The dogs rule (all the US presidents' pets)

What is it about presidential pets that catches my attention? I guess it’s my belief that pet owners are a different breed of people.

I don’t mean special — I just mean different. There are all sorts of pet owners out there. And for me, the kind of pet you have says a lot about the kind of person you are.

Let’s see.

I live with five dogs at present — two Poodles (Gorby and Tasha), one Mini Schnauzer (Nik) and two mixed breeds. Okay, one of the mixed-breed doggies (Cola) is a boarder as his human’s house is still a work in progress. The other mixed breed (Yuri) belongs to a very special friend. I also have a Star Tortoise (Pong) who has his own “condo” in our garden.

“Your home is ruled by dogs,” said F when she came to visit one day. “There are more dogs here than there are people.”

“I guess we need a lot of love in this home,” I volunteered. “After all the stress in the outside world, its great to come home to a home that is filled with love, and doggie breath.”

It’s true. There is no better feeling than getting home at the end of a day when work just didn’t go my way and get greeted by doggies who can’t wait to get all your attention — and to give me their attention in return.

* * *

There are still lots of talk about what kind of dog US president Barack Obama plans to get. His wife Michelle wants the dog to come from a shelter. Obama said that is what the family will get. His two daughters, Sasha and Malia, are just happy that they will soon have a dog.

From what I have been reading, the Obamas need a dog that won’t cause any allergy for their daughters.

So, they are in search of a shelter dog that is hypoallergenic.

* * *

I am an asthmatic, and as such I have been told over and over again by my doctors that the best way for me to live asthma-free is not to have any pets.

When I was younger I had bad asthma, which I outgrew in my 20s. Now that I am in my 40s that asthma is back — and how — but this has not stopped me from sleeping with my family of five doggies.

The Poodles and Mini Schnauzers are supposed to be hypoallergenic breeds — but I defy you to get any asthma doctor or even a dermatologist who will agree with you that there is such a dog that exists. Nonetheless, my life with dogs goes on.

The asthma I can live with. My dogs, I can’t live without.

I hope that US President Barack Obama will get a Poodle or a Schnauzer; I am biased, of course, but that will be hard to come by in a shelter. In any case, I hope the Obamas find one in the shelter that suits their needs.

I am in awe of people who adopt dogs from shelters — one day, I will get to be one of them; for now, I admit that I do not own any dog from a shelter.

* * *

I guess what is really interesting about Obama getting a dog is that the dog is really for his daughters — not just for him. It is easy to find photos of former US presidents with their dogs.

There’s President George W. Bush and his Scottish Terrier Barney, President George Bush and Laura Bush with Springer Spaniel Millie. Also famous is Buddy, the Labrador of President Bill Clinton. Socks was the cat of Chelsea Clinton.

Other presidential pets are Franklin Roosevelt’s Scottish Terrier Fala; Lyndon B. Johnson’s mutt Yuki; Ronald Reagan’s Lucky; Richard Nixon’s Springer Spaniels Vicky and Checkers; and John F. Kennedy’s dogs Shanon, Clipper, Charlie and Wolf.

I know of people who don’t like dogs, cats or any kind of pets. In this world, it is really to each his own.

“Your doggies think they’re human,” F said to me.

“No, I think they think I’m dog,” was my reply.

Perhaps, sometimes I do wish I were more dog than human — this way I would be able to love minus all the biases that come with being human.

I guess.

* * *

Here’s a little message from Petlife to US President Barack, Michelle, Sasha and Malia— the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) shelter has lots of dogs they might want to adopt from.

I was told by Anna Cabrera of PAWS that a lot of people say they will build a bigger shelter for PAWS when they get rich. But, truth to tell, it is not just space that is the issue. A shelter fails in its mission if all it does is take in animals without educating and having spay-neuter campaigns.

The PAWS’ Shelter is small and can take in about 30 dogs and 80 cats at the most. Limited resources such as the number of veterinarians and caretakers, quarantine protocols, garbage disposal systems, and resources for behavioral rehabilitation are issues that have to be taken into consideration while running a shelter.

 The PAWS shelter hopes to make up for the lack in space by teaching people about responsible pet ownership. People who call in and wish to abandon their pets are offered free training if the problem of their pets is behavioral in nature. Rehoming assistance is also provided for those who are willing to spay or neuter their pets first.

“Spaying and neutering are important components of rehoming. If we rehome pets that are still capable of reproduction, we are not solving the problem of pet homelessness,” explained Liza Umayam, PAWS adoption head. “Spaying and neutering are the best things that you can do for your pet. Fixed pets are healthier and less likely to stray from their homes.” she adds.

With its current population of 35 dogs and 156 cats, PAWS strives to intensify its humane education efforts even further.

“We cannot ‘adopt’ our way out of the problem of pet overpopulation,” added Anna. “The numbers of animals reproducing are much faster than rehoming efforts of all animal rescuers combined.”