Dogs Return to the White House!
After a four year drought, dogs have returned to the White House! President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden have brought their two dogs (and a cat) with them to Washington DC.
Ex-President Trump was famously the first chief executive in more than 100 years to NOT have any pet in the White House, let alone a beloved dog.
In 2008 the Bidens adopted Champ. Ten years later they welcomed Major to their household.
As President Harry Truman famously said: “If you want a friend in this life, get a dog.” The Bidens have heeded this advice twice over.
Click here, here, and here for more stories about Champ and Major from the New York Times.
Service Dogs Only on Commercial Flights
Commercial airlines will no longer accommodate passengers flying with emotional support animals.
The Washingtopn Post reports that new rules from the Department of Transportation define:
“… a service animal to be a dog that is ‘individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability’ and limits the number of service animals a person can travel with to two. It also requires airlines to treat psychiatric service animals as they would other service animals.”
It sounds like there will be no more service pigs, turkeys, or wombats flying the friendly skies.
Click here for more from WaPo. And click here to read more from Urban Dog about traveling with your dog.
Covid 19 Dog News
Quarantine Adoptions
One good thing to come from the pandemic and the quarantine was that many animal shelters experienced huge spikes in adoptions. People needed company while they hunkered down, socially distanced.
A study found that cat adoptions edged out dog adoptions by one percent.
Which states favored dogs? Here’s a list: Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Virginia.
Animal Care Center Branch Closes
The Manhattan branch of the city’s Animal Care Centers has been temporarily closed after staffers tested positive for coronavirus.
In true New York fashion, shelters throughout the city stepped up and starting taking animals in need of fostering.
Here’s more from the New York Daily News.
Westminster Dog Show Re-Scheduled
The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show usually takes place in New York City in February at the Piers and in Madison Square Garden.
Due to the pandemic, this year it has been rescheduled to June and will be taking place at Lyndhurst Castle in Tarrytown.
Here’s more from People Magazine.
Animaniacs Are Back!
One of my favorite cartoons is back!
The Animaniacs have found a new home on the streaming services Hulu.
Why is this a dog story?
Well, there’s some controversy surrounding Yakko, Wakko, and Dot Warners’ essential natures.
Are they dogs? Pandas? Cats?
Here’s the low down from the show’s producers:
“Although they have dog-like characteristics, the exact type of animal the Warners are meant to be is unknown. According to the show bible – a book filled with background information for the creative team on a TV show – their species is labeled as ‘Cartoonus Characterus.’”
For more on cartoon dogs read Urban Dog’s popular story Guess What Breeds These Cartoon Dogs Are.
The Tail
Here are some dogs videos to watch on Tik Tok. It’s a little long, but the videos are really cute!
