From Abigail Adams’ dogs, Juno and Satan, to Bo Obama, the animal companions who live at the White House become such a part of our country’s collective culture (there is even a Presidential Pet Museum!) that everyone, regardless of political affiliation, mourns their passing.
When we heard that President George W. Bush’s dog Barney, famous for his annual “BarneyCam” Christmas videos, died, PETA sent a letter of condolence to the Bush family, mentioning that a leaf with Barney’s name engraved on it would be added to the Tree of Life memorial sculpture at our Norfolk, Virginia, headquarters:
PETA received this gracious response from President Bush:
Whether you’re an ordinary Joe (or Jane) or the leader of the free world, when a dog takes hold of your heart, it’s the start of something very special. Make sure that your dogs know just how special they are to you before they turn off the lights forever by treating them right—and that includes making a proper fuss over them on a regular basis.
