President Barack Obama fulfilled a campaign promise to his daughters with their new puppy, but the decision to forgo a shelter dog is sure to leave some animal activists growling.
Bo, a 6-month-old Portuguese water dog, will make his public debut at the White House on Tuesday after months of intense speculation about his arrival. The First Pooch is a gift from Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), who owns three so-called porties and wanted the Obamas to follow suit.
The housebroken puppy was named Charlie by his original owners, but Malia and Sasha Obama rechristened him Bo in honor of their cousin’s cat of the same name. Their parents are said to refer to the dog as “Diddley.”
Obama promised his daughters a puppy on Election Night, later saying the family hoped to adopt a low-shedding rescue dog because of Malia’s allergies. While the Portuguese water dog fulfills the hypoallergenic coat requirement, it’s debatable as to whether Bo meets the definition of a second-chance pet.
The puppy was purchased from a breeder and then given back to the kennel soon after the Obamas expressed interest in a Portuguese water dog, a source familiar with the adoption said.
The president and first lady reportedly plan to donate to the Washington Humane Society to underscore their original intentions.
“Clearly our best hope was that [the president] would go to a shelter or a breed-rescue group,” said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States. “He didn’t do that, but he also didn’t go to a pet store or puppy mill either. It’s a gray area.”
Pacelle said his organization notified the White House about several Portuguese water puppies during the First Family’s search.
“He had no shortage of options,” Pacelle said.
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sstclair@tribune.com
How about a First Cow?
First Pets from Pauline the cow to the present: chicagotribune.com/firstpets
