Interesting
White House Pets
by Savanah Eve Stewart, age 13
  Malia and Sasha Obama are now in search for the perfect puppy to live with them in the White House.  Whatever puppy they pick it must be hypoallergenic.  In case you are wondering this is what hypoallergenic means, “ designed to reduce the possibility of an allergic response.”  There are several breeds of dogs that fall into this catergory.  My favorite is the minature schnauzer.  I have one named Rocky and he is a wonderful pet because he is loyal, loving, smart and funny.  I think the Obama girls would really enjoy a minature schnauzer.
  Throughout the years there have been other more unusual Presidential pets that have lived in the White House.  Our first President’s wife Martha Washington owned a parrot.  John Quincy Adams, our sixth President owned an alligator and his wife Louisa owned silkworms.  Abraham Lincoln, our 16th President owned a beloved pig named, “Fido” and a turkey named, “Jip.”  Our 28th President, Woodrow Wilson owned a ram named, “Old Ike.”  The ram was known for his tobacco chewing.  Our 30th President Calvin Coolidge and his wife Grace had a literal zoo at the White House.  They owned many dogs, canaries, a thrush, a goose, and a mockingbird.  Lastly, they owned two cats, raccoons, a donkey, a bobcat, lion cubs, a wallaby, a pigmy hippo and a bear!  Can you imagine having that many animals at the White House or even at your own house?  Our 43rd President George W. Bush owned 3 dogs, a cat and a longhorn named Ofelia which did not live in the White House but lived on his ranch in Texas.  The Bush’s Scottish Terrier’s Barney and Mrs. Beasley have their very own website!
  As you can tell there have been many different kinds of animals that have lived in the White House over the years.  It will be fun to follow and find out what our new President and his family will pick to be the next, “Presidential Pet.”