Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Hot on Facebook

Uproar After NC State Agent 'Fixes' Girl's Lunch Preschooler has to eat chicken nuggets instead of mom's meal »

Vote Greyhound for First Pooch

Loyal, cuddly and in need of a political push

By Kevin Spak, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 8, 2008 3:51 PM CST

(Newser) – So the Obamas are looking for a hypoallergenic rescue dog? Well, Jezebel has just the breed for them: Greyhound. Today known mostly as racing dogs, Greyhounds have a proud history. They were protected by law in the Middle Ages, they appear in Chaucer, Shakespeare and the Simpsons, and are the only breed mentioned in the Bible. They’re cute, docile, and above all, they need political help.

Some 5,000-8,000 racing Greyhounds are killed each year. When the Jezebel poster got her 3-year-old ex-racing hound Liffey, he didn’t know how to climb stairs, he walked into glass doors, and didn’t understand mirrors. “He had spent his entire life in a crate, leaving only to pee, eat, or run.” The movement to stop such cruel treatment got a boost on election day, when Massachusetts voted to ban greyhound racing—but a presidential adoption would do wonders.

Greyhounds race at Walthamstow Greyhound Stadium on August 16, 2008 in London, England. (Getty Images)

The Obamas will likely get a poodle or doodle, but Greyhounds are gentle and smell nice. (Shutterstock)

Come on Obama... get a greyhound. (Shutterstock)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

AP Photo

35 Brutally Honest Reasons Men Say No to Sex (The Stir)

Which Entertainer Pulled Out of 'Inappropriate' Whitney Tribute? (NewsOne)

The French Government Wants to Tone My Vagina (Slate)

Obama Photo on Facebook Helps Catch Drug Dealer (HuffPost)

Hottest Women to Ever Appear in the SI Swimsuit Issue (Bleacher Report)

Partner Links

A snapshot of the day's best news stories.

View Larger Grid

All Today Yesterday Pick a Date

COMMENTS

Read the comment policy

Showing 3 of 3 comments

Guest

Nov 9, 2008 12:50 AM CST

OMG! Chocolate Labs are gorgeous. My neighbor's dog (choc. lab) just had nine puppies on Oct.28. They are adorable. Michelle

Guest

Nov 9, 2008 12:49 AM CST

I love Greyhounds! However, the Obama's need to decide which breed 'fits' their family. They have two very energetic girls. Whenever anyone desires to get a puppy, there are many considerations to take into account. Lifestyle, amount of care, grooming, personality of the particular breed, size, and 101 other things. Due to the fact Greyhounds are docile (as was stated in this artilce), it doesnt' exactly fit with two energetic little girls. My sister has a Greyhound (Gracie)...she's the most amazing dog! Yet, she doens't really like all the noise and excitment when her grandkids come over. "Gracie" prefers to stay behind the couch when they visit. Since one of the Obama children has an allergy to dog dander...are Greyhounds hypo-allergenic? (I don't know). This would be the major factor in their decision. Michelle

piodalcin

Nov 8, 2008 11:56 PM CST

i still suggest a chocolate labrador

What's Popular Now on Facebook

Rick Santorum: Birth Control Is 'Not OK'

Valentine's Day Role-Playing Goes Very Wrong

Jezebel (Source Grid »)

Cages key to greyhound race ban
Boston Globe

Advice rolls in on possible First Dog
Associated Press

Then there's naming the pooch...
Telegraph (UK)

Lifestyle

pets • Barack Obama • animal cruelty • dog • President Obama • Greyhound • Greyhound racing

More Newser Stories

Detroit Bust Would've Been Better Than Bailout

Ex-Prez Bush says bailout his idea, and a good one

(NEWSER) - Three years ago, Mitt Romney wrote that President Obama should " Let Detroit Go Bankrupt ," instead of bailing out the struggling auto industry, in a famous New York Times column. And today? Even with the American auto industry on the rebound, Michigan's GOP primary looming on Feb. 28, and Rick Santorum breathing down his neck in the polls , Romney still thinks bankruptcy would have been better than the president's "crony capitalism," he writes in the Detroit News . "I believe that without his intervention things there would be better," he writes. More»

Obama Unveils $3.8T Budget, Targets Rich

Budget would institute 'Buffett Rule,' boost infrastructure

(NEWSER) - President Obama officially unveiled his $3.8 trillion budget today, and as expected it draws a 2012 battle line, calling for higher taxes on the wealthy combined with spending measures intended to bolster the economy, the AP reports. "We built this budget around the idea that our country has always done best when everyone gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same rules," Obama said, according to CNN . "This is not about class warfare. This is about the nation's welfare." More»

White House to Budge on Birth-Control Mandate

'Accommodation' for religious employers will likely be announced today

(NEWSER) - The White House yesterday signaled a compromise over its contentious birth control decision, and the Wall Street Journal confirms that an attempt to accommodate the Catholic Church will likely be announced today. Details remain hazy, but one source tells the Journal that insurance companies, not religious employers, will become the ones who pay for contraception coverage. ABC News notes the move would be cheaper for health insurance companies than having to cover unwanted pregnancies and complications. But since the "accommodation" will still allow female employees access to birth control, Jake Tapper notes, it will likely not satisfy religious leaders. More»

Small Donors Gave 48% of Obama's 2011 Donations

That's more than double the proportion from 2007: analysis

(NEWSER) - President Obama continues to be successful raising money through small donations—and this time around, he's outpacing his campaign from four years ago. Last year, almost half of the money raised by the president's re-election campaign came from donors who gave $200 or less in total, a new report from the Campaign Finance Institute shows. In 2007, by comparison, just 22% of the $96.7 million he raised came from donations of $200 or less. In total, Obama raised $56.7 million from small donors last year, compared to the $38.1 million small donors contributed to all of his Republican opponents combined. More»

No Child Left Behind Waiver Granted to 10 States

At least 28 more plan to seek one

(NEWSER) - Ten of the first 11 states to apply for a waiver from the controversial No Child Left Behind law will be freed from the law's requirements by President Obama today, the AP reports. Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oklahoma, and Tennessee received the waivers; New Mexico's application was not approved, but it is working with the White House to get the OK. Another 28 states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, are expected to seek waivers in the future; the heavily populated states of California, Pennsylvania, and Texas are among those that have not yet signaled they will apply. More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Vote Greyhound for First Pooch

Loyal, cuddly and in need of a political push

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

pets • Barack Obama • animal cruelty • dog • President Obama • Greyhound • Greyhound racing

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Detroit Bust Would've Been Better Than Bailout

Ex-Prez Bush says bailout his idea, and a good one

Obama Unveils $3.8T Budget, Targets Rich

Budget would institute 'Buffett Rule,' boost infrastructure

White House to Budge on Birth-Control Mandate

'Accommodation' for religious employers will likely be announced today

Small Donors Gave 48% of Obama's 2011 Donations

That's more than double the proportion from 2007: analysis

No Child Left Behind Waiver Granted to 10 States

At least 28 more plan to seek one

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?

Vote Greyhound for First Pooch

Loyal, cuddly and in need of a political push

Bookmark & Share

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

pets • Barack Obama • animal cruelty • dog • President Obama • Greyhound • Greyhound racing

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Detroit Bust Would've Been Better Than Bailout

Ex-Prez Bush says bailout his idea, and a good one

Obama Unveils $3.8T Budget, Targets Rich

Budget would institute 'Buffett Rule,' boost infrastructure

White House to Budge on Birth-Control Mandate

'Accommodation' for religious employers will likely be announced today

Small Donors Gave 48% of Obama's 2011 Donations

That's more than double the proportion from 2007: analysis

No Child Left Behind Waiver Granted to 10 States

At least 28 more plan to seek one

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?