Presidential Pets through the years

[Are_grits_groceries]

Take a stroll down memory lane and reminisce about White House pets from the past.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/gallery/2008/11/21/GA2008112102138.html?hpid=topnews

Yeeesh - What type of dog did Grover Cleveland have??

[Dennis Donovan]

1. They left out one of the most famous POTUS dogs ever...

Harding's Airedale, Laddie Boy:


My own Chuckiemutt (2001-2009):

His best dog friend, Jack, behind him. I miss you, Chuck...:cry:

[Are_grits_groceries]

2. So sorry!

It's hard to lose your buddies!

[Dennis Donovan]

5. Thanks, a_g_g. He's been gone for almost 3 months and I'm still miss him fiercely.

:cry:

[Are_grits_groceries]

6. Aww...

I miss my buddies from years back.

"We who choose to surround ourselves with lives even more temporary than our own live within a fragile circle, easily and often breached. Unable to accept its awful gaps, we still would live no other way."
Irving Townsend

:hug:

[Rhiannon12866]

8. What a wonderful pic!!!

And one that I did not have. That is the expression that I loved best. I keep looking for him when I open cheese or a box of cookies. But I did see his pic in an unexpected place recently. Every one is precious. He has left a big hole in the lives of the rest of his "pack," especially his little BFF who misses him so very much... ;(

:loveya:

[mikehiggins]

3. DIdn't Bush have a pet scorpion named Dick?

Oh, wait.

Never mind.

[Are_grits_groceries]

4. Yes...

It was nicknamed Snurl, but they had to keep it hidden.

[Myrina]

7. Yes, he's been released into the wilds of nearby Virginia ...

:scared:

[Rhiannon12866]

9. They left out Lincoln's beloved dog, Fido...

I found a book at a used bookstore on presidential dogs and the story about Fido was touching. While he was in Washington, Lincoln left Fido with neighbors and also gave them Fido's favorite sofa from his house so the dog would feel more at home. In an age when photos were still rare, Lincoln had his beloved pup's portrait taken. The end of this sad story is that Lincoln never did return home, as we all know, but that Fido met the same fate as his master, was shot by a drunk. ;(

Lincoln & Fido:




Fido's official photo, on his favorite sofa:

[Rhiannon12866]

10. Woodrow Wilson: "If a dog will not come to you after having looked you in the face,

you should go home and examine your conscience."

Woodrow Wilson did not have a dog in The White House, but he did meet a true canine hero of WWI, Sergeant Stubby. :patriot:



Sgt. Stubby(1917-1926):

This American Pit Bull Terrier, of unknown descent, was found by Private John Robert Conroy on the campus of Yale University, in 1917, while training for deployment to the European front of WWI. Stubby was a brown and white patched little puppy with a 'stubbed' tail, hence his name Stubby.

<snip>

The 102d reached the front lines on the 5th of February, 1918. Things there were cold, wet and very dangerous. The soldiers lived in dug-out ditches called trenches. Water and mud gathered shin deep in these trenches, making it very unhealthy for the men and Stubby. Sniper fire was exchanged between the Germans and the allies constantly and men were killed and injured often. Stubby became accustomed to his new surroundings and learned to deal with the loud rifles and heavy artillery fire. All remained 'trench normal' until the day a large gas attack was launched by the Germans. The gas was a mixture of chemicals that burned the skin off, caused the lungs to blister, and the eyes to burn. This caused blindness, loss of limbs, and death in many cases. Stubby's first battle injury occurred due to gas exposure. He was taken to a nearby field hospital and nursed back to health. His exposure to the gas made him sensitive to even the slightest hint of the vapor. This came in handy several weeks later when an early morning gas attack was launched. The men in his portion of the trench were sleeping and were unaware that gas had just been launched. Stubby picked up the scent of the gas and ran through the trench barking and biting at the soldiers shirts and boots waking them. Some of the soldiers woke up and realized what was happening and sounded the gas alarm. Many men were saved that morning. Stubby left the trench to avoid the gas and didn't return until it was all clear.

After Stubby's return to the trenches he became very useful in locating wounded men in 'no-mans land'. No-mans land was the ground area between the Allied and German trenches. It was called no-mans land because if you became stuck there you were almost sure to be killed by snipers since the available cover was very sparse. Stubby would listen for injured and lost men shouting in English. He would then go out to them and bark for paramedics or lead the uninjured ones back to the safety of the trenches. The men were more than grateful and treated Stubby as a golden asset to the division.

<snip>

WWI ended on the 11th of November, 1918. Sergeant Stubby served in 17 battles during his stay in Europe. He also visited with president Woodrow Wilson after leading the American troops in a pass and review parade for the President in Europe. When he met President Wilson he gave his trademark salute and the president loved it.

After returning to the United States in April of 1919, Stubby was given several different medals. One was a gold medal from the Humane Education Society, presented by General John J. Pershing, head of the American armies. He was entered into a dog show, under protest, and won. Stubby also became a member of the American Legion, visited the Whitehouse twice and met both President Harding and President Coolidge. He later became an honorary member of the YMCA and his membership card guaranteed three bones a day and a warm place to sleep. He was a very popular and heroic dog, loved by all.

<snip>

http://www.dapbt.org/stubby.htm