With a new president and first family in the White House comes new first pets. The Bidens have returned the long-standing tradition of having dogs after a four-year hiatus at the White House with their German shepherds, 12-year-old Champ and 2-year-old Major.
Former President Donald Trump was the first president since former President William McKinley to not have a dog in the White House, CBS reported.
Trump was also the first not to have a pet of any kind since former President Andrew Johnson, according to The New York Times.
The new first family brings not only one but two dogs, and they are also thinking of adopting a cat.
With the return of the first pets to the White House, it marks the return of a much more relatable and human image to the first family, especially that of the president.
From barking at press conferences, enjoying the snow on the South Lawn, to even injuring the president from play, Champ and Major mark the first family as any other pet-owners dealing with their dogs through similar pet shenanigans.
Despite having a full team to help them take care of their pets, President Joe Biden will apparently be a hands-on dog owner during his presidency.
“He’s going to do it himself,” Mark Tobin, a Delaware dog trainer who has worked with the Biden dogs, told The Washington Post. “He’s going to walk the dogs.”
Since his foot has recovered from when he was playing with Major, Biden may very well be back to running around with the German shepherds in due time.
Being avid dog-lovers also shows the compassion and patience that the first family shares with fellow dog-owners, which exemplifies their humanity to the nation.
Hopefully, this level of care will also be shown to the American people.
Even the dogs themselves play a major role in returning empathy to the White House. Major makes history as the first shelter pup at the White House, being that the Bidens adopted him from the Delaware Humane Society in November 2018.
His presence at the White House could inspire more adoptions from local animal rescue shelters.
First lady Dr. Jill Biden, in a recent video for Puppy Bowl XVII, said that dogs have been a source of comfort and joy during the COVID-19 pandemic and pleaded for continual mask wearing as a show of care to their pets.
“The unconditional love from a dog is one of the most beautiful things on earth, and we owe it to them to keep ourselves healthy,” she said. “So, please keep wearing your masks, even when you’re out walking your dog.”
This open display of compassion and care feels utterly different to that of the last administration and will hopefully be carried on throughout Biden’s presidential term.
