White House now home to first ever shelter dog
President-elect Joe Biden is not the only one making history, but his beloved shelter dog Major is too. Major will be the first shelter dog to ever live in the White House and has been greeted with elation from animal lovers all over the world.
Pets have been a long standing tradition in the White House and are treated as much as celebrities as their humans. Starting from George Washington who had twelve foxhounds, Andrew Jackson who had a very naughty parrot and Abraham Lincoln who had two goats.
However, Major isn’t the first rescue dog. Reports say that President Lyndon B. Johnson’s mixed breed dog Yuki was rescued by his daughter Luci outside a gas station in 1966. Nevertheless, it is true to say that the White House is not a home without a furry companion.
Who are the President’s dogs?
German Shepherds, Major and Champ, will follow in their predecessors' paws, Sunny and Bo, to become members of the White House after four years. The Biden’s rescued Major, now two years old, back in 2018 from the Delaware Human Association. The litter of puppies were exposed to ‘something toxic’ in their home and the owner was unable to afford veterinary care.
However, Major won’t be moving into the White House alone. Joining him is 12 year old German Shepherd, Champ, who has been with the Bidens since 2008. Luckily for Major, Champ will be able to show him the ropes as he has a bit more experience when it comes to the White House shenanigans! Champ had his own stint in the White House during Joe Biden’s Vice Presidency to Barack Obama.
‘Indoguration’ party
The news of Major, the first shelter dog living in the White House, has been so well greeted that the Delaware Human Association hosted a virtual ‘indoguration’ party, three days before Joe Biden’s own inauguration.
The Zoom event drew over 7,400 attendees and their pets and raised over $200,000. The rescue plans to use the money to provide help to owners who are struggling to care for their animals during the coronavirus pandemic. The event also featured a special performance by Josh Groban, who sang an revised rendition of ‘how much is that doggie in the window.’
DHA’s executive director, Patrick J. Carroll said,
“Our DHA Team is truly astounded by the love and support we have received in honor of Major.”
The future
With Major making history as the first shelter dog in the White House it has brought about a new found love of shelter and rescue dogs in America. Since Major’s arrival, there has been a spike in adoption, with 1.6 million dog adoptions last year, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The ASPCA said on Instagram,
“This is a wonderful opportunity for people to see how fostering and adopting animals saves lives.”
We can’t wait to see what Champ and Major get up to over the next four years in office!
