There is much to ponder about 2020’s Presidential election results. If you supported President-elect Biden, you likely feel much joy. If you supported the other guy, it’s either, “See you in court,” or “Better luck next time.” Take your pick.
All things remaining equal, President-elect Biden will be sworn in as the Nation’s 46th President on January 20, 2021. The day will make history in several ways. For instance, California Senator Kamala Harris will become the Nation’s first female, African-American, and Indian-American Vice President. That will leave a Mack truck-sized hole in that glass ceiling.
Another history-making event will occur on January 20, 2021, however, and it is one that is being widely misreported by the media. The event requires a bit of correcting because the truth is just as important as what has been reported.
For several days, the media has reported that one of President-elect Biden’s two German shepherds, “Major,” will be the first rescue dog in the White House. You can find such articles from news outlets both small and large here and here.
These reports are not quite accurate. Snopes deemed these reports a “mixture” of truth and falsity. In fact, the first “rescue” dog in the White House was “Yuki,” a white terrier mix, who belonged to President Lyndon B. Johnson.
The story is heartwarming. Johnson’s daughter, Luci, found “Yuki” in 1966 abandoned and alone at a gas station in Texas. Luci rescued the dog and named him “Yuki,” which means “snow” in Japanese. She then presented Yuki to her father as a present, and Yuki soon came to live at the White House because the dog and Johnson were inseparable. Yuki even gained some notoriety for his penchant for howling whenever Johnson sang to him, as shown below.
In no way does this truth detract from “Major” because he will make history in his own right, which is no less significant. On January 20, 2021, “Major” will become the first shelter dog to occupy the White House, as shown in the photo below from the day President-elect Biden adopted “Major” from the Delaware Humane Association.
While it may seem like a distinction without a difference, “Major’s” status as a “shelter” dog is a big deal for two reasons. First, every year, nearly 700,000 dogs are euthanized in shelters in the U.S. Far from being places of refuge, many “shelters” are high-kill facilities that euthanize dogs simply because they are unwanted or are deemed “unadoptable.” “Major” has a real opportunity to put a face to the plight of America’s shelter dogs. And, what a handsome face he has, too!
Second, we have spent the last four years enduring a President rather well-known for not liking dogs. “Dogs” was one of his favorite, derogatory Twitter euphemisms. Moreover, neither he nor the First Lady owned any companion animals during their brief stay in the White House, itself somewhat unusual among Presidents. The fact we will soon have a gentleman in the White House who cared enough for the welfare of another being — one that had presumably been forgotten, abandoned, or discarded — says a great deal about that gentleman and his ability to feel compassion. Could we not all use a healthy dose of compassion these days? It has seemed in rather short supply lately.
Media error aside, congratulations are in order not only to President-elect Biden but also to “Major” for being the first shelter dog to occupy the White House. As the proud papa of two, former shelter dogs, this author hopes “Major” can become the “White House Ambassador for Shelter Dogs,” demonstrating to all the many benefits of adopting these deserving animals instead of shopping for “designer dogs” or, worse, acquiring them from “puppy mills” where they are often abused or neglected. Hopefully, the media will set the record straight and start emphasizing this important animal welfare issue.
