MAKING A SPLASH IN POLITICS

Splash, the Portuguese Water Dog
(Oh, That's Senator Edward Kennedy in the Background)

We have decided not to pursue the story on the first family’s search for a pet, as we did not want to interject ourselves into what appears to be an ongoing negotiation. However, we did find this charming interview with Senator Edward Kennedy. Senator Kennedy owns two Portuguese Water Dogs, but read the story. Whenever dogs are the subject people forget about politics and all their other differences. If all of our elected officials took their dogs to the offices as the Senator does, we might see a whole lot more cooperation.

PRESIDENTIAL PUP

We stumbled across this background story on the Presidential pooch search. Seems Bethlehem PA Mayor John B. Callahan, who has a five year old Portuguese Water Dog, has been lobbying the President on behalf of the PWD.

Bethlehem PA Mayor John B. Callahan

Although he was an early supporter of Hillary Clinton, Callahan jumped on the Obama bandwagon early enough to be included on a couple of the administration’s transition teams and may be in line for a midlevel appointment. Can you say Political Portie Picked for Presidential Pooch?

PWD WILL BE PRESIDENTIAL POOCH

We have avoided this subject, partly because it smacks of the kind of Lindsay Lohan/American Idol/TMZ journalism we try to avoid and partly because it is way too close to political discourse which is anathema to a peaceful doggy dialogue, but hey, a scoop of this scope is not to be taken lightly.

CH Pouch Cove's Monkey See Monkey Do
Number One Portuguese Water Dog 2008

We have heard from a reliable source that the Obama children will soon be the proud parents of a purebred, AKC registered, Portuguese Water Dog. You may have read that the pick for Presidential Pooch had been narrowed to the PWD and something called a “Labradoodle” (excuse me, but that was my gag reflex). Our new President was trying to be PC in his choice for First Dog and had expressed a desire to get a shelter dog, but apparently someone did their homework and decided that the only reliable way to get a suitable pet for daughters Sasha and Malia was to buy a purebred dog from a reputable breeder. Exit Labra-whatever.

We suspect that the same influence that decided to eschew DC public schools decided that selecting a purebred dog was the best way to ensure a healthy pet of sound temperament for the daughters. Whatever your politics, it’s one decision all dog fanciers can agree with.