Yahoo Finance Joe Biden’s dogs Champ and Major move into the White House
Major is the first shelter dog to ever live in the White House
(Dekaware Humane Association)US President Joe Biden’s dogs Champ and Major have now settled in the White House, making them the first pets to live at the executive mansion since the Obama administration.
The two German shepherds moved into the home on Sunday, following Mr Biden’s inauguration last week.
Champ joined the family after the 2008 presidential election that made Joe Biden vice president. The Bidens adopted Major in 2018 from the Delaware Humane Association.
Major hit the headlines last yea after Mr Biden, then president-elect, broke his right foot while playing with the dog at their home in Wilmington, Delaware.
📸: The First Dogs arrived at the White House Sunday, including Major, the first rescue dog ever to live in the White House.
The Biden family wanted to get settled in the White House before moving Champ and Major from Delaware to Washington, per First Lady Jill Biden’s office. pic.twitter.com/lAhZrD7Dbx— ABC News (@ABC) January 25, 2021
Michael LaRosa, spokesperson for first lady Jill Biden, said: “The first family wanted to get settled before bringing the dogs down to Washington from Delaware.
“Champ is enjoying his new dog bed by the fireplace and Major loved running around on the South Lawn,” she added.
Major is the first shelter dog to ever live in the White House and “barking proof that every dog can live the American dream,” the association said.
The dogs were heard barking outside near the Oval Office on Monday as Mr Biden signed an executive order lifting the previous administration’s ban on transgender people serving in the military.
Champ and Major have joined us in the White House! 💕🐾 pic.twitter.com/R035YnavVo
— Jill Biden (@FLOTUS) January 25, 2021
Last week, the Delaware Humane Association cosponsored an “indoguration” virtual fundraiser to celebrate Major’s journey from shelter pup to first dog with more than $200,000 (£146,000).
Jennifer Pickens, author of a book about pets at the White House, said: “Pets have played an important role in the White House throughout the decades, not only by providing companionship to the presidents and their families, but also by humanising and softening their political images.”
Champ and Major follow in a long line of presidential pets, with Theodore Roosevelt having Skip, described by the White House Historical Association as a “short-legged Black and Tan mongrel terrier brought home from a Colorado bear hunt”.
Warren G. Harding had Laddie Boy, who sat in on meetings and had his own Cabinet chair, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt had his beloved terrier Fala.
When he declared victory in the 2008 presidential race, Barack Obama told his daughters: “You have earned the new puppy that’s coming with us to the White House.”
Several months later, Bo joined the family, a gift from Senator Ted Kennedy.
