Current Article

How Deep is Your Love?

By Linda Anselmi on April 13, 2009 at 8:00 PM in Current Affairs, President Barack Obama

Dear Mr. President and the American People:

This may seem like a strange question to ask, but we really need to know – how deep is your love?

You see, we’ve been reading and hearing a lot of scary news lately about people losing their homes and having to give up their pets. And, well, we’re becoming concerned. Well, more than concerned and more than a little worried. And not to give the impression that we are a bunch of crazed animals, but we are pretty much in a state of staring down panic, while fighting off paralyzing fear. And let me tell you, its not pretty. Not pretty at all. But then, neither is a lot of what is going on in our lives.

Mr. President, we realize that there are a lot of important causes out there and a lot of compelling needs demanding your and everyone’s attention. And those needs are growing daily. But this is our cause. This is the one we know deeply and personally. So this is the one we feel compelled to speak up about.

“We” are every past, present and future mix-breed, pure breed, stray, abandoned, abused, adopted, hoarded, loved, spoiled, neglected domestic animal companion (a.k.a. dogs and cats).

And our cause – is our lives.

Despite our cute and cuddly beginnings and the adored and pampered lives of the lucky few, for millions of us, annually, our lives are short and brutal, and our deaths are ugly and inescapable. We love you humans like no others. But in return we ask not for unconditional love. What we want and need from our human companions is loving responsibility and restraint. Because as things stand right now, a death sentence is issued with the birth of each and every puppy or kitten.

Okay, your eyes are starting to cross. You’re thinking pet overpopulation is a sad fact of life for “unwanted pets”. And besides, you do your part. You spay and neuter all your pets. (We luv ya and thank ya big time!) You regularly donate and volunteer at your local animal shelter, humane society, or rescue group. (Our heros – we luv, luv, luv ya!) You adopted and/or rescued your pets. (We luv ya with all our hearts and we’ll be thankful to the end of our days.)

Still, we need to talk.

You see, the sad truth is that pet overpopulation and the uncontrolled breeding of pets has created a vicious cycle that affects humans as well as animals. And in a lot more ways than you humans imagine. And well, we need to bring you up to date. Kind of show you the big picture and give you a glimpse of the future. Because we are telling you, you’ll be shocked. We were. And we pretty much had our paws on the ground with this, so to speak. And don’t worry. We won’t make you watch any gruesome videos or give you graphic, gory details. We promise.

So here goes…

According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association there are approximately 74.8 million owned dogs and 88.3 million owned cats in the US.

According to the Humane Society of the United States, 6-8 million (a conservative estimate) dogs and cats enter shelters each year across the USA. Annually, 3-5 million are adopted or reclaimed by owners. The remaining 3-4 million dogs and cats are euthanized. That’s right, every year 3-4 million of us are killed because we lack a home. That is it. That is our big crime. And our punishment is death.

Yes, there are no kill shelters and rescue groups but they can only do so much. In the end they are only a reprieve for a lucky few. The rest of us must go to a shelter where we only have on average 72 hours to find a home, or we must die to make room for more homeless pets, who must be adopted or reclaimed by owners within 72 hours or they too must die, to make room for more pets…

And so it goes, day after day, year after year. And yet, here is the thing humans. How can we not be homeless?

In the USA, more than 2,000 dogs and 3,500 cats are born every hour, but only 415 humans. That’s right. We dogs and cats are out reproducing humans at an estimated 13 to 1.

No way, you’re thinking. Those numbers can’t be right.

Well, we don’t want to brag or anything, but we are darn good at reproduction. It’s in our nature. And well, the mechanics of it are all in our favor too. We cats and dogs reach breeding maturity at 6 months. Our average number of litters per year is 3 for a cat and 2 for a dog. Our average number of kittens per litter 4-6. Our average number of dogs per litter: 6-10.

Hey, we told you we are good at this.

So, okay. You’re seeing maybe how this could happen. And yes, 5,500 pets being born per hour; 132,000 dogs and cats daily, is a bit shocking. But you’re thinking people are more educated now. They routinely spay and neuter their pets. Pets have a much shorter life span than humans – only 15 years for a dog and 20 years for a cat. Besides the annual number of euthanized pets has been going down for years.

Our response to all that is yes, it is true – for the most part. Most humans are becoming more educated and responsible about pet reproduction and spaying and neutering their pets. But we still have 28% of owned dogs and 13% of owned cats that are not spayed or neutered. And most and more sounds great until you realize that in the end, it all comes down to the amazing power of one.

“One pregnant female cat and her offspring can theoretically produce 420,000 cats in seven years.”

One pregnant female dog and her offspring can theoretically produce 67,000 dogs in six years.”

Yup, we can see those eyes are wide open now. You are getting a feel for the big picture. Well, don’t rush it. Let it sink in a minute while we share a few other things that are keeping us awake at night.

Approximately one-quarter of the dogs in shelters are purebreds who were originally purchased and then abandoned.(5)

One out of every five animal companions becomes lost at some point in their lives. Of these, only 16% of dogs and about 2% of cats are ever recovered by their guardians.(6)

Most animals who are not taken in by someone or brought to a shelter starve or freeze to death, die from illness or get run over by cars.(7)

Over 30% of the animals who wind up in shelters are surrendered by their guardians, who, for whatever reason, are either unable or unwilling to care for them anymore.(8)

Admittedly, we like to pretend we can run a household to our liking (when we get the chance), but the truth is we are dependent on you humans for just about everything. Our love, our food, our shelter, and the care of our health. Yes the best of us can run our human companions around in circles, but we can’t make vet appointments. We can’t drive a car or manage other forms of transportation. We can’t pay bills. We know nothing about surgeries or organs and the like.

Yes, we need you humans. We need you to put an end to this vicious killing cycle that too many shelters have been forced into. We can not do this for ourselves. So please, show us the depth of your love by help us to ensure that every dog and cat gets their chance at a loving home and long healthy life.

Love us enough to spay and neuter us.

Love us enough to support local spay and neuter programs so even the strays and homeless pets in your area will reproduce less.

Love us enough to not breed us for profit or fun (especially now when the economy is eliminating more and more current and future adopter homes).

Love us enough to adopt from a rescue group, animal shelter or humane society.

Love us enough to provide us with id tags or microchipping.

Love us enough to find room in your home when friends and family need to give up a loving and beloved pet.

And in return we will be your best friend and your biggest supporter. We will be at your side through thick and thin, in good times and bad. And we will love you with all our hearts and for all our days.

Thank you.

Zane Grey and Charlemagne
Cat and Dog representatives of Domestic Animal Companions United for a Better Future

Fun Cat Music Video on YouTube

Tricia Spiegel

Fantastic post!!!! I loved every word.

We have 2 dogs, one a purchased purebred and another rescue purebred (same breed). We will love them both the same forever.
Portia Elizabeth

Linda– I’m sitting here with my Gracie sleeping in my lap as tears roll down my face. Thank you for this essay. I was so disappointed when I heard that a shelter dog had lost the chance to go to the White House. They’ve been touting the new Bo as a rescue, but the truth is a breeder still collects a nice fee for such a dog. (I’ve had a little experience with pure-bred sources.) This latest is just more spin to cover another broken promise.

The saddest part is that, in addition to increased numbers of surrendered pets because people can no longer afford to take care of them (foreclosures rob pets of their homes, too), is that donations to the pet-centered charities have fallen off drastically since the downturn.

I would ask every pet lover here to find it in your heart to donate. If you can’t afford to give money, shelters can always use volunteers to walk dogs or just pet cats and brush their fur. We can’t do everything, but we can all do something.
Peggy Sue

I understand the shelters are being overwhelmed right now with animals because owners are having a harder time affording food and vet bills [which are getting really prohibitive]. I just had my two Berners in for their annual check and shot updates. The bill was nearly $500.

Ouch!

This is an important reminder for people, Linda. The critters depend on us, just like furry children. I’ve already told my husband our next pup will come from a rescue facility. Every little bit helps.

Thanks for the post!
http://sarainitalyblog.blogspot.com/ American Girl in Italy

I am so glad you covered this!! I was reading all these stories about Obama not getting a shelter dog, and was getting so mad. They are now totally lying about the dog’s story now, creating this whole back story to cover the fact they didn’t get a shelter dog! It appears they will lie about anything.

“A quick search of the Petfinder website Monday revealed 14 Portuguese water dogs at shelters across the country, including a female named Pepper being kept at a foster home in the District. “She is an adorable and sweet 2-3 yr old Portuguese Water dog that we found in a high kill shelter!” writes the rescue group K-9 Lifesavers on the ad. “She loves kids and other dogs.”

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/animal-rescue-groups-split-over-obamas-new-dog-2009-04-13.html

The kennedy’s just happened upon the exact type of dog obama wanted? pleeeeease. And the breeder said it is not a rescue dog. it went to another family, then to the trainer, then to obama, so they could call it a rescue dog. Can’t they just say they couldn’t find a rescue dog, but needed that type for her allergies? they have to concoct this whole fake story.

http://www.msnbc. msn.com/id/ 30194173/

I seem to recall Ellen Degeneres lost their dog because she didn’t return the dog to the breeder, either.

Did Obama Break a Pledge to Adopt a Rescue Dog?
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/04/did-obama-break.html

Sorry for all the links, but this story just came out, and so did your post. I have been begging my inlaws to get a rescue dog, not a dog from a breeder.

Elizabeth

I 100% agree that we should always adopt and rescue instead of supporting breeders. Adopting a dog from a shelter would have encouraged others to do the same. The President and VP squandered an unbelievable opportunity to set a positive example by adopting a dog from a shelter.

On the other hand, it’s a two edged sword. Even if this pup were produced in a mill, under horrendous conditions (ie where Biden’s German Sheppard came from), it is still a sentient being and has the rights to a good home just as much as a pound mutt does. The WH is giving it a home. Yes, it’s unfortunate that some dogs are bred in less-than-ideal conditions, but IT’S NOT THE DOGS FAULT, and no puppy should be punished becasue some person was irresponsible.

Bad dog-breeding facilities can be shut down through legislation and activism etc. Then those animals in the worst living situations will be sent to shelters and will need homes regardless.

My three rescue babies are all cats, but this is one more dog that has a home. In these days and times, that’s a positive and compassionate action we can all be very thankful for.

James Guglielmino

Elizabeth, I would like to offer some comments on your post. I think you are jumping to a conclusion that is unwarranted regarding the breeder of Biden’s dog. Having experienced what I have, it is unlikely that I would buy a dog from ANY breeder but I have training and experiences that Joe Biden and most others don’t have. That training and experience leads me to understand that there really are some people out there who I would call “good breeders.” Now, we could discuss if *any* breeder of dogs can be “good,” but that is a different discussion and very much subject to one’s prejudices, not objective reasoning. It is, perhaps a little like declawing cats. The issue of puppy mills is an UGLY one. If you think that just because you and I and so many others hate seeing animals abused (how shall we define that? How many people attending this blog believe that water boarding ISN’T torture?) that you can shut down those mills. The dog breeding industry knows how to spell lobbyist, I promise you.
Shutting down bad dog breeders is a huge, ongoing battle.
Then, there is the issue of the rescue groups. They are ALL well intentioned. Most of them end up doing considerable harm. Do you think, for example, that if a woman adopts a cat, takes it home and finds that it is totally untrained to litter and brings it back to the rescue group, that she should be humiliated, demonized? I happen to know a woman who found herself in exactly that situation. I also happen to know intimately, the immense effort, emotional and financial, that she put into providing a loving and caring home for the cat that was euthanized before she visited the rescue group to get a new cat. Power corrupts. In New Jersey, PETA caused complaints to be made against a veterinarian after he hired a “spy” staff person, who video taped him and testified against him. If I recall correctly, he was eventually found not guilty of the charges. Was he the kind of veterinarian I want myself to be? I don’t know. Did he deserve to be demonized? Perhaps not. PETA is probably the most radical of the rescue groups and in my view, goes too far in some cases.

Let me describe an impossible scene to you: You are in a small room with a sociopath who is holding a gun to your head. On the floor is a Basset hound, puppy, around 6 months old and a child, about 3. You are handed a gun with one bullet and told that you are required to kill one of the creatures on the floor. There are no “neither of the above” answers. Which are you going to kill? Waht am I trying to point out? Human beings are not all the same. Some like dogs, some dislike them. Some like little dogs. Some like big, mean looking dogs. Some like cats. Some are allergic to cats. We humans exist on a spectrum. Someone at the very, very tip of one end of that spectrum……would kill the child to save the puppy.

On the other hand, some of these dogs that rescue groups are determined to save, shouldn’t be saved. All life is valuable but we cannot or should not judge dogs the way we do humans. What if a dog bites? Clients are FOREVER telling me that they believe there dog was abused as a puppy. What about genetics? What about the dog that inherited bad genes? If a dog threatens a child in the home, that dog should, without question, be removed from the home. No if’s and’s or but’s. PERIOD. In such a case, the owner should consider euthanasia but the dog must be removed from the home. Can you imagine a situation where the previously loved family dog severely injures or even kills the baby?

To sum up….because I could really write much more and I already see your eyes getting droopy, this issue, like so many, is very, very complex. There is no “fits all” answer.
Jim Guglielmino, DVM
Mission, Kansas

Ferd Berfle

My wife and I are the animal people in our neighborhood. We have adopted 12 cats and 3 dogs over the course of the last 11 years. We still have all of them but one, Buster, who died a month ago at the age of 16. We like to think of them as our four-legged family members. Of course, they know we are just the hired help.

oowawa

HaHa Ferd–Our posts crossed in cyberspace. When I spoke of the hypothetical soul who had 25 cats & 3 dogs (see post below), I really wasn’t thinking of you! And besides, you still have 13 cats to go to measure up to that paradigm! May the powers that form this universe bless you!

Ferd Berfle

And besides, you still have 13 cats to go to measure up to that paradigm! May the powers that form this universe bless you!

LMAO

Well, Katmoon and I are blessed but we’re going to wait to add to our menagerie for a while. We have our hands full with the little eating machines as it is. And they take up a lot of space on the bed, which is now theirs, apparently.

oowawa

Linda, for me (and I know for many other NQ readers), this post is almost too painful to read. If it saves one cat, or one dog, it will have been worth it. I could easily wind up being one of those characters you read about from time-to-time in the papers: “Today police removed 25 cats and 3 dogs from the home of a reclusive old . . . ” But I know that at my age and in my present condition, I have to show some restraint in pet ownership (I pamper 2 cats). As life goes on, it becomes more and more evident to me how important it is to be kind to animals, and to take care of them to the best of your ability.

And for once, I’m not trying to be funny. I take this subject very seriously.

Ferd Berfle

As life goes on, it becomes more and more evident to me how important it is to be kind to animals, and to take care of them to the best of your ability.

And for once, I’m not trying to be funny. I take this subject very seriously.

You are so right, oowawa. We are only as good as we treat those who are entrusted to us.

Katmoon

I’ll tell you, my four-leggers are pure sweetness, and some of the best nurturing I have ever found. When my RA is giving me a particularly bad day, it is as if my “tailed” family has an instinct, and kicks into nurse mode. They are close and loving and right next to me, licking a hand or cuddling close. No medicine on earth can give me what they do .

oowawa

Katmoon, you and Ferd are indeed fortunate to have such a large, loving extended family!

Katmoon

We are oowawa, and the comic relief, well with the cats telling on Ferd quite often, you can imagine. He never wins those arguments..

mdmdstork

I agree that dog and cat overpopulation is a problem. I also feel that pet ownership gives people so much joy. The world would be even more depressing place without dogs and cats. Most top breeders sell puppies only on spay/neuter contracts and we always take our dogs back if people are unable to keep them. I have had one 8 year old dog returned secondary to foreclosure with two others possibly coming home soon.
The big problem is that many breeders don’t do these things,especially puppy mills, backyard breeders and people who let their dogs run and are too irresponsible to neuter their animals. Unfortunately many “animal rights activists” don’t believe in pet ownership. They won’t be satisfied until no dog or cat breeding occurs. We need to do our best to curtail irresponsible breeding while keeping the option of pet ownership available to those who desire it.

Ferd Berfle

I concur.

wodiej

great thread. I own 2 dogs and also give financial support to my local SPCA as well as volunteer. I have been known to take strays in off the street too even though I already had 2 mouths to feed. Mine are very affectionate and a great joy and comfort.

I live in Indiana and they are going to pass a law to regulate breeding to cut down on puppy mills. This will help some unfortunately, there are always going to be irresponsible, evil people who animals will have the misfortune to be owned by.
OT

Recently someone I know put a request in an online group for a “medium sized dog”, no other requirements — and the ONLY response was from a ‘rescue’ group. People who want pets have a hard time finding any direct from owners. If so many animals are being killed — it’s not for lack of people wanting them.

Also, there would be more success in getting animals sterilized if alternatives such as vasectomy and non-ovarian hystrectomy were more publicized. Some people want population control but prefer the animal to keep its natural personality.

Linda Anselmi

OT -

I think many groups might be suspicious that such a vague requirement might indicate someone looking for a “test” dog or “fight” victim. Sadly not all people looking for dogs are interested in giving them a good home.

TeakwoodKite

I heard this person on Art Bell rerun recently and what she had to say blew my mind. The information on “rendering plants” was sick.
I pulled into the driveway and sat in my car listening, stunned.
Soylent Green of Pets (My title)
(To hear this you have to log in to coast to coast streaming) But if you want to know what happens to those forgotten animals…
I wonder if she would be a candidate for a blog talk radio show?

Ann Martin Bio

Thanks for the post Linda
http://www.marklevinshow.com Seattle Moss

Washington State is cracking down hard on puppy mills. Several have been busted in the last few months and the poor dogs are being cared for by wonderful volunteers.
As for myself I’m not afraid to confront low life bastards that abuse their animals.
Just last week I went on the offensive against a person who thinks it’s cool to keep a dog in a small cage all the time.
That low life bottom feeder is shivering in his boots at what I had to say on a note I left at his door..Now he knows he is being watched.
I will follow up later….

the gal from cal

Yay! Go Seattle Moss! Glad you put the scumbag on notice!

http://www.partizane.com NewHampster

I hope they give the little guy all the love he deserves, but they are, dare I say it, LIARS.

Not only liars but my goodness the thought of such elites getting a rescue dog that was someone elses, yuck. Not his Oliness, nope nope nope.

Have a fun and good life BO. BO the dog.
elise

I hope everyone who reads this post will be touched and moved to do something for these critters. We’ve been to the local humane society several times on different missions and I want people to go there and keep in mind it is “death row”, look into the eyes of these animals and open your hearts. There are so many stories I could relate here, but I’ll stick to the one which brought the truth to my attention. My sister lived next door to a veterinarian and several years ago she was looking for a home for an absolutely stunning Persian cat. It seems she had been bred over and over again over her eight years, the breeder took her to the vet and never picked her up. I took her and she lived with us for seven years before she died of cancer. She was so sweet, but hadn’t had a lot of human contact and it took months for her to allow us to pet her and finally one night, she hopped up on the foot of the bed and slept there. She was beautiful, sweet and intelligent. My husband and I both cried when she died and I still keep her picture on a counter in the kitchen. There was a feline rescue group in our side of town and we worked with them until they ran out of funds and had to close. I can’t believe Obama decided not to go to a shelter. If he had, maybe his heart would have been touched and he or his wife would have spoken out for these animals. I do not believe they couldn’t have found a shelter dog which didn’t aggravate an allergy. Thank you so much for this post, Linda.
meileen

Very sad situation. Too bad our leader can’t set an example for the rest of the nation.

I obtained my blue heeler as a 9 week old pup from a sanctuary in Northern California (The Milo Foundation). This dog is the smartest critter in the world, smarter than many adults, I’d say. Definitely smarter than m0st of our p0ls.
Obama: Dubya II Electric Boogaloo

Major cat lover here. I found my cat Phil in my old backyard when I lived on 45th ave in SF. I found him in October 1992, held him in my hand and it was a head on one side and a tail on the other. Hes 16 1/2 today but unfortunalty dying from cancer. Stuborn has he his he still continues doing his kitty thing. He’s got about 1-3 months left I think but I’ll probably take in a couple from a shelter I’ve been looking at lately.

I’m not a big dog person but I really love cats. They have their life, I have mine, and occasionally we eat together and hang out. I love that!

LesleeE

“Major cat lover here”. Me too, love dogs but cats are my passion.
Sending good thoughts and love to you both.

mountainaires

I have 5 dogs, 4 of them are rescues that were dumped off in our neighborhood. We took them in, love them, spayed and neutered them, feed them, walk them, and protect them. It’s painful for me to even read the beautiful, sad, but loving essay you wrote, because it wounds me to my very soul that a human being could be apathetic about the neglect and abuse of any animal. In my life, it’s been a mission to protect them, love them and save them. I could no more pass by an animal that needed help, than I could pass by an infant dumped on the side of the road. It’s a moral imperative; it’s God’s directive to me personally to help them whenever and wherever I can. I have the most wonderful friends and neighbors who feel the same way, and I love those people dearly–one of them has 7 dogs, all rescues. We pride ourselves on being the nuts of the neighborhood, out walking 5-7 dogs together, while onlookers chuckle at our wackiness. They are the wacky ones, if you ask me, because they don’t have the gift of “mission” that we special ones have.

I believe there’s a heaven especially for us, and it’s filled with our four-legged angels, who’ll greet us at the Rainbow Bridge…

Linda Anselmi

Mountainaires –

Many blessings upon you and your dog loving heart. I’ll bet those dog walks are never dull.

Portia Elizabeth

May I just add that birds have rescue groups, too? I have a dear friend in Houston who is part of a wonderful parrot-rescue org. She has 12 at her house right now, 3 foster birds, the rest her own although most of them are rescues.
Her newesy baby is a macaw who was used as an alarm for a dog-fighting group. Deja would scream when any strangers got close to the hideout. She had little socialization and no one had ever taught her to talk. My friend fostered her and felll in love. Deja is still a bit shy, but doesn’t scream much anymore and gives kisses.
If you’re considering getting a parrot and you understand patience is needed to earn their trust, please think about a rescued bird. Many have sad stories in their past, but still want to give affection and companionship.
My African grey, Lola, is a constant source of joy. And she keeps my two dogs and five cats in line with her bossiness.

Linda Anselmi

Portia – Thanks for sharing. Yes. Bird and parrot rescue groups do great work also. I would love to have a bird some day. For now i take my joy from watching my outdoor visitors.

the gal from cal

Sobering article thank you for posting it Linda. I challenge everyone here to go to this site and click on the button everyday (I do it 6 times a day since each click is only .6 of a bowl of food for a homeless animal).It’s free to do and you will help many. You can click as many times as you’d care to refresh the page:

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3&link=ctg_ars_home_from_ars_thankyou_sitenav

Another thing you can do is donate just $5 (about the cost of a cup of Starbucks coffee LOL) to any number of good organizations listed below:

http://www.aldf.org
http://www.aimeesanimals.com
http://www.americanhumane.com
http://www.aspca.org
http://www.bestfriends.org
http://www.ddal.org
http://www.guidedogsofamerica.org/
http://www.hsus.org/
http://www.idausa.org/
http://www.ifaw.org
http://www.thefundforanimals.org/home/
http://www.navs.org
http://www.pcrm.org
http://www.peta-online.org

I am donating $5 to Best Friends will any of you folks match me?
the gal from cal

Why was my post getting eaten? Ok 3rd attempt:
To help homeless animals go to this site and click on the click to give button. You can refresh and click as many times as you care to each click is .6 of a bowl of food for a homeless animal.

http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/home.faces?siteId=3&link=ctg_ars_home_from_ars_thankyou_sitenav

Please do this everyday and for the price of a Starbucks coffee ($5) you could also help a homeless animal at Best friends Animal Sanctuary or any of your local pet shelters please give I am am giving $5 today will any one match my challenge?

LesleeE

Thanks for the reminder, great site.

Serf Nation

Heard on Fox a couple days ago that the reason he got this breed was because Ted Kennedy has them and he wanted Obama to get one like his. They also said that Kennedy arranged to get the dog which is from a breeder that Kennedy uses.

So once again, it was “payback” for a political favor. He couln’t say no to Ted Kennedy after all the Kennedy’s did to get him elected…

The elites, you know, can’t use anything but the best – a pound would be 2nd class to them. Same as the girls needing to go to the best private school, while there’s not a second thought given to the kids who have to stop going there because the Dems are discontinuing the DC school vouchers. Everything Obama and the Dems have been doing is related to a political favor.

Very disappointing, but not unexpected knowing his track record and ethical standards

His actions were a huge lost benefit for humane societies across the country. You know there will be a run on this type of dog and people will get them from breeders because that’s what the Obama’s did. He could have promoted shelter use by getting this type of dog from a shelter and kept the premise of his “charming” campaign promise (get a mutt like him)while and still pleased Kennedy by getting the breed he has.