Presidential Pets: A Brief History of all the Animals Kept in the US White House

One of President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden's two German shepherds, Major, hit the headlines this week after allegedly biting a staff member.

Biden's Dogs

After the incident, the dogs were taken to the Biden family's home in Delaware. Still, White House press secretary Jen Psaki assured reporters that the pets are" "getting used to their new surroundings" and that they will eventually return to the White House.

Major, 3, and Champ, the Bidens' 13-year-old bull, are the next in a long line of presidential pets to rule the White House.

White House Pets

About every president has had pets at the White House, ranging from cats and puppies to farm animals and more.

Former President George Washington began the practice of presidential pets by keeping at least a dozen dogs in the office, in addition to horses and former first lady Martha Washington's beloved parrot, even though he never lived in the White House.

According to Claire Jerry, a curator of political history at the National Museum of American History, a pet is a vital asset for the president because it will make him "seem like one of the people."

Jerry told The Hill, "It has a long history, as well as the feeling of being a very personal link to the president."

Former Presidents Andrew Johnson, James Polk, and Donald Trump are the only three presidents who haven't kept animals in the White House.

Importance of Pets

According to Lina Mann of the White House Historical Association, Presidential dogs will serve as a reminder that, although the White House is the president's office, it is still a residence.

"Throughout history, the pets have taken on a life of their own," Mann told The Hill. "They are non-political entities," says the author. I believe their popularity stems from the fact that they are simply family pets.

Since the presidency of former President John Adams, Americans have debated the pets in the White House. Former President Harding's favorite puppy, "Laddie Boy," is credited with being the first "first pet"

Laddie Boy was the first White House pet to gain national exposure and seat at presidential cabinet meetings. Harding also wrote letters to newspaper editors and arranged birthday parties in the dog's honor.

But, as Jerry pointed out, dogs have long acted as more than just a photo-op for presidents.

"Being president can be a lonely task at times, and owning a cat, how many of us have looked to our pets for relief during the pandemic?" Jerry wondered.

"I can well understand that being a resident of the White House would be a moment when you would accept keeping a pet as both a source of support and a way of communicating with the public," she added.

Dogs as Presidential Companion

A dog is the most popular presidential companion. Thirty-three presidents have taken dogs to the White House, with 15 owning horses and birds each.

According to Mann, dogs are a common choice for presidents since they are "man's best friend."

"You want the president to have a loving side," she said. "A lot of presidents show how they care about their family and then show how they care about their pets."

However, not any of the Oval Office dogs have been family friends for a long time. Any of the president's dogs were sent to him as presents from Congress and international representatives.

Former Senator Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) and his partner, Victoria Kennedy, gave former President Barack Obama's puppy, Bo, to the first family.

Former Soviet Union Premier Nikita Khrushchev gave former President John F. Kennedy a dog called Pushinka.

Pushinka was the puppy of a Soviet dog called Strelka, who traveled into orbit on a spacecraft in 1960 during the space race between the former Soviet Union and the United States.

Some of the first puppies have also played a part in American political dynasties. Milly, the puppy of former President George H.W. Bush, had a litter of puppies in 1989. Spot, one of the puppies, will live in the White House with President George W. Bush's family during his presidency.

Other Animals (Even Exotics)

Aside from dogs, cats are also a staple part of the white house pet history. But, there are more animals to have been a part of the menagerie. During his time in office, former President Theodore Roosevelt kept at least 40 animals, including rats, guinea pigs, a badger, a macaw, a bear, a hyena, flying squirrels, and more.

Regardless of what animals presidents have kept as pets, from cats and puppies to raccoons, they are still vital members of the first family.

Jerry explained, "They do become so much a part of our thought about presidential families." "Isn't that what we do at home, too?" Our dogs are also members of our families."