Our President-Elect’s Promises

Our country is set to have lots of changes in the White House. We have a new president-elect, who’ll move in there in January with his wife and two young daughters.

And a puppy.

I’d heard during President-Elect Barack Obama’s campaign that his daughters had requested, and he had promised, a new puppy once the campaign was over. Obama has won the presidency. And it’s great to learn that he does, indeed, keep his promises. Or at least he mentioned this one in his acceptance speech. I’ve seen that part of his speech reported quite a few times in the news, too.

So what kind of a puppy will the Obama family adopt? Ah, that is an interesting question. A controversial one.

News has reported that his 10-year-old daughter Malia, who has allergies, has requested a "goldendoodle," a hypoallergenic hybrid of a golden retriever and a standard poodle. In a poll taken by the AKC, the public has voted on a purebred poodle instead. But will the Obamas alienate a lot of other members of the American public by adopting a purebred or designer dog instead of rescuing a mixed breed? Undoubtedly.

But at least they have a logical reason behind it: Malia’s allergies. Without being certain of a mixed breed’s heritage, they couldn’t be certain it was as hypoallergenic as some known purebreds.

My opinion? They should do what they want. I love all dogs, hate the idea of so many being housed, or euthanized, in shelters. On the other hand, I fell in love with Cavalier King Charles Spaniels many years ago. Each one who’s adopted me has had a different personality, including my current loves, my dearly adored Lexie, whose counterpart is the star of my Kendra Ballantyne, Pet-Sitter Mysteries, and her nutty puppy friend Mystie. Their basic characteristics and, in general, their kinds of health concerns, are a known quantity. That’s one advantage of purebreds, at least as long as they are acquired from reputable breeders and not pet stores that get their pups from puppy mills.

Sounds to me as if the Obamas have excellent reason to choose a purebred, or a designer dog of known heritage like a goldendoodle. I’m sure, if that’s their choice, there will be plenty of people who object to it. But if that’s the worst controversy that occurs during Barack Obama’s administration, we’ll all be better off!

Dare I ask your opinion on what kind of puppy should be the White House’s newest canine occupant?

--Linda