Is Obama buying a purebred dog instead of adopting a rescued one being elitist?

Question

I really don't know... I support him, and I too support adopting animals. I understand his concern about his daughter's allergy, but it would be very nice of him as a father and more importantly - as the President to take one from the shelter. Given the current poor economy spending thousands of dollars on an expensive puppy will probably NOT be the best example to make.

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

i would think he would have better things to do than searching for a dog.....

Answer 2

I voted against Obama, but I really don't think this is a valid criticism. People have the right to get whatever dog they want. I know lots of wealthy people with mutts and poor people with purebreds. It's more important that he gets a dog that meets his needs, whether it's a mutt or purebred.
That said, I hope that if he does decide to get a mutt (a labradoodle is one of his top choices, I think) that he adopts it from a shelter rather than from a crappy breeder. If he gets a purebred, I hope he sets a good example by buying it from a reputable breeder or a rescue.

Answer 3

He said that they are looking in shelters,but if he were to get a Portuguese Water Dog,it would likely be from an excellent breeder.Maybe he would also adopt a Labradoodle from a shelter.I heard this a few weeks ago - that they may get a dog from a breeder and another from a shelter,which is what Joe Biden is going to do as well.

Edit: Sorry,I really didn't answer your question.I don't think he's being elitist at all. They were always planning on getting a curly coated breed,and because Senator Ted Kennedy has Porties,he may have seen his dogs and fallen for the breed. It's easy to do.

Answer 4

I had to chuckle at the connection, but I don't think that solely makes him an elitist. I would say that he has other, bigger "elitist fish" to fry than what kind of dog he has. I am not wealthy by any means and I have a purebred Pom. We also have a stray cat and an adopted bird for pets, so yeah, I wouldn't say that alone makes him an elitist.

Answer 5

When it comes to health.....

Purebred all the way.

At least he knows what he's getting!

There's no way I'd take chances with my child's health, and I respect him all the more for that.
The shelter is good, but unless it has papers you never know what it's mixed with, and even if it looks like a good breed, it may not be.

If he finds a dog with papers in the shelter, I'm sure he'd take it.

But I applaud him for thinking of his children's health before other people's opinion.

Answer 6

Depends. Although I support adopting dogs, if your circumstances do not make you able (allergies, or breed-specific conditions), then you are not able. That's the way it is. If his daughter got really sick because he DIDN'T get a specific breed, then people would criticize him for being a bad dad. It's a lose-lose situation.

Answer 7

Right, so now purebred owning people are "elitist."

As I heard on here from a TC once before:

Reverse snobbery is still snobbery!

AND in my opinion, he shouldn't get a dog at all. One of his daughters is extremely allergic! Stupid, stupid, stupid! She won't be able to enjoy any dog they get.

PS. He didn't promise a "dog." He promised a "puppy." Ugh.

Answer 8

Sorry but I dont support any thing about him or the fact that he made such a big deal out of what kind of dog he was getting when our economy and world is falling apart. Who cares what kind of dog he will be getting he wont be the one taking care of it anyways.

Answer 9

Who cares where Obama gets a dog, what kind it is or if he even gets one! The main concern is that he does a damn good job running the country & maybe he can bring home our American, Canadian & other troops before we lose anymore. That's more important than where he buys a dog!!

Answer 10

No, it wouldn't be the best example to make as a politician, but I think that his concern for his daughters matters more to him than the example he is setting. Let's give him a chance to take office before we start judging him.

Answer 11

No, he is concerned about his daughter's allergies. He may get a dog from the pound plus a purebred. What's the big deal anyway? No one has ever crticized any other President's choice of a dog.

Answer 12

I think they are going to look at shelters - read more here:
http://www.squidoo.com/barack-obamas-dog

Source(s):

http://www.squidoo.com/barack-obamas-dog

Answer 13

Well today on the news they said he had it down between two dogs
1, The Portuguese Water Dog
2, The mix breed Labradoodle.

This is what was said on the Today Show. And on the News..
So will see..

Source(s):

LB

Answer 14

Last I heard they were considering getting both a shelter dog and a purebred. As long as they take good care of any dogs they get, it's not something I'm going to stress over.

Answer 15

No it just makes him rich. That is the most blown out of proportion Obama bashing I have ever heard. The president can have whatever dog he wants.

Answer 16

Isn't the nice thing about being in the US is the freedom of choice? Anyone can buy a purebred, why can't Obama?

Answer 17

So what should be a good example to make? save all the money he can and shop in walmart? we can all move to china if everybody does that.

Answer 18

I understand he IS searching the pounds

Answer 19

It's his dog...why do you even care? Get a freaking life and let him live his.

Answer 20

getting one from the pound

Answer 21

From what i heard he is trying to decide between a Portuguese water dog and a labradoodle and he is checking out shelters.

I really dont know what your beef is with purebred dogs and there owners but that doesnt escape the fact that getting a dog is the least of his problems and people should respect what he chooses be it from a shelter which it will be hard to find the right dog there, or a responsible breeder of PWD. I wish people would stop worrying about the dog and look at how bad things are getting and are going to get.

Personally i would have liked him to take Peru's offer of Ears the peruvian hairless (their national dog) but that seems like its not going to happen although this would be the best dog for his family.


Are you trying to discriminate against purebred dogs just because of a few bad eggs well more then a few but still, there are plenty of good breeders that in no way contribute to the so called dog overpopulation and the shelters overcrowdedness.

I will support him if he gets on from a responsible breeder or from a shelter. I voted for him not because of his choice of dog, but for his honesty and policies.

Its not being elitist and neither are any other owners who bought purebred dogs. I support shelters/rescue yes but for the people that want something specific you cant get that at shelters very often.