FfFfFfFF 43,265 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 Share Link to post Share on other sites Facebook Twitter
Lion Heart 14,696 Posted November 13, 2020 Nice. Spoiler ▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀ 1 Share Link to post Share on other sites Facebook Twitter
River 53,882 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 Share Link to post Share on other sites Facebook Twitter
TimisaMonster 27,792 Posted November 13, 2020 Keep making history! Stream my new single🔹️"Sapphire Phoenix"🔹️on Spotify! Share Link to post Share on other sites Facebook Twitter
imnotyourbabe10 5,115 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 Share Link to post Share on other sites Facebook Twitter
jacs vs looser 1,551 Posted November 13, 2020 Yaaas! Break that doggie house glass ceiling, Major 1 Share Link to post Share on other sites Facebook Twitter
Stephen 21,891 Posted November 13, 2020 Those pups are soo cute 1 Share Link to post Share on other sites Facebook Twitter
Adarsh 28,340 Posted November 13, 2020 They’re so cute That boy is a monster Share Link to post Share on other sites Facebook Twitter
Adarsh 28,340 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 Share Link to post Share on other sites Facebook Twitter
weed 44,041 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. Share Link to post Share on other sites Facebook Twitter
Ronnie 2,686 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 Share Link to post Share on other sites Facebook Twitter
Meruk Holland 1,486 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 Share Link to post Share on other sites Facebook Twitter
FfFfFfFF 43,265 Posted November 29, 2020 ►► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ►► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ►► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ►► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► ► Share Link to post Share on other sites Facebook Twitter