Fala was Franklin D. Roosevelt’s beloved black Scottie. Here are the most famous dogs of all time. These cats had Presidential clout, diplomatic appeal, and were, for a time, the most powerful cats in the world. . 10) Pomeranian. Millie. President George H.W. In this photo, First Lady Barbara Bush reads a story to children with Millie. That was certainly an eye opener alright. AKC Rank: 23 Countries/regions most popular in: Bulgaria, Serbia, Israel Small size mixes with big personality to create this alert, intelligent breed. Boomer: Dog: Mixed breed. 3. Billy the presidential pygmy hippopotamus was the main attraction at Calvin Coolidge’s personal zoo. Former First Dog Barney Bush became so popular that he was given his own official website. The dog days have returned to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. As a testimony to his role played in the president’s life, he was featured on a statue alongside Roosevelt’s at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial in Washington, D.C. Bill Clinton’s tabby cat Socks entered the White House during his master’s first years in office. Marquis de Lafayette was a French general who led troops during the American Revolution. Raccoon. President Herbert Hoover and King Tut, 12. Lucky, dog Shan, Siamese cat. History of White House pets. Yikes! Dogs, of course! Given as a Christmas gift to the president by his... 2. He was a friend of Clinton during his tumultuous second term. The President loved Fala so much that he rarely went anywhere without him. Socks, the Clinton's family cat, is one of the most famous presidential cats in history — he even has his own Wikipedia page. The adorable platypus has spines on its back feet that release venom strong enough to cause swelling and inflammation in humans. Born on April 7, 1940, Fala was a gift to the President from his cousin Margaret Stuckley. Harding was so fond of his pup that he hosted festive birthday parties for him, complete with elaborate dog biscuit birthday cakes. Odd as it may seem, there are presidents who housed exotic animals like alligators in the presidential mansion. He was often taken for walks outside on a leash. In fact, pups have consistently lived in the White House throughout the 1900s and well into the 21st century. When the former president was accused of misusing 18,000 dollars of campaign funds, he appeared on national television to defend himself. This goat was so ornery that one day the President was forced to chase him down Pennsylvania Avenue when he decided to run away with the Harrison grandchildren. The book was a hit and ended up selling more copies than the President’s autobiograpy. Image via National Photo Company / Public domain. Three of the most famous huskies ever are the Balto, Fritz and Togo team, who lead the “Great Race of Mercy.” In 1925, a Diphtheria outbreak had taken hold of a town called Nome in Alaska. During the Cold War, Soviet Union leader Nikita Krushchev gifted Kennedy with Pushinka—a mixed-breed whose Russian name translates to “Fluffy.” Pushinka’s mother, Strelka, was one of the first dogs to make it home alive after being shot into space. Dodsworth Looney Tunes: An obese, lethargic black-and-white cat with a large red nose (voiced by Edward Selzer and based on W.C. Fields) who tries to get a small white … Unlike the other charming canine companions on this list, Teddy Roosevelt’s dog, Pete, was quite the hassle. 9. Marengo. The first White House dog to receive regular newspaper coverage was Warren G. Harding's dog Laddie Boy.. Pets also featured on presidential elections. Hillary Clinton said Socks hated Buddy at first sight and seemed to find him intolerable, so the White House had to keep them away from each other at all times to avoid tension between the two. Our nation’s leaders prove once and for all that dogs really are man’s best friend. Max the pig unfortunately passed away in 2006, but was nonetheless one of the most adored celebrity pets to date. FDR and his Scottish terrier, Fala, were quite the pair. First lady Dr. Jill Biden shared an Instagram post on January 25th letting everyone know that the family German Shepherds, Champ and Major, had made their way to … He also became the subject of two MGM films and became so recognizable that whenever he was seen by the public, they knew that the president was just nearby. “Honestly, we could do a 10-hour tour if we really wanted to.” AD At the end of Clinton’s term, Socks was given to his secretary. John Quincy Adams received an alligator as a gift from Marquis de Lafayette and placed it in the bathroom in the East Room of the White house. To capture day-to-day footage of Barney’s life for his fans, a camera was tied around the Scottish terrier’s neck. He was the presidential dog who fell sick due to anxiety and worried himself to death. Her crime? Eventually, Billy was donated to the Smithsonian National Zoological Park, and at that time, pygmy hippos were a rare find in the US. The President absolutely. The two traveled together, attended meetings together, and slept together. Unsurprisingly, Pushinka had to be inspected by the Secret Service for electronic bugs before she could move into the White House.