CTV News | Winnipeg shelter has the perfect puppy for Obama

Top Stories -   

Winnipeg shelter has the perfect puppy for Obama

Viewer

CTV News Video

Canada AM: Bill McDonald, Winnipeg Human Society

Font-size:      Share  Print  Comments(20)

CTV.ca News Staff

Date: Fri. Jan. 23 2009 10:50 AM ET

The Winnipeg Humane Society has a solution to solve one of the first major dilemmas faced by U.S. President Barack Obama.

The shelter is offering a cute and cuddly Labradoodle puppy to the commander-in-chief and the First Family.

Immediately after winning the election, Obama announced that he would finally be getting a puppy for his daughters Malia and Sasha.

Soon after, it was revealed that the family would adopt a dog from a shelter, and that they were hoping to find a so-called Labradoodle -- a cross between a Labrador and a Poodle -- to join their family.

Bill McDonald, of the Winnipeg Humane Society, realized right away that he might be able to help.

The Humane Society had helped police bust an illegal puppy mill in the city, and had seized 21 Labradoodle puppies and two pregnant females.

One of those females, Lilly, has now given birth to a litter of 11 "health, vibrant and rambunctious" puppies.

McDonald thinks one of those puppies would make a perfect addition to the White House. They are now five weeks old and will be ready for adoption in mid-February.

"The idea came to me early last week when it was first announced that the new president would make his first official state visit to Canada," he told CTV's Canada AM.

"And I thought well, when a new president comes, Canada always gives a gift on behalf of the people of Canada...and the stars sort of aligned."

He sent the suggestion to the Prime Minister's Office, and was then informed it had been forwarded on to the office of Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon.

It's certain that Obama has received many offers from American shelters, but accepting the Canadian offer could turn out to be the most diplomatic option, McDonald suggested.

"Maybe not to offend a particular American shelter, be it in Oregon or Maine or Tennessee, he could say 'Well, I have to accept a gift from our close friends, brothers, cousins and our neighbours to the north.'"

Whether or not the offer is accepted, McDonald said the publicity surrounding Obama's decision to adopt a dog from a shelter "has raised awareness that shelter anuimals make great pets."

Comments are now closed for this story

Inkmont
said

Accepting this dog would be a good way for Obama to cement US-Canadian relations from the get-go! The offers for a dog will probably number in the thousands, but I hope he takes that adorable Canadian Labra-doodle!


Doug BC
said

A nice gesture,for sure.I do think such a puppy must also be available in the USA if he really wants one.
However,I have to concede it would add a fitting bit friendliness to the state visit when President Obama comes to visit the "president" of Canada.
And,the real bonus here is that this puppy would likely have a great life in the Whitehouse.Frankly,the one in the pic is so cute I'm tempted to look for one myself.Who could resist those eyes?


sunny
said

Mr. Obama
if your girls see a picture of this adorable puppy, I think you will not have a choice,and you will have found your puppy. Wouldn`t it be neat to take a puppy home for your girls after visitng Canada, besides it would make it a much more memorable trip to Canada!!!


sally
said

Who cares about politics. This is a family making a decision to adopt a dog from a shelter. The fact that it is the president of the US makes it international news.Good luck Obamas picking out a dog. May it be a long happy part of your family.


anne
said

I am not a dog person but that puppy is undeniably adorable! I think it is a lovely gesture and it would be diplomacy in action for Obama to accept the puppy from a Canadian Humane Society. nice to see a nice item like this amid all the doom and gloom lol


VH
said

I think it would be great if he accepted this puppy for his daughters, as a gift from all Canadians. It would start his relationship with Canada off on the right track, and be an excellent way to avoid favouring any shelters in the US.


Scott
said

I'm from the U.S. and I kind of think this would be a really nice gesture; however, the precedent it sets kind of concerns me. If Obama visits Mongolia, will he have to bring home a Yak?


St Catharines
said

What a wonderful idea!!! Such a beautiful gesture!! :D


Brenda
said

I think this a wonderful gesture and I think they should name the puppy "Canadusa", or just 'fluffy'. I'm sure shelters in the States won't think this is such a great idea but hey.......


Michelle
said

I am trying to put myself in the Obamas shoes. Two sweet little girls and hundreds of offers to take home "homeless" puppies. Good luck parents trying to stay firm and pick just ONE dog while all the others get left behind. There is going to be tears and pleas to keep them all. They'll be lucky not to end up with a truckload.


Dave NS
said

First crisis of Obama's presidency - choosing a puppy for his dogs! LOL


Biceps
said

Scott - nope, a Mongoloid.


bunny
said

Well if Obama doesnt want it, I will take it. Althouh there are so many shelters in the US, where many dogs need a good home.


Denis
said

Very appropriate:
Labrador is a Canadian breed.
We should have a ceremony where the puppy is given official Labrador status by Danny Williams (premier of Newfoundland and Labrador)himself, then handed over to Stpehen (don't call me Steve) Harper to be presented to Obama.


Kris D.
said

Grea idea!

A nice big red bow around the collar with a tag that reads:

"To Sasha and Malia

Love, the People of Canada."

What a great way to start to repair our relations!


Dan from Northern Ont.
said

Who's to say Obama can't have more than one dog? If I recall, much larger animals have been living on the White House grounds dating back to early presidents.


Donny in Edmonton
said

I fail to understand how this is news. Yes, puppies are cute, cuddly and fun. But there are more important things that deserve our attention.


AB from SK
said

You've identified this pup as a Labradoodle (designer dog) from a puppy mill - not smart. If the Obama family adopts it will the new fad in dog ownership become the SPCA Lab cross, or the Labradoodle (mass produced for an eager market in puppy mills)? I would bet on the latter.


SPCA Supporter
said

The important thing here is that Mr. Obama recognizes
that the love an animal can bring does not need a "pedigree". He will help to create awareness for the wonderful shelter dogs (and cats)that are eagerly waiting for a home and a family to love. Congratulations to him on his wisdom to recognize this! Hopefully he will inspire others to give a shelter animal a chance. All our pets have come from the shelter, and we have never been disappointed!


Cdn_Lynn
said

Unfortunately, a Labradoodle is probably not going to work out for the Obama children. One of the girls has allergies, and while Labradoodles were developed to be hypoallergenic, the reality is that *MOST* are not. This is why the shelters are full of Labradoodles. Well meaning families bought Labradoodles and then found out they can`t keep them. What if the dog inherits more Labrador coat than poodle coat? It is the poodle coat that is hypoallergenic.


Share with your social Network:

 

Advertisement

Contest

User Tools

About the tools

Need to get in touch with CTV? You can email the CTV web team using the 'Feedback' button.

Share it with your network of friends

Share this CTV article or feature with your friends. Click on the icon for your favourite social networking or messaging system, and follow the prompts.

Share this article with Facebook

Share this article with Digg

Share this article with Newsvine

Share this article with delicious

Share this article.
Send Email

Share this article with Twitter

Share this article with StumbleUpon

Share this article with Reddit

Share this article with Yahoo! Buzz