Mutts like me
President-elect Barack Obama gave his first press conference today.
In his usual style, he was calm, thoughtful and exuded a preturnatural sense of confidence.
But among the pressing questions about the faltering economy and the threat from Iran, Obama was asked what is no doubt the most important issue his kids have to deal with: The dog he promised them.
Here's the exchange he had with reporters via CNN:
Obama told a group of reporters in Chicago on Friday that since his 10-year-old daughter, Malia, is allergic, the Obama family is looking for a hypoallergenic breed. But Obama also said the family wants to adopt one from a shelter.
"There are a number of breeds that are hypoallergenic, but on the other hand our preference is to get a shelter dog, but obviously, a lot of the shelter dogs are mutts like me," Obama said. "So, whether we are going to be able to balance those two things I think is a pressing issue on the Obama household."Obama is of mixed racial heritage: His mother was Caucasian and his father was African.
Obama announced in his victory speech on Election Day that his daughters had "earned" a puppy. Obama joked that this is a "major issue" and said that since Election Day, the family's dog choice has created more interest than any other topic.
As well it should.
I wonder what ever happened to Socks the cat.



Daily Breeze reporter Donna Littlejohn has shared her homes with a succession of wonderful, funny, and occasionally difficult canines -- Muffin, Fritz, Ellie, Mercy, Pilgrim and now Cowboy, an Australian shepherd-border collie, and Tess, a border collie. From strong-willed terriers to weirdly obsessed Australian shepherds, they've invaded her world with boundless energy, wet noses, muddy paws and soggy tennis balls. But they've really brought so much more than that -- like laughter and joy, some unexpected life lessons, and more than a few tears along the way.
Josh Grossberg grew up with the usual array of animals: goldfish, dogs, hamsters, parakeets and turtles. He now owns the loudest dog in the South Bay(
"Preturnatural sense of confidence???" Has it really come to this - stealing from Dennis Prager to fill up a cutesy blog for childless pet owners with too much time on their hands (not to mention too much money if they're wasting it on those stupid dog sweaters)??? Oh, the pain!