Can America Please Have a Dog, Mr. President?
The Importance of FDOTUS in Politics
Dogs in America and the White House
As a nation, one truth stands above the rest, for the most part we absolutely love our dogs. When we take these furry friends into our homes they become part of our family and integral parts of our lives. This culture is not transferable to other nations as their regard for dogs is not the same. In India, most dogs are left to the streets and coexist with other street inhibitors of the city, often cared for by communities but not welcome in the home. In China, dogs are divided between designer breeds, on the street, or part of the menu. In Saudi Arabia, dogs are referred to as ‘unclean’ and actually have a preference to their other feline counterparts.
In the US, however, we hold out dogs very dear to our hearts and we hold them in high regard. They are part of our family and there are more than a million celebrity dogs on instagram alone. As a country- we love dogs.
So it comes as little surprise to find that a President’s approval rating rises with the induction of a dog and their public image can improve or immediately plummet with that dog’s happiness. Even if you don’t completely love the current president, you just can’t help but adore their dog.
Presidents without Pets and the Ones that Went Without a Furry Friend
There have been 45 presidents of the United States of America and of those, 34 Presidents brought their dogs and other pets into office. Only 11 presidents did not have dogs and of those 11 presidents, only 2 did not have any pets at all- not including the infamous Andrew Johnson whose pets were the small mice he fed in his bedroom.
The point is, more than half our US Presidents have brought dogs into office or adopted a dog while in office. While in office a dog is referred to as FDOTUS, or First Dog of the United States. This is a high profile pet that is beloved by all the dog lovers across the nation. They become a member of the presidential family that portrays the caring, responsible, and loving side of our president.
Dogs help to bring our presidents down to earth. They make presidents more relatable because it reveals the love they are capable of having for a lovable ball of fur. It shows a more sensitive and open side of them that does not normally have a place in politics. A dog does wonders in elevating the public image of dog. Many beloved FDOTUS are still remembered through history. Fido, Abraham Lincoln’s mixed-breed dog, is the origin of the name dog name Fido and was nationally popular during Lincoln’s presidency. Fala, FDR’s Scottish Terrier, is most notably known in FDR’s speech in berating slander against his dog after rumors of mistreatment towards his dog reached the press. The most recent presidential dogs are the Portuguese Water Dogs, Bo and his little sister Sunny who belong to President Obama and his family.
These dogs have a significant impact on the public image of our presidents. A dog can make or break a presidential image because of how much the public is capable of loving dogs. If you mistreat the dog, the public sees and will hail fury on your image. Such as the ‘Ear Incident’ with Lyndon B. Johnson. He picked his dogs up by their ears to show the public a tactic to prevent barking and in horror at the possible animal abuse- the public rained fury down upon him. If you treat a dog right, as portrayed by FDR in his endless amounts of animals, specifically dogs, you are a more publically beloved president.
Dogs are also considered massive remedies to saddened and stiff personalities of the President. The office in its entirety is not an easy job and is presumably very stressful. Bringing a dog into the White House shows a more fun and likable side to the President. It’s a joy to see our Commander in Chief taking the time to frolic around with his dog on the White House lawn. It makes them more understandable and more approachable as a President. They not only make us, the public happier with our President, but also the President themselves.
The Positive Effects of Dogs
Scientifically, dogs do actually make our lives better. As creature, their loyalty and love come without return. They incite responsibility in us and a kindness that is reflected in the innate beauty of their personalities. Dogs are bright and innocent creatures. They take after their owners in personality and love without cause. Dogs make us better people. They teach us life lessons, train us in routines, and show us the importance of companionship without trade. Dogs don’t love their owners because they feed them, hug them, or house them. They aren’t loyal to their owners because they are trained to do so. Dogs love their owners because they have chosen to do so. It’s not a sort of bond that can be so easily broken or interfered with. It’s unconditionally and a vital life lesson in life for any human being, not just our president.
F.D.O.T.U.S
Dogs teach us valuable life lessons that come from bringing a new life and responsibility into our lives. They show us the feeling of unconditional love and bring out our better sides. With the first dogs of the United States, they do part of the same thing. They bring out the best sides of our country and the best sides of our commander in chief. Our current Commander in Chief is one of the two presidents who does not house any animals in the White House, but perhaps he will change that before the end of his term. Maybe our next president will bring a dog with them into Office. However, one thing is for sure as a nation, we would love to have another dog in the White House.
