Obama family will choose a rescue dog as first pet

I am so pleased that the first family is choosing to rescue a pet ^[1] rather than paying a high price for a pure bred dog from a breeder. There is one very lucky Portuguese Water Dog ^[2] out there and so many other animals in desperate need of a home. I have learned a lot from my friend Beth Bates who runs a site called GoodDogz.org ^[3].

Dogs are surrendered for all sorts of reasons. Maybe their owner can’t physically take care of them anymore or maybe they have been taken from abusive homes or puppy mills ^[4]. The most heartbreaking abandonment, which is happening more and more frequently, are owners who leave behind their pets because of home foreclosures ^[5]. If you can’t feed your family and pay your mortgage, it’s hard to justify the expense of a pet.

I am proud of the example the Obamas are setting and I hope this helps lead the charge in a wave of adoptions. When my kids get a little older and we are in the market for a new dog (because really, the dog will complete the family) I will definitely get my pet from a shelter.