The Presidential Pup Debate - Homeless or Homefree?

Help the Obamas choose their first puppy here.
[Chicago Tribune poll - Shih Tzu is 9th currently with 7.6% of the vote, shelter dog way out front at 53%]

It may be not exactly be top of mind for politicians and business folk but for the nation, what kind of dog the Obamas choose is both emotionally engaging and deeply symbolic. According to a Google News search there have been over 200 articles published about the question since the Democratic candidate announced he was going to reward his daughters with a dog for their election perseverence. Gallons more ink has been devoted to the discussion since November 7th, when now President-elect Obama discussed his family's difficult choice: between a hypo-allergenic purebred like the Labradoodle, or a rescued shelter dog, "a mutt, like me," he said.

Obama's ability to finesse the dog issue revealed an empathic side to the disciplined leader he showed himself to be during the election, giving even conservatives a new appreciation for the man. William Kristol in the NYTimes says Obama's natural gifts are "putting him in the ranks of Franklin Roosevelt (with his Scottish terrier Fala) and Ronald Reagan (with his Cavalier King Charles spaniel Rex)". The Chicago Tribune has started a modest photo gallery of previous presidential pets.

That there is still a question how the Obamas will decide must be causing consternation over at Best Friends Network, which gathered 50,000 signatures favoring adoption at http://www.obamafamilydog.com/ and thought the whole thing had been decided with Michelle Obama's announcement on Entertainment Tonight back in October.

With the acquisition of a dog, the Obamas will join the ranks of a huge constituency. There are 1.26 x's as many pets as people in the U.S. according to this source, which notes that pets are a $43 billion industry in the U.S.

The President-elect is right. It is a hard decision to make. A rescued mutt would send a strong message about charity and resourcefulness, whereas a purebred would send an equally strong message about discipline and leadership.

My friend Patricia Pearson has weighed in on the particular joys and trials of the retrieving obsessed 'doodle on her blog Good News About the Coming Apocalypse.

Meanwhile the shock-doctrine-of-economic-crisis continues to scare the beejeezus out of everyone; people start thinking the unthinkable, like about homelessness.

Companionship can become hugely important for people who don't have two nickels to rub together, but then again pets can also become obstacles to getting into shelters according to this article in the Vancouver Sun.

The Reno Gazette-Journal reports that the economic downturn is already having impact on pets, adoptions are down and more pets are being found on the streets. They also note usefully that there are agencies that provide pet food for people having trouble making ends meet.

My vote is for a rescue dog. It's an appropriate metaphor for America and for the President. A rescued purebred is an option, but I'd vote they go whole hog, as it were, and adopt a true mongrel.

Whichever they choose, a dog is a powerful symbol well-harnessed at this critical time in American history. Loyalty, intelligence, perseverance, self-sacrifice are qualities we all value. Like millions of others, I grew up with the stories of Rin Tin Tin (a German Shepherd) and Lassie (a Collie), and in Canada The Littlest Hobo (another Shepherd).

If you are in the D.C. area on November 22nd, walk your pooch on the Mall with Arlington Dogs, in support of A-Span, a non-profit that helps the homeless.
http://www.sungazette.net/articles/2008/11/11/arlington/news/nw855.txt

Images in this post are from:
puppydogweb.com
dogtime.com

And if you've read this far, here's a bonus link:)
povertyspets.org