The Obama family seems to have decided on a Portuguese Water dog from a shelter as the new First Dog, and as a one-time owner of a Portuguese Water Dog mutt, I am thrilled about the decision.  My family found Darby, a Portuguese-Terrier mix, at a rescue shelter and we became fast friends.  An extremely lovable and loving medium-sized pup, he followed me everywhere, including sneaking down to the playground while I was at school.  According to the ASPCA, there are no “truly hypallergenic” dogs, but the Obama’s will be happy to know that no one ever had an allergic reaction to Darby, including my sneezy dad.  Darby was a beautiful dog with plenty of spunk, especially when it came to guarding the house from squirrels, so I know the White House will be safe.  My dog lived a long, healthy life, which is often attributed to the vigor of a mutt, and Darby was with me all the way to college.

I think it’s wonderful that the Obama’s are choosing a shelter dog, as there are so many pups that need a home.  With so many families sadly forced to part with their pets during these difficult economic times, now is a wonderful time to adopt if you can.

takepart by helping to find a home for an animal in need with the ASPCA.

Photo: Dragon Woman’s Flickr Photostream (creative commons)  - I’ll put up a photo of Darby when I can find a digital version.