Presidential dog-walking duties fall to groundskeeper

When the cat's away, or in this case, the first lady, who walks the presidential pooch?

Career National Park Service employee Dale Haney, that's who.

Read an Associated Press story about him, via ABC News, here.

Haney is often spotted walking Bo, the Obama family's Portuguese water dog. In fact, he's tended to every White House pup since King Timahoe, Richard Nixon's Irish setter.

Haney, 57, has been a White House fixture since 1972. After getting a degree in horticulture from Sandhills Community College in Pinehurst, N.C., he continued his training in Washington and basically was discovered for his green thumb, as he tells the story.

Besides Bo, he takes cares of the White House's 18-1/2 acres of land, including the Rose Garden and the first lady's vegetable garden.

Now that the health care bill passed in the House, I guess the president will have more time to walk Bo.

Well, maybe not.

D.C. gone to the dogs?

It's about time Congress did something worthwhile.

Lost in all the hubbub about the stimulus package a few days ago was a reception honoring true heroes: the Cannon Canine Honors reception.

According to the Humane Society of the United States:

The members of Congress who attended Tuesday's Cannon Canine Honors reception in the House Office Building Caucus Room are just as inspired by their dogs. Nearly 100 images were entered in The Humane Society of the United States's first Congressional Dog Photo Contest, and many brought their canine companions to the special occasion.

Two representatives — Walter Jones, R-N.C., and Paul Hodes, D-N.H. — were honored for uniting dogs with families of the fallen soldiers who loved them. The U.S. Capitol Police K-9 team was recognized, as well.

The L.A. Times blog L.A. Unleashed called it one of the few Washington, D.C., events that sounded like fun.

Honorees included Hoover, a bulldog owned by the chief of staff to Rep. Mark Souder (R-Ind.), who was named "Barker of the House"; Lucy, a mixed-breed owned by the press aide to Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), who won "Senate Pawjority Leader"; and Camembert, a Labrador retriever owned by an aide to Rep. Whitfield, who won the distinguished title "Elder Statesdog."

And here are some more pictures from the L.A. Times blog Top of the Ticket.

How come I never get invited to something like this?