Photo Gallery: 20 Politicians and Their Dogs

From Politico

Great photo gallery from the folks at Politico of politicians and their dogs. Check it out here, 20 Politicians and Their Dogs

Romney's Dog Problem

From the Houston Chronicle

As the Republican primary race continues, the talk about Governor Mitt Romney's experience with dogs continues to make news. This was especially true in the past few days as the folks at Dogs Against Romney protested the Westminster Dog Show in New York city.

All of talk about Romney's dislike and mistreatment of dogs stems from a 2007 Boston Globe article in which Romney detailed the events of the family's 1983 vacation. The Romney family dog, Seamus, was loaded in his carrier and strapped to the top of the family's station wagon for the trip from Boston to Ontario.

Historically, pets have played a very important role in the lives of many presidents and lawmakers.

• FDR's dog Fala helped him win re-election
• President Ford would often signal his dog Liberty to break up a 
• President George Bush's dog Millie and her puppies entertained many of the White House's visiting guests 
• President Clinton's dog Buddy kept him company in the dog house during the Lewinsky scandal
• President George W. Bush's dogs Barney and Miss Beazley  hosted annual video tours of the White House's Christmas decorations. 

While the Romney family vacation was almost 30 years ago, he hasn't done much to dissolve the story. A recent meeting with President George and Mrs. Bush in Houston showed Romney's awkwardness around dogs.

There are more than 78 million dog owners in the United States and not being dog-friendly could sway some voters in what many consider what could a very close election. The Romney campaign should consider doing something to help the candidate's image and awkwardness around animals. Defeating an incumbent president with a dog could be a very tough challenge.  

More on Romney's latest press:

1. Huffington Post on Dogs Against Romney Protest
2. Saturday Night Live on Romney Primary Open 

Bark for Barack

The folks at Organizing for America have come up with a way to reach the large group of pet-loving voters and over the weekend the Pet Lovers for Obama Facebook page was launched.

Obama for American Bark for Barack car magnet

This isn't the first time presidential hopefuls have used their pets to aid their campaigns, but it is the first in recent history.

President FDR included Fala a re-election speech after being falsely accused of using taxpayer dollars the dog's travel expenses. The speech later became known as the Fala Speech.

“These Republican leaders have not been content with the attacks on me, or my wife, or on my sons. No, not content with that, they now include my little dog. Fala. Well, of course, I don’t resent attacks, and my family doesn’t resent attacks, but Fala does resent  them. You know, Fala is Scotch, and being a Scottie, as soon as he learned that the Republican fiction writers in Congress and out had concocted a story that I had left him behind on the Aleutian Islands and sent a destroyer back to find him—at a cost to taxpayers of 2 or 3, or 20 million dollars—his Scotch soul was furious. He has not been the same dog since.” (watch the speech here)


It will be interesting to see how the campaign uses modern technology and the social networks to pet owners in this election year. The campaign is currently selling car magnets prominently featuring Bo and the slogan Bark for Barack. The Obama for America campaign store also sells a number of campaign items for pets, including Cats for Obama collars.

Pets with Newt?

From Pets with Newt

As many of my friends will tell you and you may have concluded from this blog, I'm a big proponent of lawmakers and their pets.

One of the current (because he may not be in the race much longer) GOP presidential candidates, Newt Gingrich recently launched the site Pets with Newt. While the site may have been created with the best of intentions in a effort to engage many animal-loving voters, it leaves one wondering, why doesn't Newt have a pet? Take a look around the site and let me know what you think, but there's a lot to be desired from this site.

Pets in the News--December 23, 2011

There have been a lot of pets in the news lately. Here's a round up.

US Weekly: Prince William and Kate Middleton getting a puppy for Christmas

ABCNews: Gingrich to Campaign with Pets and Music

USAToday: President Obama, dog Bo go Christmas shopping

The White House Christmas decorations include Bo. Here's a look at the making of some of the decorations from whiteouse.gov.

President Obama and Bo Go Holiday Shopping -- PICTURES - Ethan Klapper - NationalJournal.com

National Journal: President Obama and Bo Go Holiday Shopping -- PICTURES

Puppies help alleviate stress

From the Washington Post.

A recent article in the Washington Post noted how several universities are bringing in puppies during finals to help students alleviate stress.

A law student from George Mason noted the benefits,

“Especially this time of the year, law school seems to ruin your life,” said Allison Tisdale, 24, a third-year from Texas who didn’t go home for Thanksgiving because she had to study. Holding a squirming puppy, she said, “you get to be human again.”

Research continue to show the effectiveness of animals to help people deal with stress. 

Politicians deal with stress every day and it's important to understand that as public officials, they must be able to deal with their stress in order to do their job effectively. Some lawmakers, including Massachusetts Senator Scott Brown already understand the important role animals can have in their offices and often bring their animals to work. 

More lawmakers should consider bringing their pets to work for the benefit the staff and their own health. 

Larry, the Downing Street cat

People have very different view of cats, but one thing that is indisputable is that cats have played an important role throughout history in keeping the population of mice, rats and other vermin under control. 

A recent article from the Financial Times noted the role cats' have played in British society and politics for for years. 

Larry, the Downing Street cat. From BBC.

"The British have always been a nation of animal-lovers. But I think cat stories are particularly comforting at a time of economic crisis."

British Prime Minister David Cameron has tried to show his fondness of cats with the adoption of the latest Downing Street cat, Larry, after a rat was recently spotted in the street. Britain's prime ministers have historically had cats with the exception of former Prime Minister Tony Blair, whose wife was not so fond of cats and forbid their cat Humphrey from living in the house. 

Larry has attracted quite a bit of media attention since his adoption which has been a positive deflection from much of the news coverage of deficits and political unrest around the world. 

"Ever since the adoption of Larry, the media has lapped up a steady stream of stories about his life and times. In June, it was reported that Larry had got on well with President Barack Obama. That same month, rumours surfaced of a girlfriend called Maisie, living in a hut in nearby St James’ Park. Then, this week, there were reports that a mouse had been spotted in a ministerial meeting in Downing Street. Questions were raised about Larry’s hunting prowess, leading the BBC to run yet another cat story, which reported with mock solemnity: 'Downing Street has rebuffed calls for Larry to resign as Number 10’s cat after reports a mouse appeared at a ministerial dinner.'"

Whatever the case may be, it's nice to see another shelter cat find a home and in turn, boost morale. 

Scott Brown's cat

I realize I'm a little late to the game (ok, it's almost a year late), but better late than never.

Here's a great story on the kitten Senator Scott Brown's office found and adopted. I think the senator and kitten pictures could rival his former modeling pictures.

Check out Senator Brown's Facebook page for more pictures of Lucky.

New voting referendum process explained--by cats

Europeans are voting today on several reform measures in the new AV voting system. The guys at Midnight Crow have created this great video explaining the process.

California Governor's Dog Helps Raise State Money

Sutter Brown from examiner.com

California Governor Jerry Brown has enlisted the help of his Corgi, Sutter to help close the state's deficit. Anyone remember how Fala helped raise money for the Britians?

The previous video was no longer working and has since been removed. Here's an updated link

United States Marine Cat

Animal Planet's new show, Must Love Cats recently featured this great story of a Marine and her cat. 



Spoiler alert: the Marine and her kitty were able to stay together.

Pets in the News - December 27, 2010

Senator Ted Kennedy with Splash.
 Photo from the Boston Globe

Politico: Bo Obama Knows Hawaii


ABCNews: Bo Avoids Rabies Quarantine in Hawaii

The Boston Globe: In 13 years, he made quite a splash [Remembering Late Senator Ted Kennedy's Portuguese water dog Splash]

Associated Press: Late Senator Ted Kennedy's Portugese water dog, Splash, dies at 13. 

Barney's Holiday Extravaganza

One of the most anticipated announcements during President George W. Bush's time in office was around the release of Barney and Miss Beazley's annual holiday video. While the current administration has not decided to produce similar videos, we can still enjoy the holiday tradition. 

Candidates Miss Opportunity to Gain Voter Support

Texas Governor Rick Perry's
Twitter profile picture.

We've heard a lot about Democrats, Republicans, blue-dogs, the Tea Party, Independents, write-ins and everyone in between over the past couple of months, but with only a few hours left to vote, I can't help think this election is missing something. While candidates and strategists often look at the successes of previous campaigns for guidance, they seem to have overlooked the winning strategy that served as the turning point in the the 1944 and 1952 presidential elections.

What is missing you ask? Pets!

In the last days of the 1944 presidential campaign, President Franklin D. Roosevelt faced much criticism from opponents, but was able to gain the support of voters with his Fala Speech. Opponents accused the president of spending millions of taxpayer dollars on his little dog Fala, but he confronted those allegations in the speech and was able to win re-election.

Senator Richard Nixon was accused of accepting gifts during the 1952 Presidential Election, but he learned from FDR's successful Fala Speech that incorporating a pet in to the speech could help gain the support of voters. On September 23, 1952, Senator Nixon delivered his Checkers Speech, about his new Cocker Spaniel puppy, Checkers, and was voted in as Vice President weeks later.

Pets are always quite popular in politics, but this year's candidates and their campaigns have forgotten to involve the candidates' pets. In searching for candidates and their pets, I could only find a twitter profile picture of Texas Governor Rick Perry with a cute, black lab puppy. Although, it's hard to tell from the picture whether the governor is showing off the puppy or his Aggie ring.

Despite not being involved in the campaigns, more pets are likely to arrive on Capitol Hill with the new Congress in January. Some may become as popular as Senator Ted Kennedy's Portuguese water dogs, others may make an appearance in videos much like Senator Kit Bond's dogs did in his annual Christmas message, or star in Speaker Nancy Pelosi's cat cam office tour.

From Politico: The Real Bo Obama

Bo Obama's former trainer, Dawn Sylvia-Stasiewicz, talks about training Bo as a puppy before going to live at the White House

Playing Fetch with the President

Bo Obama plays fetch with the President in the Rose Garden. (Official White House photo)

Barney and Miss Beazley Bush

When Barney Bush entered the White House in 2001, he probably did not know that he would soon have an annual job. The holiday season at the White House brings many visitors to parties and tours to view the decorations and the historical house. Not even a year in to President George W. Bush’s administration, the United States was attacked on September 11, 2001 by terrorists. The terrorist attacks fundamentally changed many of the White House’s security procedures, including how the holiday parties and decorations were handled. After the attacks, the administration had to figure out a way to showcase the holiday decorations without jeopardizing the security of the president. The White House was closed to visitors in 2001 and special precautions were taken the next year.

It was in a staff meeting that Internet Director Jimmy Orr casually mentioned the idea of having Barney do a video from his perspective that would give people a behind-the-scenes look at the White House decorations. Orr’s idea was not taken seriously at the meeting, but afterward got around to First Lady Laura Bush. She loved the idea and told the press. After the decision was made to produce a holiday video, Mrs. Bush set strict stipulations for the video; it must be silly for kids, funny for adults, and presidential.

The president and first lady were eager to find out how many viewers had watched the Barney Cam video after it was produced. The site had more than 24 million visitors the first day Barney’s video was on the White House website, the third highest amount of traffic directed at the site. Many news stations ran the seven-minute video in its entirety. The success of the video made it an annual tradition.

Each year the White House staff had to figure out ways to improve the Barney Cam video while keeping to Mrs. Bush’s requirements. Each year many familiar Washington faces and celebrities made cameo appearances. Subtle messages were also often included in the Christmas video to promote some of Mrs. Bush’s causes or make reference to political issues. The 2005 video, “A Very Beazley Christmas,” features a very upset Barney about the arrival and popularity of his new sister Miss Beazley. The wife of the vice president, Lynne Cheney, talks with Barney about his poll numbers in the presidential pets poll dropping. “Remember, poll numbers are just a snapshot in time,” she said in direct reference to the decline in the president’s poll numbers. In another scene, Barney walks into the library and passed a few carefully placed children’s books to reference the importance of literacy. The 2007 version of Barney Cam was titled, “Holiday in the National Parks,” and was also the theme of the White House Christmas decorations. That year, the Bush’s were highlighting the significance of the National Parks after the president announced a plan to invest more than $1 billion in the parks over the next decade. The president’s daughters, Barbara and Jenna Bush, talked to Barney and Miss Beazley about how important the National Parks are to the country. Mrs. Bush and National Parks Director Mary Bomar talked to Barney and Miss Beazley about becoming Junior Park Rangers and how they can help the National Parks.

The White House produced the annual holiday video every year until the end of Bush’s term. Even though the original intent of the video was to showcase the holiday decorations, it became a way to communicate with an audience that would not normally visit the White House website or that did not like the president. It showed viewers that the Bush’s and the White House staff were real people and could poke fun at their own situations.

Click here to see Barney's archived website.

Quotes & Facts About Presidential Pets

Marines rescue kittens

The Washington Post recently featured a great story about about a group of Marines that rescued some kittens while serving in Afghanistan.

Kittens in Afghanistan rescued by Marines