Obama Should Strike a Blow for Mutt Mavens and Get a Shelter Dog
He’s barely begun his term as our country’s 44th president, but already Barack Obama risks alienating some powerful core constituencies: fans of mixed-breed shelter dogs, a.k.a. mutt mavens. And if you think mutts and their supporters don’t matter, think again. As Obama himself quipped in answer to a reporter’s question at his historic first press conference on November 7, little knowing how much truth underlay his jest, “With respect to the dog, this is a major issue.”
Fans of mixed-breed shelter dogs, this reporter included, were charmed when the biracial president-elect announced that day that his family’s preference was to adopt a pound pup, noting that “a lot of shelter dogs are mutts like me.” With animal shelters across the country experiencing enormous operating difficulties due to the recession, many of them forced to close, and the remaining ones barely able to keep alive the animals already in their care before the recent onslaught of more pets surrendered by owners who now can’t afford to care for them, a shelter-dog advocate in the White House sounded like a dream come true. In a curious, embarrassing case of lingering racism, American animal shelters report that black dogs (and cats) have historically been the last to be adopted, so many mutt mavens — this reporter included — were hoping that America’s first president of color would tap a black shelter dog as canine-in-chief.
The Santa Monica Museum of Art recently commissioned portraits of Obama from A. Michelle Page, a dealer in hand-painted dog signs whose business employs Nepali artisans in Kathmandu. Deeply impressed by Obama’s reclaiming of the M-word, having authored a book titled The Underdog: A Celebration of Mutts, I ordered a sign with the legend MUTT! to commemorate Obama’s pride in his mixed racial heritage.
Mutt appreciation is a grand presidential tradition that has always crossed party lines; it’s “bi-paw-tisan,” if you will. Commanders-in-chief with beloved mixed-breed dogs have included Ulysses S. Grant, James Garfield, Benjamin Harrison, Teddy Roosevelt, and Lyndon Johnson. First Daughter Malia Obama charmed fellow history buffs when it was revealed that she intends to write papers at the desk where Lincoln signed the Gettysburg Address, “because I’m thinking that will inspire big thoughts.” Here’s a historical factoid Malia will surely appreciate: Lincoln had a beloved dog named Fido, and Fido was a plain, brown mutt. That’s right, Lincoln was a mutt maven.
Now, because of Malia’s well-documented pet allergies, to the dismay of mutt mavens on both sides of the political fence, the search for the presidential pup has narrowed to two types of canine alleged to have hair that’s easier for allergic humans to tolerate: the Portuguese Water Dog and the Labradoodle. The first is a purebred recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC), and a usual suspect at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show; the second is a designer hybrid dog, first created in Australia in 1970 by crossing the Labrador Retriever and Standard Poodle, to produce a service dog for blind people who are dog-allergic. The Labradoodle is definitely not recognized by the AKC, and widely sniffed at by purebred purists; in fact, Westminster co-host and commentator David Frei calls it “a fad breed.”
Pooch pundits predict that the Obama camp won’t want to piss on the hydrant of the powerful lobbying force that is the AKC — which, for better or worse, oversees all purebred dog activity in this country — by selecting an unpedigreed un-breed. So that leaves the fancy-pants Portuguese Water Dog as the front-runner.
Never mind the impressively double-jointed ideological acrobatics of the shift from “a mutt like me” to an elitist purebred or “designer” hybrid. Never mind that shelter-dog adoption is the right thing for all proud Americans to do. Never mind that one of Obama’s most high-profile supporters, Oprah Winfrey, renowned for having purebred Cocker Spaniels and Golden Retrievers, announced last April that henceforth, she would only adopt dogs from animal shelters. This after viewing an upsetting expose of puppy mills on her own TV show.
Here’s why it’s politically unwise for Obama to let down the mutt contingent. Back in July, an AP-Yahoo News poll revealed that pet owners were favoring McCain (who owns two dogs) over Obama (who’s never owned one) 42 percent to 37 percent, with dog owners in particular rooting for the Republican. And yet, by election night, dog lovers came out in force to support the dogless candidate, thanks largely to the tireless efforts of animal protection organizations — mutt mavens with strength in numbers — in reminding the public of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin’s appalling record on wildlife issues, which was driven home by shocking YouTube videos. Especially disturbing was Palin’s proud support of aerial hunting of the wolf, ancestor of all dogs.
The contrast was pretty dramatic: While the Obamas chatted about their daughters’ dog obsession, effectively glad-pawing the animal-loving public, Palin was offering hunters $150 for every wolf’s forepaw they could bag, in a most unsporting incarnation of the hunt. It’s not an overstatement to say that mutt mavens deserve some of the credit for Obama’s historic win; to paraphrase a paw-pular slogan spotted on doggie bandannas in Denver during the Democratic National Convention, they helped “BAR(ac)K the vote.”
The straight poop may come as a shock to those who thought they knew a bit about dogs: There is no such thing as a hypoallergenic K9. I hate to contradict the president I voted for, but the truth is that the first dog does not have to be a so-called “hypoallergenic” breed. Just ask dog-allergic owners of “hypoallergenic” breeds, many of whom get regular allergy shots to support their canine habit. The plain fact is that some simple housekeeping measures — not the choice of breed — are what enable dog-allergic people to breathe easy around a dog. Yes, even a mixed-breed shelter mutt.
“In addition to adopting a dog, adopt a routine so the relationship between your dog and allergic family members is set up for success,” says Dr. Andrew Kaplan of New York’s City Veterinary Care. “Remember, it’s not a dog’s hair but rather the dander, the skin’s glandular secretions and dried saliva that both stick to the hair and are automatically jettisoned into the air and onto home furnishings, that are the cause of allergies people have to dogs.”
Here’s important news for the first family, or any family with an allergic child lobbying for a pet: You can adopt a populist shelter mutt and still breathe easy, yes you can. Even so-called “hypoallergenic” breeds have skin, and when an animal’s skin becomes dry, it releases even more dander. Regardless of what breed or mix a dog may be, keeping Spot’s skin soft is key to a smooth, successful transition from dogless home to animal house. Supplement the dog’s diet every day with a few drops of fish oil, olive oil, or flaxseed oil; this moisturizes a dog’s ‘dermis from the inside.
Combing and brushing the first dog outside the executive mansion will provide great bonding time for the first daughters and their new pet, with these added benefits: “The Obamas can significantly decrease the amount of animal allergens in their home by grooming their dog regularly to help remove dead hair and dander; my favorite product for this is Allerpet,” Kaplan adds.
To keep skin moisturized externally, dogs living with allergic kids should be groomed frequently and bathed with a Sodium Laurel Sulfate-free, Paraben-free, emollient shampoo that won’t dry out their skin further, as most chemically-preserved dog shampoos will. An excellent brand for allergic households is TheraNeem Pet Shampoo, which is safe for everyday use. The fringe benefit of frequent dog-bathing for the allergic child: It also removes other environmental allergens that could trigger an allergic reaction, such as pollen and dust mites, that cling to a dog’s coat and paw-pads.
This is the president’s residence we’re talking about, and White Housekeepers already know their way around the best cleaning technology on the planet, but an allergic first child poses a special challenge that requires the right tools. Offers Kaplan: “Use an environmentally safe HEPA air filter — my favorite is BlueAir — paying attention to the square footage limits for each unit, and vacuum with an allergy vacuum cleaner — my favorite is the Dyson DC17 — focusing on the area around your dog’s bedding, which should be washed regularly.” Here’s another hint: Rugs and carpeting are magnets for dander and mites. Even in the Oval Office. These expert prescriptions will remove microscopic traces of irritating dander from the Obama dog, plus pet particles lingering from previous administrations.
Remind an allergic child to wash her hands, and avoid touching her face, after touching the dog. After play sessions, kids can combine hand-wiping with paw-wiping by using CleanWell hand-sanitizer wipes to decontaminate their mutt’s mitts as well as their own. (Incidentally, CleanWell’s botanical germicide, Ingenium, a key ingredient of which is Thyme, was formulated for the company founder’s son Connor, who was born with a compromised immune system; the boy, now ten, lives happily with his family’s Pug — a breed that, if not properly hydrated, sheds copiously.)
Still, no dog, no matter how clean, should sleep in the allergic child’s bedroom. To keep allergens from irritating Malia while she sleeps, so she can recover in time for tomorrow’s playtime with Spot, the canine-in-chief should be kept out of her room at all times — s/he can stay with Sasha instead.
OK, all this does require extra work — but then, Barack Obama already knew life in the animal house at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue wasn’t going to be easy. So please, Mr. President, make the ulti-mutt statement in support of the underdog. Be a black-dog Democrat. Adopt a Yes We Can-ine from an animal shelter. Mutts do matter, because they have the audacity of hope — just like you.
The most important things BHO is probably considering are: 1} How much did the canine contribute to his campaign, aaaand, 2] Did it properly cheat on it’s taxes? aaaand, 3} Can it fill in for Rahm while he serves his time in da joint?
A laudable sentiment. My guess is that, as with pretty much anything political, the opportunity for a gift from a politically connected dog breeder will be the end result. Not the worst thing that could happen, and hopefully the Obamas will be more responsible dog owners than the Clintons. In any event, let’s wish the family and dog a long, happy, healthy life together.
Gotta point out that rescue dogs aren’t always mutts. A friend of ours rescued two beautiful Springer Spaniels from a local Pound. Previous Yuppie owners got their designer dogs and when confronted with the real responsibilities of dog ownership decided to punt. Great dogs, useless people.
I’m glad to see bambi’s reminder in print that he’s a mutt. That explains a lot, I guess. A dog that’s been raised on the street without normal care often can’t be trusted, either, as an adult.
Does anyone really care about this? I would like to think there are enough adults in America who can make their own choices about pets without inspiration from The One. If not, shelter pets are the least of our problems.
Please, stop spouting why O should get a shelter dog. Everyone is glossing over the fact that one of the daughters has an allergy to dogs. Being one who suffers the same fate, I didn’t have the option of going to a shelter and hoping I would find a dog that fit my issues. Without knowing the true breed makeup of the mutt, they would be taking a chance that isn’t worth it. I have one of the “hybrids” that you people take delight in slamming. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be able to have a dog.
It isn’t upstanding breeders, no matter what breed they create, who are the problem, they are usually very meticulous and diligent in their craft. It is the people who own dogs that they do not police or restrain them. It is the bad breeder who is the problem. Unfortunately, we can’t have one type of breeder only and we can’t control how people handle their dogs.
WOW! First of all….If the only reason Obama won the Presidential election is because of Mutt lovers…What a sad Country we live in. I think you’re giving yourselves way too much credit for the victory. I’m an animal rescuer and I do not seek out purebred anything. If it’s alive, needs care and can be adopted, I’ll take care of it. Considering how many animals are in the Shelters and dying because there are not enough homes for them, I’d think YOU who are complaining about what Obama will or won’t do should be the ones lining up at your local Animal Shelter door to adopt one of those dogs. Put your money where your mouth is. The reality is this: Even if President Obama and his family wanted and/or intended to get a Shelter dog, I doubt they could pull it off simply because of security issues and the protection of the family. If the First family gets a purebred (regardless how they acquire it), it’s one less dog that we, as animal lovers, have to worry about. It will be loved and well cared for. The people who are actually spending their energy to worry about this issue obviously have way too much time on their hands. Go volunteer at your local Animal Shelter. Walk the dogs that wouldn’t normally get to go outside. Play with a cat. Get a life.
Purebred dogs are certainly not all bad. Many of them can do amazing things. Border Collies, which can drive pretty much any critter in your direction, are not fru-fru dogs. Neither are Alaskan malamutes. Even Portugese water dogs used to help fisherman. They are a good working dog. The Obamas would do well to wonder if they could provide enough excercise for one.
Behavior is highly inherited in dogs. If you are looking for a certain sort of behavior, predictable size, coat qualities and activity level, a purebred dog might be the best choice. There are hundreds of rescue organizations devoted to purebreds, so you can still rescue a purebred dog.
Mutts can be fine, too, though I would prefer to aquire one as an adult. That way, you have an idea of what you are committing to live with! Besides, puppies rarely have trouble getting adopted – it’s adults that need rescuing.
As for the “designer” dog, the problem with endorsing them is that there is no reason to breed them except to sell puppies. This essentially treating dogs as a commodity. At least show breeders of purebred dogs claim to be working toward a standard and are engaging in a sport. They sell puppies and adults they don’t wish to show on the side, and generally lose money doing it. The basic truth is that you can’t easily keep and breed dogs under humane conditions and still make a profit – not with today’s vet bills.
Probably the best politically correct route for the Obamas to take is to try to adopt a poodle mix from a shelter or a rescue organization. Heck – a search under “Poodle” at Petfinder.com for the DC area will likey turn up a dozen poodle mixes needing a home.
The breeds are generally a mix of other breeds that were deliberately bred for desired traits. The accidents are no less wonderful.
Seems that might be a good message to send to all who may see themselves as accidents or not quite measuring up to some standard.
Both my dogs are from shelters and both are pure breds. One was a five year old Rottie that was going to be put down because they are hard to place and the other was a one year old Bichon that needed some socialization work. The Bichon is now a quiet obedient dog, just took some time and training.
The Bichon is a great dog for allergies and it has a clown personality.
Thank you for this great article. I always enjoy reading your columns!
May dog owners unite everywhere!
I own a black kitty named Midnight that we adopted from a temporary home that saves animals from being destroyed!
From a devoted kitty lover in colorado
Ms. Szabo:
“In a curious, embarrassing case of lingering racism, American animal shelters report that black dogs (and cats) have historically been the last to be adopted,”
Care to explain how the supposed preference for a species of one color over another is “racism”?
If you were trying to be cute, you fell flat on your face.
“Palin was offering hunters $150 for every wolf’s forepaw they could bag, in a most unsporting incarnation of the hunt.”
Ah, now, you may think that wolves are wonderful and beautiful creatures, (and in their place, they are), but if you could project your mind out beyond the Five Boroughs, you might want to think about what wolves ARE.
They’re predators.
So now, rural living-in-the-middle-of-nowhere Mom…send your 2nd grader out to the road early in the morning to wait for the school bus…
Oh, and you probably keep your garbage cans close to your house, don’t you?
That’ll bring a whole pack of wolves around.
That all said, I think it’s a laudable idea for Obama to adopt a dog (or two or three, since he’s got the land), from the shelter.
All of my pets but one have been rescues.
This is one of the sillier discussions that has occurred on this site in the last few years. Back when I was a kid, the President’s dog was just a human-interest sidelight to the budget and other important issues, but now *it* is important in and of itself. Not only is it important, but dog breeds have bitter partisans who argue back and forth in favor of one breed or hybrid of breeds with almost messianic fervor. Look at the post of #6 Chris. It’s as if he didn’t even read the article. All he got from it is that some people don’t like designer hybrid dogs, so he attacked the author for repeating this.
For the record, I have two dogs now, one a mix from a shelter, the other a stray Pit Bull. Both are good dogs, and since we don’t plan to show them or whatever, papers from the AKC or someplace are to me irrelevant. If you’re allergic, then certainly a hybrid is something to consider. But in the President’s case, this isn’t the usual dog, and it’s not the usual situation. Chris mentions that he couldn’t hang around in shelters til he found the dog he wanted, but I expect the President will have people for that. It wouldn’t surprise me to hear that he eventually decides on a Portuguese Water Dog who’s a rescue of some sort. There will be a rescue organization, of course, and getting the dog will be a snap: he’s the President, after all. I know this is an issue that heightens emotions, but this is a bit silly.
I have two rescue dogs, but frankly, the only interest I have in this story is that I can fantasize that it would actually have some negative impact on his poll numbers if he gets a dog from a breeder instead of a shelter. Personally, I think shelter dogs can be great (mine certainly are! one is a mutt, and one is pure-bred), but I’m not going to lecture other people on the obligation to select a shelter dog.
Gerbels make nice pets.
Great piece Ms. Szabo. Let us hope BHO lives up to our expectations and does the right thing –racism analogy was realy spot on! Let’s hope BHO is looking through PETFINDER on his Blackberry now for a shelter Mutt even if it irritates the Iranian president who hates dogs, loves missiles, and chided BHO for even thinking of getting a dog — which gives you some idea of the company the critics of your article’s message keep.
I didn’t read this column, just came to post:
….who gives a cr@p what kind of dog Barry Soetoro gets when the usurper is destroying our country?
Not me.
We have seven felines—and all are “street cats.” None of them are pure breeds. Mongrels are nicer.
jodinjeff – I’d think YOU who are complaining about what Obama will or won’t do should be the ones lining up at your local Animal Shelter door to adopt one of those dogs. Put your money where your mouth is.
Had to laugh at that, because that was exactly the challenge put to two Religious Right people in my circle of conservative friends who were demanding Obama prove he wasn’t “Elitist” and get a pound dog.
Neither accepted the offer to “put their money where their mouth is”. One has purebred Rottweilers, the other – the wife has a toy poodle who is neurotic and destructive when another dog comes in the house..
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Pam – As for the “designer” dog, the problem with endorsing them is that there is no reason to breed them except to sell puppies. This essentially treating dogs as a commodity.
That is a pretty amazing brainfart. It ignores ALL animal/plant breeding and husbandry that has been done since the beginning of human domestication of animals/plants. The WHOLE INTENT is to create a “better commodity”.
A goat with a nice coat, calm disposition, and good meat and milk yield. A horse or pony breed suitable for better speed, or slow draft work on farms, or disease resistance. A better chicken, or a chicken that is a better egg-layer or a better fighter. 80 breeds of pidgeons…and so on. A nice wheat variety that resists rust. Bigass, beefy tomatoes.
All the new breeds are is continuing effort to create pets or livestock with better characteristics as human society transforms. It made sense to have really fatty pigs when fat was scarce and more, not less, was needed in human diet. Now we have too much of it, and we are breeding laener pigs. Similarly, 18th and 19th century dog breeds bred as rural working animals, or on looks, or with no regard to genetic defects that manifest in dog’s later years…are being reworked as much as other aspects of human technology are to improve or change a feature like ovens, transport, shoes – to present needs.
In the case of dogs, they have some very successful new breeds like the Goldendoodle, which combine the best of golden labs without the drawbacks (hair shedding, medium to low intelligence) with the poodle (high intelligence and adaptability) without the nervous disposition or high maintenance energy..
My sister got one 4 years ago. Best dog she ever had. Her kids, which saw all sorts of anaimals on their “gentleman’s farm” – about 15 different dog breeds, shelter mutts, birds, horses, cats, even a pot-bellied pig – saw the Goldendoodle as a great fit in their own lifestyles and 2 folowed their MOm and got one over all other possible breeds or shelte dogs they could have taken…
But as far as Obama goes, the effort to morally bind him to this or that dog selection as we face the huge mess that developed in the last 6 years – is fairly silly. We have far bigger things to deal with, and as long as he and his family are happy with whatever critters they get, it’s fine with me.
He has two kids, and lived in a huge home in Chicago but didn’t have pets there, so “adopting” a dog in the white house would be hypocracy.
When I had two kids, I also had three cats, three dogs (two hunters, and one small lap dog), a fish tank and two budgies (parakeets).
If Obama and his wife loved animals, they would already have had pets.Of one of the girls is allergic is a good excuse, if true…so why adopt now?
I’ve been kinda keeping tabs on this dog thing, because for months now, I’ve been thinking that maybe he has no intention of getting a dog at all.
Even though, surely, in the White House, there would be others to take care of it.
I figure he likely WILL get a dog for them. On the other hand, I won’t be the least bit surprised if it was a fake promise.
Whether the Obamas get a dog from a shelter or a breeder, I just hope they don’t get a Labradoodle. Think about it folks: The President of the United States owning a dog that is half Canadian and half French.
Personally, I think Obama should a hound, maybe a bassett hound or a beagle. They are great with kids, and the ears jokes will just write themselves.
“This is one of the sillier discussions that has occurred on this site in the last few years.”
I guess I can’t argue with that point.
I am politically conservative and I volunteer in greyhound rescue–a rescue that receives no money from the dog racing industry. I have found that just about any breed has dogs in need of rescue–in addition to all the mixes that need to be rescued. The sad fact is, too many dogs are bred. And poodle rescues are full of designer mixes. While I think parents should keep promises and I know that, ultimately, it will be WH staff who will care for the dog, it seems to me that the O’s are not really “pet people” and, as such, should set a good example by not getting a pet.
I vote for a Border Collie. At least we could say that there is some intelligence in the WH.
The poor thing might even be able to keep that Democrats corralled long enough to get some coherence out of them.
Problem is that Border Collies are Working Dogs. It might really freak out the Democrats to be around a living creature that actually does something productive.
I, for one, am will to take the risk. No doubt instinct will prevail.
JULIA YOU ARE BRILLIANT. WHAT THESE ‘PEOPLE’ DONT UNDERSTAND IS THAT BY SETTING AN EXAMPLE, MILLIONS OF OTHER ANIMALS LIVES WILL BE SAVED.
THAT IS THE POINT.
“In a curious, embarrassing case of lingering racism, American animal shelters report that black dogs (and cats) have historically been the last to be adopted…”
We white (devils) just cant do whats right…
*rolleyes*
Julia…As one of the “people” yourself….If you have to wit for the Prsident of the United States of America to do something to prove that it’s the right thing to do…..You have issues that a professional therapist can probably help you with. As I said in an earlier post…If everyone who is hung up on this issue regarding what the President will or won’t do would simply go out and do what they think he should do, the animls would benefit. Someone has to start. Why not you??
I’m sorry…I didn’t realize I wouldn’t be able to edit my post to make typo corrections and such. So…Let me start over… My post was directed as LISA, not Julia (the writer of the original articla). And…I obviously meant to type WAIT, not wit. It’s early. I haven’t had my Dr. Pepper yet.
MS. Szabo,he already has:have you seen his ho’s-I mean the first lady’s face? Last time I checked she was living in the White house!
If Obama adopts a shelter dog, that would definitely be setting a good example for everyone else, and many animals would be saved. As for the quote about how black dogs are the least likely to be adopted… how does this exemplify racism? They aren’t even of our same species! It really is interesting though how big of a deal Obama’s dog has become.
I voted for Obama, and gladly, but am increasingly disappointed in his choices, large and small. After promising to adopt from a shelter, the Obama’s have reneged and adopted a thoroughbred. Granted, Ted Kennedy is also at fault, given that he knew the Obama’s pledge to adopt from a shelter. Both have undermined the attention and importance that might have been given shelter dogs had the Obama’s kept their commitment. (However pathetic it is that people have to be led to do the right thing re: adopting from shelters, I care only that shelter dogs receive the attention and care that they deserve). After his selection of a trickster, good old boy, as Treasury Secretary, followed by the favorable treatment given to banks and the trickster’s friends from Wall Street, and the ill-advised escalation of the war in Afghanistan, reneging on adopting a shelter dog may seem a small thing … but it could have meant a huge difference throughout the country to the welfare of such dogs, many of whom will now be put to death for want of families interested in adopting them. The Obama family should adopt a 2nd, shelter dog … the sooner, the better… and show that it is as good and desirable as his “pedigree” dog.
I had no idea about the labradoodle/service dog history. Very cool.