincing

dad that "moose" is a good choice.

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

14. HTWOOKNINE

[Aloha Spirit]

15. Is that like wookie but with a bunch of extra letters?

[medeak]

12. uh oh...first owner returned pup to breeder?

not a good sign...hope it was socialized!

[DevonRex]

29. They get returned for all sorts of reasons. My purebread cat was

returned because the owners lost their business and declared bankruptcy. They had to downsize to an apartment that was barely big enough for them and their kids, much less the 2 Devon cats.

With dogs there could be many more reasons, of course, to have to return them. So, I'm with you. I hope it was for a "good" reason and that if there were problems then the breeder has taken steps to train him.

[polichick]

17. I like the name Charlie - won't it be confusing to him to be called something else? nt

[alsame]

21. Dogs are amazingly adaptive. I once rescued a dog that was

at least 3-4 years old and had no idea what her name (or names) were. But within days she was responding to the name I gave her.

[polichick]

24. Thanks - that's good to know!

[Joe the Liberal]

18. Uh oh........

Obama is being given this dog...........without paying for it.........


I can already hear the right wing nut jobs screaming Socialism.

[kiranon]

25. Name it pirate. He then will have control - sort of - over the pirate situation.

[Egnever]

26. And here I thought this was just another broken campaign promise.

:sarcasm:

[Holly_Hobby]

32. The real Charlie, via TMZ

[khal02]

33. Pics

Here's a link to pics with the Obamas and the puppy.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/gallery/2008/11/21/GA2008112102138.html?sid=ST2009041102652