Regardless of your politics, you have to love a presidential canine. Obama has Bo. George W. had Barney. Clinton had Buddy…and Socks, too!
Maybe it was our very first president, George Washington, who started the tradition of presidential pooches. In his time, Washington was known for his great love of dogs and his own hobby of dog breeding.
His diaries are filled with entries about his dogs, some of which include Sweet Lips, Venus, Truelove, Taster, Tippler, and Drunkard!
He was particularly proud of his Virginia hounds and often used theme for hunting. One time, he passed Elizabeth Powel, an important figure in the Revolutionary War, as he was walking Truelove. She remarked on the handsomeness of the dog and Washington claimed the dog was the "perfect foxhound."
After the war, Washington set upon a goal of breeding an even better hound. He wanted the strength and size of the Virginia hound mixed with the speed of the French hound. The results are what we now call the American hound.
Washington's admiration and respect for these animals is perfectly exemplified in this story of Washington making a very bold decision for the sake of a four-legged friend.
Read on to enjoy these cartoons by Maya Borenstein and please SHARE this adorable story!
In October of 1777, the Americans were not doing well in the Battle of Germantown. It was an important battle and Washington was concerned.
One day, some of George Washington’s soldiers saw that a small terrier had wandered into the middle of the battlefield. They grabbed him before he could get hurt.
They read the dog’s collar and realized that he belonged to General Howe, the leading commander of the British troops.
They brought the dog to George Washington and suggested that Washington keep the dog as a trophy to lower the morale of the British troops.
Instead, Washington took the frightened dog into his tent where he had him fed, brushed and cleaned.
To everyone’s surprise, Washington then ordered a cease-fire and raised a flag of truce. Both sides dropped their guns and stopped shooting at each other.
With peace on the battlefield, Washington’s aides formally returned the little dog. Washington took pride in returning the pup to his rightful owner.
For a brief moment in a devastating war, both sides came to peace, and it’s all because of Washington’s love of dogs.
Illustrations by Maya Borenstein for LittleThings.com. Please SHARE!
