Presidency has been going to the dogs for years
Monday, May 12, 2008 - 12:00 AM Updated: 01:59 PM
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By R.G. Elmore, D.V.M.
Copley News Service
Q: Among all of the hype about our national election in November, I have not seen anything about whether or not our leading candidates for president own pets. It seems to me that most of our past presidents have owned pets. I always enjoy seeing Barney meet President Bush as he gets off of the helicopter at the White House. I hope that our new president is an animal lover. I think that owning and loving animals says a great deal about a person's character.
A: You are correct in that most of our past presidents have owned pets. Although it has not been documented as to the time and place of the quote, it is said that President Harry S. Truman said, "If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog." Sometimes it seems like our pets are our only true friends, even for presidents!
There is strong evidence that presidential pets have affected the history of the United States. Although many examples could be given, two of the most well-known involve Fala, President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Scottie, and Checkers, then-Sen. Richard Nixon's dog.
A speech given in 1944 when Roosevelt was running for his fourth term was named the "Fala Speech." Apparently this speech turned the race around and Roosevelt did win the election. Similarly, a speech given in 1952 by Nixon while he was the vice-presidential candidate with Dwight D. Eisenhower was later called the "Checkers Speech." This speech saved Nixon's place on the Republican ticket.
President Lyndon B. Johnson received a lot of negative press in 1964 when he picked his beagles, Him and Her, up by the ears to be photographed while talking to a group of bankers. President Johnson soon realized his mistake because of the outcry of animal lovers all across the United States. Many other examples of when pets affected the U.S. presidency could be given.
Hillary Clinton owns a chocolate lab named Seamus and Barack Obama has no pets. John McCain owns three turtles, three parakeets, a ferret, two dogs, a cat and some saltwater fish.
Based on past election history, it would be well for the three front-runners to run campaign advertisements containing animals. Most U.S. voters are love animals.
Q: Is it still important to vaccinate dogs against the disease called "leptospirosis"? We have never heard of a dog getting this disease, and yet our veterinarian still recommends the vaccination.
A: While leptospirosis is not currently diagnosed in dogs in the United States very often, it can cause very severe illness, particularly in puppies. Because leptospirosis vaccine is relatively inexpensive and very safe, it is recommended by most veterinarians. Vaccinating dogs against leptospirosis is relatively inexpensive insurance against a very serious disease. You should follow your veterinarian's recommendations. He or she knows the disease risks for your pets in your geographical area.
Send e-mail to copleysd@copleynews.com or write to Pets, Copley News Service, P.O. Box 120190, San Diego, CA 92112-0190. Only questions of general interest will be answered in this column.
© Copley News Service
Visit Copley News Service at www.copleynews.com.
Copley News Service
Q: Among all of the hype about our national election in November, I have not seen anything about whether or not our leading candidates for president own pets. It seems to me that most of our past presidents have owned pets. I always enjoy seeing Barney meet President Bush as he gets off of the helicopter at the White House. I hope that our new president is an animal lover. I think that owning and loving animals says a great deal about a person's character.
A: You are correct in that most of our past presidents have owned pets. Although it has not been documented as to the time and place of the quote, it is said that President Harry S. Truman said, "If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog." Sometimes it seems like our pets are our only true friends, even for presidents!
There is strong evidence that presidential pets have affected the history of the United States. Although many examples could be given, two of the most well-known involve Fala, President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Scottie, and Checkers, then-Sen. Richard Nixon's dog.
A speech given in 1944 when Roosevelt was running for his fourth term was named the "Fala Speech." Apparently this speech turned the race around and Roosevelt did win the election. Similarly, a speech given in 1952 by Nixon while he was the vice-presidential candidate with Dwight D. Eisenhower was later called the "Checkers Speech." This speech saved Nixon's place on the Republican ticket.
President Lyndon B. Johnson received a lot of negative press in 1964 when he picked his beagles, Him and Her, up by the ears to be photographed while talking to a group of bankers. President Johnson soon realized his mistake because of the outcry of animal lovers all across the United States. Many other examples of when pets affected the U.S. presidency could be given.
Hillary Clinton owns a chocolate lab named Seamus and Barack Obama has no pets. John McCain owns three turtles, three parakeets, a ferret, two dogs, a cat and some saltwater fish.
Based on past election history, it would be well for the three front-runners to run campaign advertisements containing animals. Most U.S. voters are love animals.
Q: Is it still important to vaccinate dogs against the disease called "leptospirosis"? We have never heard of a dog getting this disease, and yet our veterinarian still recommends the vaccination.
A: While leptospirosis is not currently diagnosed in dogs in the United States very often, it can cause very severe illness, particularly in puppies. Because leptospirosis vaccine is relatively inexpensive and very safe, it is recommended by most veterinarians. Vaccinating dogs against leptospirosis is relatively inexpensive insurance against a very serious disease. You should follow your veterinarian's recommendations. He or she knows the disease risks for your pets in your geographical area.
Send e-mail to copleysd@copleynews.com or write to Pets, Copley News Service, P.O. Box 120190, San Diego, CA 92112-0190. Only questions of general interest will be answered in this column.
© Copley News Service
Visit Copley News Service at www.copleynews.com.
