Obama and family get their Portuguese Water Dog

Kelly, for every human born in the United States, seven puppies or kittens are also born. If that isn't an overpopulation problem, I don't know what is. As far as "deciding if a family is qualified enough" to adopt... I can't speak for all shelters, but the reason my group has an adoption process is to determine the best home for the pet. We are no-kill, so our animals are in no danger of being euthanized. They will stay in our care until they find forever homes. Some people get defensive about our adoption process. They don't want to fill out an application or agree to a home visit. We're not trying to be nosy or make things complicated; we just want to make sure a potential adopter can handle the responsibilities of having a pet and will provide the animal with a safe, loving home for the remainder of its life.

I am also very disappointed in the Obamas. It would have been wonderful to see the President adopt a dog from the local shelter. This just proves that the President is just another liar and doesn't care about anyone or anything that he thinks is below him. This is so sad

This is Kelly. The "Idiot". I think you are all mislead about Obamas not saving a life by not adopting. There is not a pet overpopulation problem in the US. Just the poor management of shelters and rescue groups who enjoy the power of deciding if a family is qualified enough to take home one of their dogs. If there is an overpopulation problem, why are shelters and rescue groups buying dogs and puppies from auctions to resell? Or importing them from other countries? http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-10-21-dog-imports_N.htm I know the standard answer "to save a life" but the real reason is to fill shelters that are now becoming more empty because the general population are becoming more responsible pet owners; having their pets spayed or neutered and keeping them home.. The HSUS has to keep the overpopulation myth going so soft hearted pet lovers will continue to donate. Shelters need to keep their kennels full to support the myth. Thus the buying and importing. If the euthanasia rate in a shelter is too high, I would fire the manager and get a new one who will keep it low.

p.s. Matt....name calling? How old are you?

Yes, there is a PWD sitting in Washington DC. Probably two blocks from the white house. As with everything, promises, promises, and then we go back to the elitist attitude--get a pb pup. What a shame, but not surprising to me. He talks the talk, but does not walk the walk.

Shame on him.

I am very disappointed, fine this dog has a home, but how about making it right, yes the First Lady wants to donate, how about adopt a pet from the Human Society, so this pet will be kept for also. This is fine, getting a dog as a present, but President Obama, has two daughters. President Obama, is trying t o do the right thing, I hope, he will do right by this one too.

I am disapppointed because he broke his promise to those of us who were impressed with the adoption message he gave pre-election.

If allergies are an issue, rescues being responsible as they are, wouldnt have allowed them to adopt, only to have the dog trigger allergies in the little girl and have to be returned :)

So I wondered all along about the dog and allergies and hoped they would consider a rescue kittie of which there are bazillions to choose from. I am still not convinced that allergies may become a problem at some point, too.

I am glad that a dog has a home but extremely disappointed in the fact that they didn't adopt when they could have through the portuguese water dog rescue. If the press could find it in minutes one would think the white house could also. I also find the timing of the returned dog, that it is from the same litter as the Kennedy's and was trained for a month by the Kennedy's trainer all too much for coincedence. I am hugely in favor of rescuing.. all three of ours were. I would like to see them do a little more since they didn't adopt to get the message out. Especially after talking about how important it is to give back to community, volunteer, etc.

I think everyone here is forgetting that this was a gift to his children. He clearly promised them a PUPPY, and when a friend (I don't care who it is) offered one the GIRLS lilked that wouldn't bother their allergies, why would he say no? Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, very few purebred puppies are available at the pound. They are certainly the ones who are adopted out first! All of my dogs have been from my local shelter, but I don't think everyone has to get every dog that way! I think the Obamas really couldn't win no matter what they decided -- I had read in Newsweek that all the humane societies were freaking out because they were thinking of getting a labradoodle and most of them are from Amish puppy mills - who knew! -- and they were afraid that would increase demand for those poor creatures. One good thing everyone should think about -- if they had gotten a shelter dog and something ended up wrong with it, that would be the WORST press any shelter could ever get. Look at how the Oprah thing has been blown out of proportion!

Hey kids............who actually believes a Portuguese Water Dog puppy just by chance happened along as a "return" from same litter of Ted Kennedy's puppy???????
Perhaps coincidences happen, but -- the same breed choice as Kennedy, a puppy not getting along with other dogs...hum, oh so quietly returned and handed over to Kennedy who just happened to know a family wanting a PWD puppy. This is just another Washington woven spin on a prearranged deal. We've all been mislead.

President Obama and Vice President Biden have left a bad taste in the mouths of everyone who works with animal rescue. Neither of them apparently meant one word about this issue. I don't care if you voted for him or not, you have to be disappointed in this action. The White House is plenty big; adopt a companion and show that you are not blithely oblivious to the problems. Incidentally, the parvo reference to Oprah's adopted puppy should have been handled by the rescue organization. However, one bad incident is no reason to ok not adopting a dog!!!

AS FOR THE OBAMAS....THERE IS A PET RESCUE FOR PORTUGUESE WATER DOGS...PUREBREDS AT THAT. WELL THIS IS ONE PROMISE OUR PRESIDENT HAS BROKEN. I AM SOO DISAPPOINTED THAT HIS PUPPY WAS NOT GOTTEN THRU A RESCUE. IF HE HAD ADOPED THRU A SHELTER I BELIEVE IT WOULD HAVE TAUGHT THE PUBLIC THAT A RESCUED DOG IS A VERY WONDERFUL ANIMAL...AND THAT PEOPLE WOULD GO TO SHELTERS FOR A DOG...NOT NECESSARILY A PORTUGUESE FELLOW...BUT ANY OTHER WONDERFUL DOGS THAT REMAIN THERE. I VOLUNTEER AT A SHELTER AND THERE ARE SO MANY GOOD, WONDERFUL ANIMALS INCLUDING PIT BULLS WHO ARE SO LOVABLE (HAVING THE RIGHT BACKGROUND).

NOW EVERYONE WILL INVADE BREEDERS FOR THE OBAMA DOG. I GUESS TO SOME PEOPLE THIS IS CALLED STATUS....SAD. I THANK YOU TED KENNEDY.

I do not blame Pres. Obama for accepting the dog. I do not think Senator Kennedy used good judgement in giving a purchased dog. I do think Pres. Obama could easily have said he would accept it AND adopted another dog. The comments I have read earlier about Oprah's puppy passing and parvo are indefensable. Oprah and Pres. Obama have enough money to have the vaccinations done themselves if not done prior to adoption. Most shelters recommend immediate vet care and most adoption agencies have the parvo shots as part of the adoption fee so something is definitely wrong with this story. We have so many dogs being euthanized every day. President Obama you have set a bad example. Do not say things you don't mean. Sen. Kennedy has made many errors in judgement. I suggest you not follow in his footsteps. This is not about "getting a life" as I have read. It is about saving some lives and showing that you are compassionate and put actions where your words have been. There are too many people who show no concern for animals; the President should not be one of them.

I am so disappointed. If he adopted from a shelter, this could have changed the course of many adoption processes across the shelters. We, as rescuers, work so hard to try to change people's mind and hearts. We try so hard to educate public on the misconceptions of shelter dogs. There are thousands of breeder dogs in shelters, killed by millions a week. I see some posts here about the rightness of buying a dog from a reputable breeder who will never get *sick* or *bite*... The point is, only a tiny percentage of these purchased dogs live a long, healthy and LUCKy lives with their first owners. So many of them still end up at shelters 2-5-7 years along the way for health, or training issues. 90% of my dogs at the rescue end up there (mutt or pedigree) because of a life change experience for the owner (moving, baby, divorce, unemployment....) And then what?

I only wish that Obama chose a shelter dog for the sake of showing some CHANGE. Rescuers would have given him the best dog alive, ANYWAY... ANyone who has seen the look of a dog about to be euthanized, knows what he or she can do to STOP that. NO matter what the color, breed, or age of that healthy and loving being.

I to am disappointed. Obama had a chance to make a difference in the lives of many shelter animals.

The Obama puppy has been in five homes. If that is not a rescue I do not know what is!!!!!!!!! He also needed to consider his daughters allergies. Why adopt it and then have to return the pup, because the daughter gets sick. I am an big supporter for rescue and shelter dogs. I have three. I think we should be glad that this pup got a home. It was given to him and that does not mean he does not support shelters and rescue groups.

I was excited to see what kind of dog the Obana would get from the shelter.If they were looking for a larger dog the choices are alittle more limited on having more of a hair on a dog vs fur and guarantee there will be no problems with allergies. I am sure they did the best they could since it did take a few months to get a friend and buddy for the girls. Maybe later they might get a friend for Bo and get a resue dog. And if he was a gift then he was a gift and they did not turn the gift down. I wish them all the best. And yes I do have 5 rescues in my home. 2 birds that were not that are and are over 20 years old. I do wish they would have gotten the DC rescue but maybe the Obama's were never told of him by their staff. PS I paid more for my poodles in rescue then I could have a pure breed no papers after all the sick vet bill. My first one cost over $800.00. $300. for Zaida and the rest vet bills the first month. She was very sick but did not know till a few days later. Best of luck Obama's

Who cares what they do, they are as normal as you and me! His status makes no difference in any part of their personal life! And besides the dog is UGLY!! I would not have chosen that at all, ew!

Kelly, You are an idiot. Parvo is viral infection that has nothing to do with breeding.
It isn't a shelter disease or the result of bad breeding. Dogs from "good" breeders
aren't magically immune to it. It is a shame that the education system has failed so
dramatically that people don't realized anecdotes are not something to base
decisions on. Oprah has no more proven the dangers of NOT buying from a
"reputable" breeder than a marathon runner having a heart attack proves that cardio
exercise is bad for your heart.

Statistically significant sample. Look it up.

I am all for rescuing. Even if you BUY from a BREEDER, the puppy can still become ill. Now people will go & buy one of these expensive puppies & the same kind is waiting to be rescued. Let us not forget the President said the puppy would come from a shelter. This makes me really upset.

"Maybe the Obamas didn't want to get a puppy from a shelter, give it to their girls and have it die of parvo like Oprah's."

Because all shelter dogs will contract Parvo and die.

There's always a chance that you will adopt an unhealthy dog, but if you go to a reputable shelter that vet checks all of their animals and makes sure they have their vaccinations, the chance of getting a sick dog is minimized.

I agree with Kate. Some of the reasons people insist on buying from a breeder are really shallow. Having a well-behaved pet (and no, not all shelter dogs are "crazy") with a great personality should be more important than getting a dog that is a certain size, has a pedigree, doesn't shed, looks a certain way, is a certain age, etc.

Maybe the Obamas didn't want to get a puppy from a shelter, give it to their girls and have it die of parvo like Oprah's.......Thank you Oprah for bringing out the dangers of NOT buying from a reputable breeder! Funny she never had parvo in any of her previous puppies she bought from a breeder. The Obamas were thinking in the best interest of their family.

WOW I am shocked at some of these responses.
Obviously some of you people have never been to a puppy mill and are okay with breeding of animals into a world already over populated with animals to the tune of millions being killed every day for no other reason than they don't have a home. Just so you can have a "certain kind of pet" for NO real reason. No any person needs to have a specific pet or breed, that's not what it's all about.
Sure we all have the right to make a choice, but there are good choices and bad choices and I am sorry but I believe they made a bad choice, which was in very poor taste and example for the rest of the world.

BIG DISAPPOINTMENT! Prior to the election the President indicated he wanted a "mutt" like himself from a shelter -- then voila - post election a breeder dog appears as a "gift" from Kennedy. He broke his promise, infuriated Jana Kohl who pictured him in her book with her rescued dog. He learned nothing watching the fallout over Bidden's purchased puppy and clearly no longer cares about the animal lovers who voted for him believing his promises. SAME OLD, SAME OLD Washington elite. So sad for the animals he could have saved by putting the spotlight on animal shelters.
Kudos to Oprah for keeping her word to adopt a puppy from PAWS Chicago. Maybe she should run for office!

he should have gotten a shelter or rescue dog and set an example for everyone to follow, period! he made it our business when he discussed it on the media. Shame on him.

Oh my gosh, people...Get a life!
I think the Obama's have the right to pick what ever type of dog or pet that they like & wherever they chose to get it. I am happy for them and also that Malia & Sasha have an awesome pet to love an enjoy.
I'm sure you wouldn't like people telling you where to get your pet or where to make your personal purchases,etc. Let this family try to live as normal a life as they can for goodness sake!
Bo is a beautiful dog and great addition for the best First Family in modern history. Good for them!
Pet Finder is a great organization & I admire what you do for pets, but the Obama's have a right to choose where they want to get a pet just like the rest of us do.

Why would the President turn down the gift of a trained, healthy, free, cute young dog? Would you? You are still allowed to choose your own dog, setting your own priorities. I've rescued several cats and dogs, and I've bought several dogs. I get to choose my own companions and I got each for my own reasons, I believe the President and his family should have the same right. He said he would like to adopt, but things change. Its part of life. No one had offered him a dog at that time. This dog deserves a loving family as much as any dog in a shelter, and I am glad the Obama family found a pet to love.
Talk of conspiracies and lies come under the heading of SOUR GRAPES. Get your priorities straight. If he can't get the economy working or deal with terrorism, then criticize him. If the economy folds, pets get dumped. Extremist Muslims consider dogs unclean.

I'm ALL for adoption--- in fact, I am caring for my own foster/ rescue dog and have been a humane society volunteer since the day I was old enough to begin, many years ago. Adoption is a wonderful thing to do, and halleluiah for those who do it. But who am I to judge our president for accepting a gift--a cute one at that? Can't I just be thankful that this father DID keep a promise to his daughters... a wonderful pet has come into their lives and lets just look at what an awesome life and family this pup will experience. I can't change the fact that that the Obamas didn't adopt a rescue pooch, but can't I praise and encourage them for being a loving family to the pup they have? Instead of whining about someone else (my own president!) not doing a good enough deed, why don't I focus, instead, on what I can do (or what you can do) to promote adoption of homeless pets. Quite honestly, I believe all this ridicule of people (ESPECIALLY of our own leader!) not adopting a shelter pet is simply going to backfire on our desire to raise awareness for shelter pets. Let me make this clear: hating on our president DOES NOT = loving shelter animals!!!!! Lets conquer this with love rather than hate (ridicule, judgment)! The Lord bless america and ALL its poochies!:)

I think that it is soooo unfair for anyone to judge our President just because he didnt get a shelter dog. When has it become such an issue over what kind of pet a president have? President Obama made one statement saying "its now time for a dog" and now everyone has had him under a microscope as to when he would get the dog and what kind of dog it will be. Lets be happy that this dog will have a loving home and family. I think its way more important issues out there than where a dog is comming from. Get a grip people and get on with your lives and stop gripping about something u cant do nothing about, becouse trust me they are not sitting at home sad over nothing your saying. They got what they want and its going to stay that way he doesnt have anyone to please but his children and they seem pretty happy to me!

One lie or unfullfilled promise from Obama leaves the door open for other lies or unfullfilled promises........as minor as it may be. He could have adopted one dog and kept the other dog he got as a gift. Why can't he have two dogs? Throw some money here, some money there, where did his donation come from, an American deficit? We the people, are stupid.

To all of the people who are telling the rest of us to "give it up" and "it is none of our business what kind of dog the president gets" let me remind you that Obama made this our "business" , especially animal lovers, when he made a big deal and said that he was going to "adopt" a dog from a shelter. I knew he wouldn't because he was playing politics and would have excepted a cow if it came from the Kennedys. Yes, the dog he got was already in the population of dogs but what an amazing message he could have made by rescuing a shelter dog which would have resulted in more adoptions of homeless animals. It is great that they are making a donation but it will still not make the same impact as an adoption. And I agree with others who said that if you make a point of saying you are going to do it.....then do it!! Intentions without conviction and ethics is poison!! And to snaggleb...s32, I'm guessing your NOT from Texas with the too classy title you have!!!

I think he should have gotten a shelter dog especially since there was one available. Well at least he did not buy the dog from a breeder. It was given to the family.

Under normal circumstances people really do not give a hoot what type of dog the President selects. That is the least of our worries! However, when a statement is made on national TV to his fellow Americans what his intentions are it changes the tune.. I agree with most of the other comments from April 13 & 14, 2009. It is very ironic the Kennedy's gave this dog to the Obama's especially when President Obama indicated they would seek a stray. So typical... and yes all talk. If the President is trying to set an image out to the people to adopt shelter dogs his actions proove otherwise. It is very sad and shows he/they are not people of their word. Giving a donation should be a given as donations are so desperately needed; especially now. However, giving a donation to cover up a guilt trip is uncalled for. There are 6 - 8 million dogs/cats put into shelters a year and 3-4 million are euthanized per year because no one will adopt them and lack of funds. Couldn't he have done both?

I, too, am disappointed that they did not adopt as promised. There were 13 Portugese Water Dogs available when I checked Sunday. Getting the dog from a breeder only perpetuates the problem of pet overpopulation by setting a bad example. He could have set a great example by adopting from a shelter AND encouraging spay/neuter while he was at it. A lot of people follow the example the President sets. They, like so many others, took the easy way out.

I heard it got into Michelle's garden and ate a tomato. I hope it doesn't get too sick! Its not my favorite dog but whatever they want.

Give me a break. There is way too much reading into everything. A dog is a dog. The dog they got was already on the earth. It was part of the overall dog population, just like Biden's. If people want to adopt a mutt from a pound they will, if they want an over-bread pure breed pooch, that's what they will get. The sun will rise innocence will die and life continues.

Give Obama some freaking space. The whole world is up his butt. I think he will do what he can to fix the US. What he can't do will be over scrutinized.

At least he's not a Texan!

I am rather upset by this. PWD's are going to get super popular and the BYB's and puppy mills will churn them out and soon enough the rescue world will be up to our necks in them.

If Obama rescued, shelter dogs would have been saved.
And also, Imberry-it is important. If the millions of dogs are being euth'd simply because they are homeless. This will only add to that

Actually, it DOES matter where President Obama got his dog. Why are you even on Petfinder if you think it's "none of our business" that he didn't get a shelter dog?

Millions of dogs and cats are killed each year in shelters, and every dog gotten from another source (breeder, pet store, gift, etc.) is another euthanized.

It's not about politics; it's about the many dogs being killed simply because there aren't enough homes and the fact that the Obamas could have rescued a dog from death row but did not.

I voted for Obama and will likely do so again, but this is really disappointing, especially since I am a member of an animal rescue organization, and I work with rescued dogs firsthand.

Well not too surprised, politicians are politicians. Guess the address change means not pandering to the basic stuff. Breeders are fine but it sure set back the cause for the shelters and humane societies. It disheartens me after all the hub bub about a shelter dog then zilch. With the economy in the miserable state it sure might have boosted the interest in the increasing amount of dumped animals who are the victims also. Guess the shelters and societies will just have to keep on taking em in and sending them out the back door. Mankind never seems to learn do they?

This is the biggest promise I was hoping President Obama would keep also. Yes, it does matter where the dog comes from.Ask any shelter worker who gets to witness perfectly healthy, friendly ,loving and adoptable puppies and adult dogs having their lives extinguished simply because there aren't enough adopters.

It doesnt really suprise me...all talk and no show. If you say you are going to do something ,then follow through. Its called integrity and strength of character. Bottom line was there wasn't a dog "good " enough for his daughter that came from shelter. SO sad...

Good grief you people. Give it up already!!! Yes, he is the President but guess what...it's none of your business what kind of dog and where they get it from. Don't any of you realize just how stupid you all sound??? In the big picture of life what does it really matter where they got their dog (not yours) from?

While I do feel saddened that the Obamas did not end up choosing a dog from a shelter, especially in the case that Jessica has brought up, 1) this is not really an example of his failure as a politician and 2) the intensity of Malia's allergies are something that none of us know about and therefore have no right to judge on the legitimacy of it being a reason for not taking in a dog from a shelter. It is an utmost pity, I agree, and perhaps they will consider a second or third dog from a shelter, but one's anger towards the president who is probably the first to consider adopting a dog from a shelter at all is unjustified; one should be more concerned with the irresponsible individuals who take dogs to shelters because they aren't "manly enough," or didn't do the proper research into the type of dog they would be getting and ending up purchasing a dog that was not fit for their family.
Also, the economy is not Obama's fault, and therefore he is actually receiving a lot of favorable poll responses where the economy is concerned currently. See http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/07/us/politics/07poll.html (the most recent NYTimes/CBS news poll) regarding Obama's reception in the first weeks of his taking office.

I don't think any of us should be suprised on this one! I knew from the beginning by his wishy washy talk about the dog, that it would not come from a shelter. I am very disappointed in this man who proclaims himself to be the people's president. Now that he is in office, he doesn't really care about doing what the people would approve of. I think this should be a wake up call for all of us about the integrity of this man. I have seen several dogs that would have matched his criteria on petfinder, You know if I see them, they could have seen them too! Were they even looking? I have two nonshedding,hypoallergenic dogs from shelters, one of which I adopted in February of this year. So don't tell me he couldn't find one! Wake up America, your president is a fool!

I also find this very disappointing to say the least! Doesnt Obama realize that his actions count and that everyone is watching him? First if you say your going to do something: do it! Adopt from a shelter or rescue group. I've read that one of the reasons that they took this dog is due to his daughters allergies. Well that is crap! There are so many breed specific rescues he could have gone to if he was worried about not knowing the actual breed from a shelter. Second, it sets an example to the rest of the world to go to a breeder. Start looking to adopt and just go to a breeder in the end. I think they should ACTUALLY ADOPT a dog or puppie from the humane society or other rescue group in addition to Bo. It just breaks your heart that some dog may be put down now, could have been saved, but instead Obama didnt care about his word or those rescue dogs and instead took a gift from a breeder who will surely capitalize on this. :(

I really wish that the Obama's would have adopted a dog from a shelter. I did a search last night for porties and there is a 4 month old puppy on petfinder. I was really looking forward to the Obamas making a stand for shelter dogs and I am quite disappointed that they didn't. Also, I don't know if I am buying the whole story about the puppy being given back to the kennel. From what I have read, they had the puppy sent to obedience school before they got it. It's probably good that they can hire someone to work with the dog since they don't have an experience. I hope the girls can at least learn about training Bo with the help of a trainer.

A rescue I volunteer with in Washington DC has a 1 year old Portuguese Water Dog. We contacted White house personnel and the Obama's still got a dog from a breeder. I don't know what his PR people are thinking. With the recession and everything, Obama could have mooched a LOT of free good press by doing nothing controversial with no downside if he adopted. What politician doesn't want good press. Now he's trying to downplay the new dog because he knows he's going to get flack (and rightly so) from animal lovers. I really don't understand. It makes me very sad. I've been defending Obama to some of my conservative friends, but now I'm really annoyed because he flaked out on the only promise I really cared about.. All politicians are the same. All talk, no action.