On Why I Haven’t Joined the Obama Dog Craze

I signed the Presidential Pooch Pardon, and I think we all should. But I've been getting asked why I haven't started a campaign for a greyhound in the White House, and I wanted to address that. (Greyhounds are hypoallergenic.)

I'm not sure how good an idea it is to campaign for any kind of purebreed dog as the next White House companion animal. I think the focus on saving a life by adopting from a shelter is the simplest message that's least likely to have unintended, negative consequences.

Like what, you ask?

Let's say Obama goes with the goldendoodle, but gets her from a breed rescue group or a shelter rather than a breeder. Yes, there's a rescue message in there, but there's also a purebreed message in there. Considering the extent to which this particular President Elect has become somewhat of a cult figure, I'd be concerned that he might start an accidental trend–an increase in the demand for goldendoodles. And that means an increase in the breeding of goldendoodles.

The greyhound situation is actually worse, in that rescuing a greyhound, and particularly one who raced, isn't as smooth sailing as it is often made out to be. Yes, they can be giant couch potatoes and they are very catlike. But they also need to run in an enclosed area, for hundreds of yards at a time, at least a couple of times a week, and they create divots galore, especially when they turn. And trotting them out onto the White House lawn without a leash is fine (as there are fences . . . eventually), until they see a squirrel, at which time they take off like a shot and will very likely mow down anyone in their path in an attempt to catch the squirrel. And they have behavioral issues and socialization issues (most often both are around small dogs, as greyhounds have high prey drives which are exploited during training). What has been done to them during the first two years of their lives can turn them into difficult pets. Now, with love and patience and time, that situation can change, but they have had very hard lives before they are rescued, and it shows.

Meanwhile, there are greyhounds who are bred for show, and they don't have the issues that retired racers have. And a greyhound in the White House is bound to increase the demand for non-racing greyhounds, particularly once the word gets out that they don't have the same problems.

Finally, it's not out of the realm of possibility that a greyhound in the White House might actually help the dog racing industry. We simply don't know what would happen and it's too risky to throw the dice and find out.

I say let the industry die the death that's already begun, educate people about dog racing and also get them to question the idea that racing dogs is even acceptable, adopt a retired racer if you can (they're certainly not for everyone), and when you get the chance to vote for a racing ban or in any other way support one, do so.