Careful there — An article at SFgate.com claimed the Obamas were making a donation to HSUS, but it referenced a Chicago Sun-Times story which said only that the Obamas would make a donation “to a Humane Society.” The SF Chronicle got it wrong. At least I hope. Hypocrites at HSUS don’t deserve (nor do they need) the money.

Ref: http://is.gd/s63t and http://is.gd/s63C

I won’t forgive him. If he can’t give a second chance to a dog on death row, I won’t give him a second chance to win my approval. I am ashamed to have worked on his campaign at all. I am ashamed I didn’t vote for Clinton.

His promise to adopt a shelter dog brought hope to the homeless and now he’s taken that away. Not only has he taken away that hope, he’s made the problem worse.

Last year he might have been able to say that the dog they wanted was difficult to find in a shelter. By the next election, that statement won’t be true anymore. There will be a surge of Portuguese water dogs in shelters, abandoned by families who once thought they were ‘cool.’

I am seriously disappointed. Every time I get optimistic for the future and hopeful that things will change, someone influential sabotages all the hard work of the nonleaders.

Shelter workers: the next time you euthanize a dog, think of Obama’s empty promise.

It’s not that hard to find a rescue! Really, it’s not. Just go to the pound and pick one out.

I like to have hope that they will realize the White House is big enough for a shelter dog too.

The thing that really worries me is that BYBs and puppymills will jump on the chance to breed a no quality version of whatever dog the President chose. It’s so frustrating to think about how many people I still see shopping for that “puppy in the window” at pet shops.

elaine + 1 !!
i think its an outrage that even such a simple promise is broken from the start.

I would have preferred for the President’s daughter’s dog to have been a mutt chosen from a kill shelter.

However, as the article states, the dog did not directly from a puppy mill. Like shelter dogs, this dog had an original owner who returned it and this dog was given a second chance by President Obama’s family.

Obama’s children have allergies which necessitated getting a specific breed of dog. This dog was also a gift from a prominent Senator.

I can’t imagine any other president even bothering to consider these issues and considering them publicly, as President Obama has done.

If the election turned out differently Sarah Palin would probably be turning shelter dogs loose so she could shoot them down in Rock Creek park from the presidential helicopter.

Senator McCain also publicly told women that he would not support equal pay for equal work because businesses didn’t want to pay the money.

FYI Hillary Clinton was a board member of Wal Mart back in the 1990s when the company earned its bad reputation for its treatment of women and its treatment of health care issues.

I think a sense of perspective about this disappointment, which I feel too is in order.

Given all of the serious issues on President Obama’s plate, issues far more serious to the world, and considering everything President Obama has done so far, I think it is perfectionistic to harsly judge the President.

FWIW, I am an ethical vegan and I know about the pet abandonment situation.

On one hand, I’m disappointed, but on another I think that the Obamas have to do what’s right for their daughters. Of course, I’m sure there was a Portuguese Water Dog at some shelter, but I do think there were politics involved especially if Ted Kennedy was the one gifting the dog.

The dog has a home. Isn’t that what matters in the end?

Folks get a grip on yourselves. I have done animal rescue for 25 years and yes , rescuing a shelter dog is a wonderful thing, but their first duty is to get a dog that is compatible with they and their children. And if allergies are an issue, I would rather see them have a dog they can keep then one they would have to give away. Thi is totally nutty speak.
As for Elaine Vigneaux, she was never an Obama supporter. No supporter would stop supporting him over this – not any intelligent one for sure. Vigneaux is a repuglican troll trying to cause trouble.

The adoption of a shelter dog would have ideal.. it would have helped save the lives of those animals left homeless.. I am hopeful that this breed will not become the next fad… w/ many ending up at shelters…..
And to the reporter.. HSUS does not have branch shelters…

I voted for Obama so my point of view is not based on political bias. This dog story is very suspicious. The whole thing about the dog having another owner and having to be re-homed sounds like total b.s. The family was probably hired to keep the dog for a few days to make the story “true”. And the fact that the dog comes from the same lineage as the Kennedy dogs is nauseating and makes it even more suspicious. Obama is just as full of it as every other politician. I am completely disappointed. What a phony.

I worked at an animal shelter for many years. I’ve had both shelter dogs and dogs from breed rescue. Sometimes dogs are returned to the breeder or end up in the foster system for that breed. They need homes, too, and are considered rescue dogs.

Of note, while the Obamas didn’t train this dog first hand, they had him trained, and that sends an important message, too. Dogs lost homes all the time, because people don’t do the basic work of helping them fit into the family.

I rescued my dog from the Washington Humane Society (yeah, I hope his donation goes there) and will continue to have shelter dogs. She’s an awesome dog. However, just because I encourage people to do the same, it’s not the right choice for everyone.

I have a good friend who’s been allergic all her life, so she never had a pet as a child. She was excited to be able to get a non-shedding mini schnauzer once she was an adult. I’ve seen her allergies come on quickly and she probably couldn’t spend five minutes in a shelter without being miserable and then would never be able to tell whether she was allergic to any particular dog.

The Obamas waited because they truly wanted to “rescue” a dog, but the kind of dog they need for their family rarely needs to be rescued. They now have a second chance dog. However, if Portugese water dogs suddenly become popular (doubtful in this economy), then maybe they’ll get a second, shelter dog.

This is about as real of a complaint as the idiots freaking out that Obama may have bowed to the Saudi’s.

His children went through hell during the campaign. Thrust into the national spotlight. Without their dad for long stretches of time on the campaign trail. And throughout they handled themselves with class and honor. And the only thing they asked for was a doggy. This was the doggy they chose.

I really couldn’t care less that the dog didn’t come from a shelter. The statements that Barack has made in support of shelters is worth a lot more than simply being able to source his dog to one.

Nevermind that, knowing the affection Obama has for Ted Kennedy…it was probably a gift he didn’t feel could be refused.

And, nevermind either that Obama did not guarantee their dog would be a shelter dog. Just that he’d prefer that. For reasons we probably aren’t totally aware of, it didn’t.

Just be happy that a dog that didn’t have a home got one. Otherwise, it’s just a lot of empty headed nonsense. Pick any heavily trafficked web forum and post an avocation of shelter dog rescue. Just the few people you might enlighten would be approximately 1,000 times more useful than whining about the President.

Jozelle, I hope you can calm down. Go back and look at the interviews with the Obamas when they talked to the press about acquiring a dog. They said they would TRY to get a shelter dog, but Malia’s allergies might mean they had to get a purebreed. President Obama did not lie. The 60 minutes interview just after the election is but one that has the statements made that you have distorted into a lie. Calm down. There are sensible reasons why they had to get a purebreed. You would condemn the little girls to not have a dog because they didn’t get a rescue dog? Shame on you. You aren’t thinking straight. You are taking animal advocacy to a destructive extreme. No one will listen to the good message if you are so unbending in your beliefs. Leave the family to their happiness and let the judgements be for now.

No matter how politically popular a shalter adoption would have been, the Obamas did not have the option of adopting a shelter dog because one of their children is allergic to dogs, the Portugese water dog being a rare exception for people allergic to dogs. Shelters do not generally get Portugese water dogs or any other hypo-allergenic pets. I don’t recall that the Obamas promised anyone they would adopt a dog from a shelter.

Sure I’m disappointed he didn’t (couldn’t) get a shelter dog, but his daughters’ welfare does come FIRST. It would be far worse for them to have adopted then be unable to keep the dog because it aggravates the girls’ allergies. However the first caretaker of the dog came to live with him and for how long is immaterial. The dog was a gift (someone should remind both Senator Kennedy and the president that animals usually are bad gifts) from a prominent senator and friend of the family.

Unlike McCain and Palin, Obama is conscious of and cares about the plight of shelter animals. He is conscious of many issues dear to the hearts of environmental and animal activists. Adoption may not have been practical for him, but he has at least raised it in the consciences of people.

Dianna–you wrote: “The Obamas did bit have the option of adopting a shelter dog” because of allergies.

1. Petfinder.com lists hundreds of thousands of dogs in every breed that need homes–many are purebreds.
2. Thousands of families with allergies adopt dogs everyday from rescues and shelters–my family is one.
3. See listing from today’s petfinder about a PWD in DC named “Pepper” who is 2 years old and looking for a home.
4. There are other “rare exceptions” to the allegy-producing dogs, including poodles, soft-coated wheatons, mini-schnauzers and others.
5. Rescue organizations often rescue by breed.

If anyone out there is looking for a dog, including a purebred, PLEASE CHECK petfinder.com first. You’ll be amazed–and can save a life and money.

Elaine, did you read the article? The Obama family is giving a dog another chance. Per the Humane Society, “and thanks them for taking in a second-chance dog. Bo is a Portuguese water dog who was apparently returned by the family that originally purchased him. “Americans can follow this positive example by visiting their local animal shelter or breed rescue group, and giving another dog or cat a second chance at a loving home,” said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS.

We have two cats in our family and one dog that were all given a second chance because we took them. They had not yet been left at the shelter but that was the destination.

I’m delighted that Bo has been given a second chance with a wonderful, very caring family.

The dog the Obamas ended up with was a “returned” dog, so it would have ended up in a shelter anyway. They just skipped the middle step and “adopted” him before he had to stay in a shelter.
and they’ll live happily ever after

How can people say that the Obama’s “needed” to get a hypo-allergenic dog. They don’t “need” a dog. They could live just fine without one. They selfishly wanted a dog. Now, because so many people like to copy celebrities, many other people who don’t need dogs, but who just want a dog for their own selfish purposes will likely buy similar dogs from breeders. The breeders will, in turn, breed more of that type of dog, and then more dogs who already exist and really do desperately need homes will be euthanized in shelters across the country.

Face the facts. The Obama’s wanted a dog, so they bought a dog and put money into the hands of people who contribute to the “pet” overpopulation problem which is responsible for the deaths of 4 million dogs and cats a year. Now, thanks to the Obamas, maybe even more dogs will end up euthanized this year.

If the guy can’t do the right thing, the smart thing, in such a simple scenario, how can we trust him to do the right thing or the smart thing when it comes to more complex issues?

Obama is pathetic.

Of all the promises that he made, wasn’t the easiest to keep??

It is amazing that Obama has that little backbone that he couldn’t have refused this “gift” from Kennedy.

As previous posters have noted there are MANY portugese water dogs sitting in shelters waiting for home. One shelter dog died because of this choice and surely many more of this breed will be born in puppy mills and find their way to shelters because of Obama’s irresponsible choice and the ensuing popularity of this breed.

I am disgusted and ashamed.

And wtf is with HSUS patting him on the back for this? Seriously, what’s going on?

Did anyone complain about the Bushs having pure breeds? Clinton? Nixon? Reagan? Johnson had a Beagle. The condemnation is an embarrassment to those of us who volunteer for dog shelter and rescues.

I think you are missing the point, Susan.

Obama specifically promised to adopt a shelter dog. Rescue groups have inundated the president with pleas that he follow through with this promise, and it’s been the talk and hope of many animal people since the promise was made.

If any other prominent public figure had made such a promise I’m sure that these same groups would be watching and commenting on the outcome in the same was as we are now.

I don’t see why you and others here are so obsessed with defending his choice. He was wrong! He lied! He did no service to the animals!

I think it’s outrageous that you would sit here and call me or anyone else criticizing Obama’s choice “right wing spammers” who don’t really care about the animals when you yourself are so blinded by your political obsession that you can’t call a spade a spade or in this case, a liar a liar and actually speak up for the animals.

Good grief;

The U.S. & the world economy can still slide into a depression. People have lost their homes, their 401Ks and other retirement funds. The military is still deployed in one WAR in Iraq and is about to go into another war more deeply Afghanistan

In the middle of all of these historically sized debacles you people are whining like spoiled children that he got a rescue dog from a kennel instead of a shelter.

Could it be that some of you are PUMAs still holding your breath and turning blue because Clinton didn’t win the democratic primaries?

I can’t see too many republicans reading this site and also being people who are into animal shelter issues.

I, too, am very disappointed in the Obamas’ unfortunate decision to get a rare breed of dog from a breeder rather than to adopt one of the many dogs that need homes.

From reading these comments, I can see there are a lot of people who know nothing about animal rescue and shelter animals who nonetheless feel the need to spout misinformation.

Here are few points in response:

1) To the people implying that a Portuguese water dog was the “only” type of dog the Obamas “could” get because of the allergy issue, that’s blatantly incorrect. There’s no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog, a fact the Obamas should have given serious thought to if their daughter has severe allergies. There are many, many breeds that would have fit the bill as being less likely to cause allergies – including the very common Standard Poodle.

What seems to have happened is that the Obamas visited Ted Kennedy, and he took the opportunity to dissuade the girls from saving a life and being compassionate and instead “lobbied” for his preferred breed, a somewhat rare breed that is just one of many breeds considered less likely to cause allergies. Sad that a grown man would try to sway a family (including two innocent little girls) away from doing something good in favor of an elitist status symbol.

Once they locked in on this specific breed of dog, it made the effort to get a rescue dog much more difficult, but by NO means impossible. Maybe it would have taken a month instead of the week it would have taken if they were open to any less-allergenic breed of dog of a certain age.

2) To the people saying that a less allergenic dog cannot be found through rescue, that’s absolutely untrue. I have friends who have adopted purebred dogs of less-allergenic breeds, including one of the Obamas’ stated preferred breeds. Sure, my friends had to do a little more searching, wait a little longer, and I think one drove four hours to pick up her dog. But it’s totally doable – and ten times moreso for someone who has all the resources and connections that President Obama has at his disposal.

3) To whoever whined that the Obamas got a Kennedy dog because they got tired of waiting to find the right dog in a shelter and who whines “hooooow looong are the girls supposed to WAIT?!” you are just showing your ignorance of how easy it is to find just about any type of purebred rescue animal you want in a short time period. With Best Friends and other organizations offering repeatedly to help, I’d guess the Obamas could have located a very specific type/age of dog within a week to a month, max.

4) To those who are saying this Kennedy dog counts as a rescue, I’m not sure what to say. I find the whole thing incredibly fishy that a Kennedy dog littermate just “happened” to come available just at the exact right time the Obamas were looking for that exact type of dog … all way too convenient. I have a feeling the first person who supposedly had this dog will never be found or interviewed.

5) To those saying it was a “gift” and that one can’t turn down a “gift” from Ted Kennedy, I guess I don’t understand politics or politicians. This whole thing goes against the very definition of a “gift” in Kennedy’s utter disregard for the family’s very publicly stated preference for a rescue dog. Anyone with a spine, I think, could say, “Senator Kennedy, we appreciate your thinking of our family and are so grateful for the thought, but we have made the decision to get a rescue dog through a shelter.” It’s called assertiveness and it’s certainly not rude.
What do you think Ted Kennedy would do if President Obama decided to “gift” him with a three-legged street mutt rescued from Puerto Rico or something? Ted Kennedy has obviously expressed a preference that he’s far too good for mutts and only prefers purebred dogs of one specific strange breed, so that would be a very rude “gift” indeed. And also, a dog is a living being, not a flat-screen TV. Trying to give a living being as a “gift” makes as much sense as trying to give someone a spouse or child as a “gift.”

I see one thing in common in all of these posts supporting Obama’s choice and denigrating people who care about animals: excuses, excuses, excuses.