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First Puppy-Elect
By
Jen Chung
Published Nov 5, 2008
Modified Nov 5, 2008
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By
Jen Chung
Published Nov 5, 2008
Modified Nov 5, 2008
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A crowd-pleasing (or eye-rolling) line during President-elect Obama's victory speech was directed at his daughters, "Sasha and Malia, I love you both so much, and you have earned the new puppy that’s coming with us to the White House." But what kind of pup? Malia, 10, has allergies and reportedly likes the "goldendoodle"--a "hypoallergenic hybrid of a golden retriever and a standard poodle" (example). The American Kennel Club's poll finds that Americans want Obama to get a poodle. However, the Chicago Tribune learns that PETA head Ingrid Newkirk wrote a letter to Obama on the dog issue, "No one needs to tell you that this country is proud to be a melting pot and that there is something deeply wrong and elitist about wanting only a purebred dog. Millions of Great American Mutts -- the dog that should be our national dog -- are set to die in our nation's extremely overcrowded pounds and shelters for lack of good homes." And Malia and Sasha aren't the only ones promised a pet: Joe Biden now gets a dog, too! Update: The Caucus brings up a quote from September where the Obamas suggest they will adopt a rescue dog. Hoorah!
Tagged
barack obama
first dog
joe biden
malia obama
presidential pet
sasha obama
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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