Home » Groups » Obama Family Dog » News and Events » Best Friends to President-Elect Obama on Adoption

News and Events

Welcome to Obama Family DogNews and Events!

Last Updated 07.07.09 by | Total Entries [0] | Total Comments [286]

< Previous | Next >

Post 7 of 10

Best Friends to President-Elect Obama on Adoption

“Criteria to be reconciled”? We have solutions!

by Jon Dunn, Best Friends Animal Society

The housing crisis, the war in Iraq, unemployment, and Wall Street are all important issues facing America today. But in his first press conference as President-Elect, Barack Obama addressed a major issue in his own life.

The family dog.

The Obama girls Sasha and Malia have been waiting for this day for a long time. And to hear their Dad talk about a shelter dog must have been a thrill, not only to them but the millions of Americans concerned about the millions of animals dying in shelters every year.

During the conference on Friday, Obama addressed the needs of the family.

"This is a major issue," he said. "We have two criteria that have to be reconciled."

He said his daughter Malia is allergic to dogs, so the lucky pooch will have to be hypoallergenic.

"Our preference is to get a shelter dog," Obama said. "But a lot of shelter dogs are mutts like me."

What President-Elect Obama seems to not understand, is that purebred dogs are available from shelters!

Addressing the misconception:

On the vast adoptable pet website petfinder.com thousands of purebred dogs are available right now!

According to a search of Petfinder carried out Friday, there are more than 300 poodle and poodle-mix puppies available for adoption across the country right now! All told, there are more than 300,000 adoptable of all kinds available through Petfinder.com.

Anyone looking for a dog of any kind (regardless of breed, age, sex, or color) should take the following steps.

1. Get online
2. Get to Petfinder.com
3. Use the search function to find the kind of dog you are looking for
4. Find your perfect match, and contact that rescue group or shelter!

It’s just that easy!

President-Elect Obama (and the rest of us!), don’t let misconceptions stand in the way of adopting a rescued dog!

Posted Nov 07 2008, 05:06 PM by scratchtopaz

Comments

Posted 8 Nov 2008 12:00 AM by bigb

there is plenty of hypoallergenic poodle mixes, and some others like chinese crested etc. i think the president getting a mixbreed, and maybe even an adult dog would do great service. he announced that the selection of the dog won't happen until spring.
let's put together another signature drive that would encourage the obamas to adopt a mixbreed, fullgrown dog, even 2. people considering a second dog would be possibbly persuaded if the president adopt more than one. also with a fully grown young adult 1-3 years old, the personality of the dog can be easier determined than a 10-12 week old puppy.

Posted 8 Nov 2008 12:35 AM by kristanakane

Thank you for bringing more awareness that there are thousands of purebreeds awaiting new homes!

Posted 8 Nov 2008 8:06 AM by sparkleekat

Yes! I saw his comments on the news last night and thought right away....he needs to be informed about all the purebred dogs in shelters!! How do we get the word to him?

He had better ADOPT a dog after all this media hupla and send out the right message!

Posted 8 Nov 2008 9:02 AM by kwalton

Not only are there PLENTY of purebred dogs in shelters, but there are many purebred rescue groups out there - don't let Obama back down on this promise!!!!!! It's a cop-out and we all know it!

Posted 8 Nov 2008 10:04 AM by lindaloubird

Could there be a campaign to let Obama know that many of us are concerned? This is his first promise and we can help him keep it. If he knows to find the right dog on Petfinder or through a resuce group, I'd drive the dog to D.C. for him!

Posted 8 Nov 2008 1:07 PM by rmlamasney25

President-elect Obama said at the press conference that ONE of the criteria for selecting the new family dog is THAT IT COME FROM A SHELTER. That means that it MUST COME FROM A SHELTER.
The other criteria is their child's allegries must be allowed for.
So those of you who are bashing the Obamas, I have to ask, why? He came out and said twice now publicly that they are getting a rescue dog. We just need to let him know plenty of hypo-aller. pups are out there waiting for a home. Give the bashing a rest until there is a true reason for it please.

Posted 8 Nov 2008 3:11 PM by susieqpa1

Right now I am more concerned about the 40 sheep that Turkey slaughtered to celebrate Obama's victory.Hard to believe. Wonder what he thinks of that? Wonder if he'll tell his children about that.

Posted 8 Nov 2008 3:57 PM by anesthesia16

Well said, rmlamasney25.

Best Friends, I normally have tremendous respect for you, but this article is outrageous. Obama is SUPPORTING your cause. Please take your partisan blinders off; don't post this kind of ignorance. How about celebrating Obama's support for animals instead?

Posted 8 Nov 2008 4:27 PM by Jon_Dunn

Ok, little clarification here needed maybe.

Maybe I didn't write the article as intended. What President-Elect Obama stated was that, yes, they want to adopt from a shelter. But they likely couldn't find the dog they are looking for in a shelter (Malia is looking for a Goldendoodle at last check).

That is simply not true! Websites such as petfinder.com currently as of this moment index hundreds of animals available for adoption (309,463 total at the time of this message), with a large percentage of those being purebred. Even specific "breeds" such as a goldendoodle can be found. Many dogs like the Goldendoodle are incredibly over bred in puppy mills. How great if he could adopt a rescued puppy mill dog! Unfortunately President-Elect Obama fell trap to the misconception that too many in this country hold. That purebred animals can not be found via adoption!

We know in their heart the Obamas want to do the right thing, we want to make sure they have the correct information to do so. At this same time we can use the story to correct that misconception for the millions of Americans that go to the newspaper classifieds and pet stores before a shelter or rescue group.

This campaign has never intended to offend anyone, we were simply using a popular current event figurehead to spread the message of adoption. We have been accused over the last few months of supporting John McCain, AND supporting Barack Obama. I think that's a good sign that maybe we are walking the line pretty well. Everyone will see things through their own filter!

Once again, this has simply been about educating the public by piggybacking off a national news item. I believe we have done a lot of good through this campaign, and I hope you can see that too!

Thank you all for your support!!

Jon Dunn
Best Friends Animal Society

Posted 8 Nov 2008 5:36 PM by ruthy92

Mr Dunn, there is nothing wrong with how you wrote the article.

There are some people, however, whose blind devotion to a political figure is obscuring the fact that a man who made a public promise to adopt from a shelter is now backpedaling and saying untrue things like only "mutts are in shelters."

He said this in a public pronouncement, he made this an issue, and he could become educated by the many humane groups that have offered to help.

He made adoption a campaign promise, and coming up with silly arguments about why he may have to buy a dog (possibly giving in to propaganda and untruths by for-profit breeders like AKC) are important and worrisome to many of the people that voted for him.

(and purchased goldendoodles come from puppy mills, and are mutts. Period. They also have issues. Many are coming from the puppy mills in Pennsylvania that Oprah had two shows about! Maybe Oprah can help educate Obama)

Posted 8 Nov 2008 5:42 PM by ruthy92

The AKC has also been saying stupid things to the media like dogs are "imprinted" by the time they are 16 weeks (a pure lie designed to push people to buy puppies and make their breeders and puppy mills a lot of money)

It does not help when a New York Times journalist like Katharine Seelye writes an article that is full of an AKC rep's propaganda ike this.

Seelye and others seem too ignorant to realize that the AKC is about the finances of breeders, not dog care or selection.

The AKC makes most of its money in the puppy mill registration business. They are the last people to ask.

But reporters seem terribly ignorant about the AKC sleaze parade.

Posted 8 Nov 2008 11:41 PM by BLKborderpatrol2

you are incorrect ruthy.
puppy imprinting dramatically falls off after
16weeks. thats pretty common knowledge.

Posted 9 Nov 2008 4:29 AM by lizzire

If they don't end up getting a shelter dog I'm going to be PISSED.

Posted 9 Nov 2008 10:50 AM by D2or3

**ACTION NEEDED** ACTION NEEDED **

Thank you, Best Friends. I do not think you're putting the cart before the horse in putting pressure on all of us to RE-educate the Obama's. I believe they know that rescue groups exist, and Obama met Jana with "Baby," the 3-legged puppymill dog, but it doesn't seem to have sunk in.

We need to ACT NOW and provide Obama with the facts: 1) there are up to 25% purebreds in the shelter system; 2) there are puppy mill rescue groups; 3) there are breed-specific AND all-breed rescue groups that adopt out "hypoallergenic" dogs; and 4) like you said, BF, there is every kind of dog imagineable on Petfinder.com.

I also agree with the one poster that they should consider a non puppy.

I hope the Obama's take you up on your offer, Best Friends, to help them select a homeless dog.

FOLKS, PLEASE politely ACT NOW!

1) Contact Obama:
http://change.gov/page/s/contact

2) The HSUS has a card thanking the Obama's for pledging to adopt. Please sign it. You can write your own message, choose the font style, place the text, and attach a photo:
http://hsus.typepad.com/wayne/2008/11/obama-dog-adopt.html

3) Contact Oprah and ask her if she'll put in her two cents to make sure the Obama's adopt from a shelter, puppymill rescue, purebred rescue, or all-breed rescue.
http://www.oprah.com/contactus ---> Click on "Oprah's Mail: We Hear You!"

Posted 9 Nov 2008 11:35 AM by halbarb66

I think you all need to lay off on the pressure on the Obamas. I wholeheartedly support animal adoption and have adopted more than 5 cats and 2 dogs in my life time, plus given countless hours to volunteering at animal shelters and rescue groups including BF, but I think trying to make the Obamas look bad in this situation is really ugly on the part of the animal protection groups. Barack Obama just inherited HUGE unresolved issues for this country, and already the animal groups are on attack about his family's choice of a White House companion. I wish instead you would all help recommend specific dogs that they could adopt, and remember, being a White House pet comes with special requirements that other everyday households might be able to overlook and deal with. Cut him some slack, people. He's the best thing we animal rights folks could have hoped for in a president. He's probably never had a dog, though, and frankly, he's got bigger things on his mind - whether we want to admit that or not.

Posted 9 Nov 2008 5:13 PM by ChrissysMack

I too feel adoption is the best root for the President-Elect to take. I wrote this in my letter to him that suggested the same thing! Here is the main point of my letter. I hope you all enjoy it and I hope it inspires all others to write to him as well.

I believe that yes you can set the tone for this country by starting simple. Show that you don’t need a top notch thousand dollar dog, that a simple mutt or a rescued puppy that needs a loving home is the responsible way to go. If you have any question or concerns many websites such as the National Humane Society website can help you and www.petfinder.com is a wonderful website that allows you to search rescue and adoption agencies around the nation.

Posted 9 Nov 2008 5:51 PM by allypurp

I emailed President elect Obama on the same day of the speech, giving him the address of Petfinder.com, and asking him to set an example for his girls and the rest of the country. I also gave him the link to a list of hypoallergenic dog breeds, and told him to search for breed specific rescue groups if needed to find the correct dog for his daughters. I also addressed the issue of using specific bath products that help remove allergens from pets.

Please adopt, President Elect Barack Obama. I'm sure there are many hypoallergenic dogs in shelters and in foster homes (of no kill rescue groups) around the country.

Allyson

Posted 9 Nov 2008 8:04 PM by dosgatos

I think the discussion here could benefit by being cooled off a few degrees. As halbarb66 has pointed out, Mr. Obama has many things on his mind. Further, the Obamas have stated that they want to wait until they are settled in at the White House before adopting a dog. I doubt the "what kind of dog" question is at the top of the agenda. Why not let's gather up all the good ideas here, and send a helpful letter in a month or so which points out the resources available to them?

Posted 9 Nov 2008 11:19 PM by NatalieLeVasseur

Perhaps our comments need to be directed to Michelle Obama who certainly has more time to deal with the intricacies of hypoallergenic rescue/shelter dog adoption and has chosen to be mom-at-home with the girls.

While she is unbelievably busy, she is likely not quite as busy as her husband.

Natalie, companion of 3 BBD's (big black dogs (two greyhound litter mates, one shelter puppy, and one (grey) miniature hypoallergenic Schnauzer)).

Posted 10 Nov 2008 12:34 AM by bigb

i think that we do need to try to educate the obamas about the availability of hypoallergenic rescue dogs. he did not go back on his promise. i heard the speech. he said simply that the to issues, namely being a rescue, and hypoallergenic have to reconciled. let's provide him support and information, even offer help. the decision will be made in the spring he said, so we have time. i think going back on his word on this issue is not likely, would make no sense for him to jepordize his integrity over something that can be so easily solved. i think he will be a man (and his wife a woman) of his/her word(s)

Posted 10 Nov 2008 11:14 AM by AndreaD

As a volunteer with the Golden Retriever rescue in Ontario I know that many other breeds have their own rescue groups so I would also try that as an option. As for a Golden Doodle I wouldn't recommend that. From what I have seen there is no guarantee you will get the disposition of the Golden and the coat of the poodle. Most I have met are extremely hyper and have dominant play styles that scare other dogs.

AKD Toronto

Posted 10 Nov 2008 11:51 AM by scratchtopaz

Even People reports on the new Obama family member! http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20239003,00.html
Seemingly the new millenium's slogan is: Mutt Like Me! But as Jon Dunn has pointed out - the adoption option is not just for mixed breeds. Over 25% of the animals currently in a shelter near you, are 'purebreds". And Googling "Breed Rescue" offers oodles of additional choices! Thank you Best Friends for giving over 50,000 citizens an opportunity to let their hearts be heard. Adopt, Don't Shop!

Posted 10 Nov 2008 6:19 PM by ruthy92

"Mr. Obama has many things on his mind. Further, the Obamas have stated that they want to wait until they are settled in at the White House before adopting a dog. I doubt the "what kind of dog" question is at the top of the agenda. "

It was OBAMA himself who put this out there! OBAMA making these comments to the whole country! OBAMA saying it was of high importance to him! OBAMA who said this was high on his agenda!

Posted 10 Nov 2008 8:17 PM by bigb

ruthy, yes he said those things, and i have not heard anything from him that suggests that he will break his promise. he did say it was an important issue, but will be decided in the spring

Posted 10 Nov 2008 10:43 PM by D2or3

I also think everyone should know that there is no such thing as a "hypoallergenic" dog. Some dogs may not shed, but they all have dander -- they all release allergens.

Posted 13 Nov 2008 2:08 PM by ruthy92

The AKC is trying desperately to put the moves on Obama, and get him a purebred. They want to use this whole thing as a sales ploy to promote purebred and puppy mill purebred sales.

The AKC is worrried about the increase in sales of these mixed breed designer mixes from the non-AKC registering puppy mills, like goldendoodles.

If people keep buying these kinds of mill puppies (and adopting) then the AKC is going to be hurting on the registration dollars!

This is why the AKC is pushing so hard to get Obama to buy or get a purebred, especially through them.

Will Obama be clever enough to see through the AKC's ploys (and fake sales claims of hypoallergenic dogs- they don't exist. It sounds a bit like Obama is falling for the "some purebreds are hypoallergenic scam" and that comes from the AKC. Allergy doctors know there is NO SUCH THING as any hypoallergenic dog!))

Does he realize that the AKC is overwhelmingly extremist right wing Republican, and most of its members support Republicans? (just look at PA, where puppy mill laws were fought against by Republican and AKC linked legislators)

Or is the farm lobby (thanks to USDA licensing many of the puppy mills that AKC registers puppies from are linked to the agriculture/farm lobby) going to push Obama to buy from one of "their" breeders (see http://network.bestfriends.org/truth/news/30255.html)

There is a lot more politics in this than many people realize, and it is the politics of the purebred dog breeding industry. An industry just like any other. It's all about profits and income.

Posted 23 Jan 2009 11:04 AM by VoteSmart

Mr. Dunn, you wrote the article perfectly. I watched the press conference and that was a backpedal if ever I saw one. Obama -- and the country -- need to be educated about the fact that there are millions of purebreds available in shelters across the country.
The sadder truth is that it shouldn't matter if it's a purebred or not -- and that there are no hypoallergenic dogs -- just dogs that shed less than others.

Keep up the full court press -- it's important!

Posted 13 Apr 2009 9:00 AM by jbird1a

I knew he wouldn't do it. He has no principles on this issue, either.