The value of Bo Obama, the president’s Portuguese water dog, has been revealed.
The “rescue” dog is valued a$1,600. That is cheap for a Portuguese water dog, but if you got one from a rescue organization or from a shelter, it wouldn’t cost that much.
Now, I’ve never bought the line that this dog was a rescue. This dog was bred, raised, and trained for the president. Bo came is a nearly grown pup, which was a good cover against the continuous whining from the people who were demanding that the president had to adopt a dog.
I don’t know of anyone else who has had their rescues “appraised,” but my guess is they haven’t been valued at anywhere near that sum.
This dog’s status as a rescue should be considered a bit dubious. The story behind Bo is that he was kept by a family, who then returned him to the breeder. That’s a plausible story, but I don’t think we can call this dog a rescue.
He’s a breeder return, not a rescue.
It doesn’t bother me that much, but it will bother some people.
I don’t think Bo was ever described as a “rescue” (though as a dog-returned-to-breeder, he might fit into that category). As I recall, the issue was that Obama SAID he was going to adopt from a shelter, but then…. not. Ted Kennedy had much to do with Bo.
Yes. Ted Kennedy was into Portuguese water dogs, and that’s the reason why the Obamas have Bo. In my original post on this, I wrote that this was the main reason why the breed was being considered.
But then Obama promised certain people that he was going to rescue a dog.
However, there are very, very few Portuguese water dogs in rescue, so they had to do some legerdemain with a breeder return.
I guarantee you that the people who complained about Obama not getting a real rescue dog are going to latch onto this.
Some of these people are fundamentalists.
Some of these people are also stupid and need to mind their own freaking business and let the President and his family get a damned dog that fits into their home and lifestyle. Some of these people also NEED TO STFU.
Okay, Jess–You just said what I wanted to say, but much more directly. Thanks.
I am genetically devoid of tact. Direct is my middle name.
What is a “real” rescue dog?
And what is the moral or ethical difference between “rescuing” a dog and purchasing or otherwise acquiring a dog that you can commit to and NOT putting it into a rescue situation?
And what is the moral or ethical difference between “rescuing” a dog and purchasing or otherwise acquiring a dog that you can commit to and NOT putting it into a rescue situation, but then the unthinkable happens–and the breeder takes the dog back, and finds a committed home rather than putting it into a rescue situation?
I love my dogs as much or more than the next person, and couldn’t live without one–and I just don’t understand the whole rescue-ethics thing. If your “forever dog” is a rescue, a breeder take-back, or purchased from a reputable breeder… what’s the difference?
Purchasing from a breeder or pet store that’s pumping out unhealthy or potentially unhealthy dogs for profit without consideration for whether the dogs will be wanted and without a commitment to rehoming… that’s different.
Otherwise, I don’t understand. Just don’t get it.
Bo is NOT A RESCUE. ‘Rescue’ implies that the dog was in danger, of being killed, or being hurt or neglected, or something. Bo was never in any danger. Bo is a rehome.
I don’t know why they had to put a value on him, but it’s probably some kind of official thing, all their property is being valuated. Since dogs are property, you have to assign a value. When you file for bankruptcy, for instance, you have to put a value on all your property, and that includes pets.
i was rescued and got dick cheney to sign my
adoption papers to make it official, but still a little
skittish when a crowd gathers
LOL ww!
I’m with EmilyS… I was thrilled with the Obama camp said they would be adopting a ‘shelter mutt’, but then they got this dog.
All in all I’m delighted that the “first family” are dog people, and that this pup seems happy with them, and its probably great for the daughter’s allergies to have THIS dog. I just wish he followed through on that notion of getting a dog from a shelter.
I wish they hadn’t made a kind of promise about getting one from a shelter.
Imagine the brouhaha if they’d got a shelter dog and then had to rehome it due to the daughter’s allergies.
Oh it would!
I remember when the original dog was going to be a goldendoodle.
The “hypo-allergenic” nature of a goldendoodle is pretty much nonexistent.
If you’re going to allergic to a dog, it will be a golden retriever.
I was relating my recollection of the facts, not expressing a view. Actually, I’m in the school of “who gives a flying f*** where the Obama’s got their dog” and in the school of “certain people should get off their high horse about other people’s choices.” Everyone has a right to acquire the dog of his choice in the manner he chooses.
That’s what I remember.
The Obamas kind of created this mess for themselves when Michelle said she wanted to rescue a dog.
The last real dog person in the White House was Gerald Ford. I only wish he had owned a different breed.
The monetary value of the dog might reflect the extensive professional training he’s undergone, since he’s neutered.
Or it might just be the standard price of a puppy from that breeder.
Puppies depreciate quickly unless they either win dog pageants or are trained to do something useful.
I think it was just the standard price.
Portuguese water dogs are expensive!
The dog is a sham and has been since day one.
And the endless media felatiation of Obama continues with the “look how CHEAP the dog is!” “Obama really knows how to be frugal!” “What a great money manager, so much dog for such a bargain!” “No, we swear, he kept his promise, it IS a rescue dog. No, really.”
GAG.
If they even do keep this dog when Obama gets kicked out of office, it will only be for the age old reasons numerous other parents continue the charade… for the children.
The $ figure is probably “insurance” valuation, in which case a “replacement” would probably cost the amount indicated. As to “rescue” vice “rehome” vice “bought direct from breeder” — I am against dogs being used as political footballs. Bo seems to have managed to have become a real pet rather than a “gee don’t I look good with a dog” accessory. Good for Bo.
The story was the kids wanted a dog. It’s the parents who tried to make something political out of it. It’s just one of the many things I don’t care for about Obama. The decision of “what dog” should always have been “what’s the best choice for OUR family”, not trying to shoehorn the choice into a political statement.
Would have been interesting, though, if he’d ended up with a “pit bull” (the most common shelter dog in Southern CA). This “landrace” was never an option, simply from the image and political fallout of choosing that type of dog, even if it had been the most hypoallergenic breed on the planet.
Fortunately, like all dogs, Bo doesn’t care about politics.
VR. Peggy Richter
I think you’re onto something about insurance.
I know people who have dogs that can actually be appraised as worth something, and they make sure there is a paper trail that relates to the value of their dogs.
“Bo” is a good well behaved dog. So say my sources. And certainly so long as there was no harm done to anyone or any creature in obtaining the dog for whatever cost, if its in a happy environment that works for them…. then it really is no one’s business except their own.
I don’t think the first family had had a dog before or, necessarily had much experience with one. I think both publically promising the kids a puppy and then articulating the sentiment that a rescue dog is an approach they’d favor taking isn’t irresponsible…but do reflect statements of people who’d not had one before and not really thought through what was going to be a good fit with their family and lifestyle.
I think you could understand the process of acquiring a Bo as seeking out input as to what’d work best for a family with young kids, who travel a lot, constantly have the public and reporters under foot, have a lot of staff and space, but a very public life, etc. …and then acting on expert input. Another public figure who was a dog person having said, “look, this is a type of dog that will be big enough not to be a toy but rather a playmate for the kids, won’t make them sneeze, is trainable enough he won’t chomp on a photographer, big enough he won’t get trampled or nippy in crowds and pretty playful. And, moreover, here’s a dog that’s a bit older so we’re pretty sure he’s behaviorally capable of this stuff and a trainer who’ll help you make sure he’s rock solid on manners” was probably exactly the right kind of advice to get. And actually acting on it, rather than some vision of what’s most appealing in a PR sense, is actually pretty sensible and the approach we’d rather like novice owners to take, no?
As for the dog’s value, I’d say that post-Checkers, there’s every incentive for a president to declare a dog as gift and probably high ball rather than low ball it’s value…
Dog Dander is dog dander. If you’re allergic then there is no such thing as an hypoallergenic dog. Even Poodles and PWD’s have dander and truly allergic people will still suffer from their allergies in the presence of these breeds.
My Mother bred toy poodles, and she always told people not to believe the myth. The amount of dander is less, but if you are an allergy sufferer then even the smallest percentage will cause a negative reaction.
Case in point, clients of her’s visiting the dogs who were allergic to pet dander, would still break out in sneezing or hives, etc etc.
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