Pets are a pretty common thing to have around the White House. Most of the presidents had at least one pet, and some of them even had more than one.
President James K. Polk was known for having a parrot named Poll, who would sit on his shoulder while he worked. President Calvin Coolidge had a dog named Pete, who was also his personal messenger when he wanted something from someone across the hall. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt loved dogs so much that he had Fala as his personal dog first, but then always had other dogs around too.
President Theodore Roosevelt’s son Quentin died during World War I, so after that tragedy he only kept pets that were related to Quentin: two horses named Pete and Macaroni (after Quentin’s nicknames), two burros named Ethel and Maude (after Theodore’s mother), and two cats named Jeddo and Manchu (because they looked like them).
Bill Clinton Loved his Cat
Bill Clinton was a man of many interests, but his greatest passion was for his cat.
When he was president, Bill Clinton would often spend hours walking around the White House with Socks—his beloved cat. He never let his work get in the way of Socks’ needs, and he would even make sure to bring her food from home when she wasn’t feeling well!
Socks was a very special cat. She was born in 1992 to a shelter in Arkansas named “The Ark.” She was rescued by Bill Clinton after he saw her on TV during a visit to the shelter. She lived with him until she died in 2009 at age 20.
Socks loved being around people and made lots of friends during her time as First Cat. She often sat on Hillary Clinton’s lap during meetings at the White House, and even appeared with her in several photos taken during her husband’s presidency (including one where they are both sitting on an Oval Office desk).
Bill Clinton loved Socks so much that he had a special stone made out of granite that reads “Socks: The Cat That Ruled The White House.” It sits in a place of honor next to his desk at home!
George W. Bush loved his dogs
The former president was an avid dog lover and had two Portuguese water dogs: Barney and Miss Beazley. He also had a cat named India, who has been seen in many pictures of the family together.
In fact, he was so attached to his pets that he took them with him on Air Force One! In 2001, Bush famously brought Barney along for a ride on Air Force One to Camp David—much to the chagrin of his handlers (and understandably so).
Since George was a fan of cannabis, we assume he used CBD dog treats. Maybe it’ll stay a presidential secret forever, but we wouldn’t be surprised!
Obama and his dogs
In the White House, President Obama has two Portuguese water dogs named Bo and Sunny. Bo is mostly white with a patch of black on his head, while Sunny is all black.
The first time Bo entered the Oval Office as a puppy in 2009, he made a mess by urinating on one of President Obama’s shoes—but it was no biggie! The president said that he wasn’t angry because he knew it was an accident.
Bo and Sunny are well-known for their friendly nature. They like to greet visitors at the door when they come to visit the White House. They also get along well with children and other animals, including squirrels! When they’re not greeting visitors or playing with squirrels, they spend their time lounging around on the furniture in the Oval Office or snoozing under the desk whenever their dad is busy working on something important.
You should treat your dog like a presidential dog!
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a presidential dog?
Well, look no further. I am here to tell you that your dog is just as worthy of the treatment as any presidential pooch!
In fact, there are many ways in which your dog is more deserving than most humans. Here are just a few:
Your dog has never committed a crime. Your dog does not have an obnoxious personality. Your dog is not racist or homophobic or misogynistic or transphobic. Your dog never voted for Trump (if they did, they’d be dead to you). Your dog doesn’t spend their time complaining about everything on the internet and in real life like a child who has been told they can’t have candy before dinner (or whatever it is that drives them to do so). Your dog is not running for office so he can make decisions about laws that affect all of us without us having any say in how those laws are made—and then lie about every single thing he says he wants to do with those laws once elected!
Go help your dog live their best life!
It’s time to start living your best life! Now, we know what you’re thinking: “But I’m already living my best life!” Well, that’s great! But we’re talking about your dog here. They deserve to live their best life too.
Don’t get us wrong—they have it pretty good. You take them on walks, play with them, and give them treats when they need it most. But there are still so many ways that you can make their lives better.
Here are some of our favorite ways to help your dog live their best life:
-Make a meal plan for them (and stick to it)
-Spend at least 5 minutes a day cuddling with them
-Make sure they get enough exercise by taking them on walks or playing fetch with them outside!
Treat your dog like this and they’ll be living just like the presidential dogs we love!
