Pick one

I'm sure President-elect Obama will get around to naming another candidate for commerce secretary, but at least the field has been narrowed for the really important choice: what kind of dog will the Obamas get for the White House.

Here's a link to a blog entry of The Oval, USA Today's new offering that looks at the Obama presidency, which, by the way, hasn't yet started.

Obama told George Stephanopoulos on This Week with George Stephanopoulos that he's gotten the selection process down to a Labradoodle or "Portuguese water hound," though he meant Portuguese Water Dog.

And the new first family is still looking to adopt a shelter dog. Good for them.

Future first dog on hold, wisely

The president elect and his family will wait until after they move into the White House to get a dog.

Here's an Associated Press article.

First-lady-to-be Michelle Obama told CBS's "60 Minutes" that it wouldn't be a good idea to bring a dog into the mix during the transition.

That's a good call, I think. Nothing could be worse for the dog, or for the family for that matter, to have the extra worry about getting used to two drastically different situations in such a short period of time.

And they are still talking about getting a shelter dog. Good for them. I am certain that they will be able to get a pooch that will not aggravate Malia's allergies.

I'm not going to suggest medical intervention for the child; that would not be my place.

But I suffer from seasonal allergies and I take a medication that deals with it, preventing it from turning into something more serious, like asthma.

I'm sure the Obamas, as responsible parents, already know this. After all, they will soon have the best medical care in the entire world.

More on the future first canine

President-Elect Barack Obama's press conference Friday showed just how important the question is about his family getting a dog.

See a clip of Obama speaking on the issue here.

The Washington Post chimes in with a photo gallery of pooches that might fit the hypo-allergenic bill for daughter Malia.

As as far as the future leader of the free world being a "mutt," so can your dog, Mr. President-Elect.

New addition to the future first family?

Now that the pesky election is behind us, it is time to focus on what really matters.

What kind of dog will the Obamas have in the White House?

As I wrote yesterday, the president-elect said in his victory speech Tuesday he would make good on his promise to his two daughters to get them a dog.

Everyone is now weighing in on the matter.

I think he should get a pit bull and name it Sarah, but that ain't gonna happen.

The Mercury News said the Obamas will get a shelter dog, but USA Today said they will consider getting a rescue. You can see the articles via the links provided.

The Chicago Sun-Times said the American Kennel Club is coming up with various pure bred suggestions, focusing on hairless breeds like the Chinese Crested, which would be good for daughter Malia Obama, who has asthma.

And some newspapers are soliciting suggestions for the first family-elect, like the San Francisco Chronicle. One reader said the dog should be named Maverick. Ha.

Personally, I think the right thing — which would send the right message — is for the Obama's to take their time and explore getting a pooch from a rescue group that deals with hypo-allergenic breeds — pure and mixed.

I can't imagine them being able to go to shelter after shelter looking for the right dog; the demands on all of them are just beginning and will only get worse through Jan. 20. Working with a rescue group would enable the right match to be made and would avoid puppy mills.

Good luck to the Obamas. That will be one really lucky puppy.

Pet rumors dog Obama

With Barack Obama's victory only a few hours old, already there are rumors about who will be appointed to serve in his administration.

The only clear indication of a White House post is Obama's promise to his daughters, Sasha and Malia, to get them a dog.

Here is a Reuter's article on that issue.

“Sasha and Malia, I love you both more than you can imagine. And you have earned the new puppy that’s coming with us,” Obama said at the start of his victory speech.

I'm hoping that the president-elect and his family will consider a rescue and not go the puppy mill route.

You are under the spotlight now, Mr. President-Elect.

Rescue dog gets pacemaker

The life of a 5-year-old chocolate Labrador retriever named Molly — a search and rescue dog — was rescued Thursday when surgeons implanted a pacemaker.

She needed the operation because she was diagnosed with a complete electrical heart blockage.

According to an Associated Press article in the Arizona Republic, Molly's owners were overwhelmed with offers to pay for the $2,500 surgery. The medical company that manufactured the pacemaker donated the device, and a Kansas anonymously paid up to $2,000.

After a couple months of limited activity, Molly will be able to return to full-time rescue work, the article said.