FfFfFfFF 42,261 Posted November 13, 2020 (edited) Major the German Shepherd spent his puppyhood in an animal shelter. In January, he’ll move into the White House. After four years without a presidential pet at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, dogs are coming back. Major, who President-elect Biden and his wife Jill Biden adopted from the Delaware Humane Association three years ago, will be the first shelter dog ever to live in the White House. With him will be 12-year-old Champ, the Bidens’ other German shepherd. This news has been met with elation on social media, reflecting a growing embrace by Americans of shelter dogs—more than 1.6 million dogs were adopted last year, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). While there’s no official tally of how many pets are purchased versus adopted in the U.S., the American Veterinary Medical Association estimated in a 2018 report that there are 77 million pet dogs in the United States, and that shelters and rescue groups source the largest share of those animals. Over the last decade, awareness around adoption as an option for prospective dog owners has grown significantly, says Kitty Block, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States. “People used to think that dogs were in a shelter or surrendered there because something was wrong with them,” Block says. She attributes much of the problem with dogs ending up in shelters to puppy mills, commercial-scale operations that breed solely for profit, often without ensuring proper health checks, welfare standards, or buyer education, leading to a glut of dogs ending up in shelters. “Once people realized that they weren’t in shelters because they’re broken or misfits, but because there are too many of them, it really helped turn public perception,” she says. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2020/11/joy-over-first-white-house-shelter-dog-reflects-growing-embrace-of-rescue-pets/ Edited November 13, 2020 by FfFfFfFF ►► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ►► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ►► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ►► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► 3 12 Quote Share Link to post Share on other sites Facebook Twitter
Lion Heart 14,449 Posted November 13, 2020 Nice. Spoiler 1 Quote Share Link to post Share on other sites Facebook Twitter
River 52,901 Posted November 13, 2020 ahhhhhhhhhhh he's so cutie Jill for president 2024 I'd rather be dead but I guess I'm alive ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 1 Quote Share Link to post Share on other sites Facebook Twitter
TimisaMonster 26,985 Posted November 13, 2020 Keep making history! Stream my new single 🔥"Sapphire Phoenix"🔥 on Spotify! Quote Share Link to post Share on other sites Facebook Twitter
imnotyourbabe10 4,959 Posted November 13, 2020 20 minutes ago, River said: ahhhhhhhhhhh he's so cutie Jill for president 2024 I have been investigating her via interviews and just picked up her book, "Where the Light Enters." She appears to be such a class act! 2 Quote Share Link to post Share on other sites Facebook Twitter
jacs vs looser 1,515 Posted November 13, 2020 Yaaas! Break that doggie house glass ceiling, Major 1 Quote Share Link to post Share on other sites Facebook Twitter
Stephen 21,554 Posted November 13, 2020 Those pups are soo cute 1 Quote Share Link to post Share on other sites Facebook Twitter
Adarsh 27,159 Posted November 13, 2020 They’re so cute That boy is a monster Quote Share Link to post Share on other sites Facebook Twitter
Adarsh 27,159 Posted November 13, 2020 5 minutes ago, Ronnie said: Why does she look like Taylor Swift and Nicole Kidman’s daughter That boy is a monster 1 1 Quote Share Link to post Share on other sites Facebook Twitter
weed 42,228 Posted November 13, 2020 The last part was so interesting! I never consciously realized my perception of shelters changed, because as a kid I thought there was something wrong with the dogs, anger issues, etc. Quote Share Link to post Share on other sites Facebook Twitter
Ronnie 2,571 Posted November 13, 2020 10 minutes ago, Adarsh said: Why does she look like Taylor Swift and Nicole Kidman’s daughter Also, a nice dash of Kristen Wiig 1 Quote Share Link to post Share on other sites Facebook Twitter
Meruk Holland 1,433 Posted November 13, 2020 His dogs are super cute, but was no one gonna tell me the CEO and President of the Humane Society of the United States is named Kitty? 2 Quote Share Link to post Share on other sites Facebook Twitter
FfFfFfFF 42,261 Posted November 29, 2020 ►► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ►► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ►► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ►► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► Quote Share Link to post Share on other sites Facebook Twitter