Bo remembers the dogs aboard the RMS Titanic

One hundred years ago today, the much anticipated maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic ended in terrible tragedy. Of the 2,224 humans aboard, only 710 survived. The total number of dogs who were aboard the luxury liner is unknown it is believed there were a dozen or more of which only 3 survived.

Among the pups who perished that night were:

An Airedale and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, names unknown, belonging to the Carter family. The family survived.

A French Bulldog, Gamin de Pycombe, owned by Robert Williams Daniel. Daniel survived.

A Chow, name unknown, owned by Harry Anderson. Anderson survived.

An Airedale, Kitty, owned by John Jacob Astor and his wife. The Astors did not survive. 

The survivors were two Pomeranians, one named Lady, and a Pekingese named Sun-Yat Sen, owned by the Harpers of the book publisher Harper & Row.

The passengers in Titanic's lifeboat #4 also reported a Newfoundland, Rigel, whose barking aided in avoiding a near collision of the Carpathia with the lifeboat. Rigel was believed to have been in the water searching for his master, First Mate Murdoch, who did not survive the sinking. He was adopted by a crew member of the Carpathia.

While it has been a century since that fateful night, my heart still breaks for my cousins and their humans who were thrust into a harrowing situation fraught with moral dilemmas, fear and grief.

^{Bo Obama's Dog Blog sources: Petside.com, Squidoo.com, Wikipedia.org}

Bo and Mama Obama kick-off Month of the Military Child

Mom and I kicked-off 'Month of the Military Child' by joining a pre-Easter celebration with military families and children at the Fisher House on Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

Fisher House gives families of military members a place to stay to be near their loved one during hospitalization for an unexpected illness, disease, or injury. These 'comfort homes' provide a valuable service to those who defend our country and their families who sacrifice so much.

As you can see in the photo above, I was a little reluctant to wear the bunny ears that Mom brought. Hey, I'd do anything for the military and their families but those things pinched my sensitive little head and when I'm in pain, I don't feel I'm operating at my First Dog best!

For those of you who aren't familiar with Month of the Military Child, let me give you the 411. It was founded in 1986 by then Defense Secretary, Casper Weinberg, who wanted to recognize and honor military kids for their sacrifices and courage.

Did you know:

 There are approximately 1.9 million military children, ranging in ages from newborn to 18 years old, 1.3 million military children are school-aged.

765,000 of our military children have active duty parents, and approximately 225,000 have a parent who is currently deployed.

More than 700,000 children have experienced the deployment of one or more parents since 2001.

April give us all a super opportunity to make our littlest heroes feel special and appreciated. For info on 'Month of the Military Child' activities in your area, visit the OperationMilitaryKids.org. site. If you don't see anything going on locally, just pick a day, fill it with fun activities, lots of love, and a big dose of quality time with you!

I, First Dog Bo Obama, officially salute you, my pint-size amigos! And I send each and every one of you a big sloppy 'Bo' kiss too!

^{Bo Obama's Dog Blog sources: About.com, Bethesda.med,  DODLive.mil, OperationMilitaryKids.org}

Video of Mama Obama doing some Bo-braggin' on Letterman

Mama Obama said some very nice things about me on the "Late Show with David Letterman" this week...

I constantly amaze her with my superior intellect:

"Bo is wonderful. He is the smartest dog on the planet. He is my son. I have two girls and a boy."

And I know how to communicate when it's time to do my "biz" on the White House lawn:

"He will come up and he'll put his paw on your leg and he kind of nudges you and then you're like, 'What do you want?' and then he gets excited and you say, 'You want to go out?' and then he starts barking," she said.

Ahhh, the life of a famous Fur-st Dog:

"He has a very busy schedule. I mean appearances. I'm thinking about getting him an agent."

And thanks for having my pack's back when Dave talked smack about PWD's being "loopy:"

"No, they're not," Mama said, "He's a very sweet dog. I'm not being biased. He is really a good dog."

 

Gotta give a holla

out to Mama Obama...

Your braggin' to Letterman

really pumped my adrenaline.

Sayin' I'm an Einstein,

good lookin' with a fine mind,

and "Bo's oh so good!"

I'm 'bout to go all Hollywood!

And Dave, I'm not loopy

or I wouldn't be your groupie! (then again, maybe I would)

Seriously though, Mom was really on the tube to talk about the initiative she started with our buddy, Jill Biden, called Joining Forces.

Mom says it best, "This campaign is designed to make sure that every single member of our armed forces, our veterans and their families understands that they live in a grateful nation."

Visit joiningforcesallforgood.org for more information on how you can join the Force!

^{Bo Obama's Dog Blog sources: Joining Forces, The Hill}

Super Doggies | Bo Obama raps in new video by Oscar winning animator

Check me out, dawg! I'm animated and rapping for a really good cause...

In this first video from his new web series, Super Doggies, Oscar winning animator, Eugene Yelchin, teams me (Bo Obama dog) with Vladmir Putin’s pup, Buffy, and Abby, the best fur-friend of Imani, a girl living in a poor neighborhood in Johannesburg, South Africa, to bring attention to the global issue of youth poverty.

Look closely and you'll see Pops (President Obama) bustin' a move too!

 

"The Super Doggies are ‘good citizens’ who want to bring attention to the issue of poverty and work with local communities to highlight their plight," the series' website states. "Super Doggies’s citizenship principles are founded on the conviction that the arts, business and social initiatives can, together, contribute to making a better world."

The site also says that Super Doggies will begin a world tour in 2013! "The spectacular show, brings together the Super Doggies, performing ‘live on stage in breath taking and realistic 3D holographic projections, local dance talent, musicians, magicians, acrobats and performers from all over the world. Through this medium the Super Doggies will take the audience on a heart-warming journey and adventure as they face and overcome social challenges making the world a better place for children."

Check-out the Super Doggies' website and subscribe to be notified of tour dates and other Super Doggies' news!

^{Bo Obama Dog Blog sources: Super-Doggies.com, TheHill.com}

My exclusive interview with President Abraham Lincoln

Bo: Mr. President, it's an honor and a privilege to be in your presence today.

Abe: I'm very pleased to be here, Bo. And please, call me Abe.

Bo: Abe, you are ranked as one of the top people (living or dead) whom folks would most like to meet. How do you feel about that?

Abe:  Why anyone would choose to while away their time with me rather than a fascinating fellow like Tommy Jefferson has me stumped. He's a lot smarter and a good deal prettier.

Bo: I think you sell yourself short, sir.

Abe: I'm a simple man who had no ambition so great as that of being truly esteemed of my fellow men, by rendering myself worthy of their esteem.

Bo: What role did animals play in your life?

Abe: I've felt a tenderness toward animals since I was knee-high to a grasshopper. As I matured, my appreciation of them, and my compassion for them, deepened. Though I must admit, upon my arrival to my heavenly home I was met by my old dog, Joe, who most generously forgave me for causing him pain during a foolhardy, youthful escapade with my step-brother. That experience caused me a great deal of guilt and I spent the rest of my earthly days an ardent advocate against the abuse of animals, not a popular sentiment in my time.

Bo: Did you have a preference for dogs or cats?

Abe: I was blessed to have the opportunity to care for an abundance of both during my life and found it impossible to turn my back on any animal in need. I returned baby birds to their nest, rescued a stranded pup from a frozen stream, sacrificed my one good suit to free a pig from a mud-hole and brought home countless dogs and cats who had no home of their own. But my wife, Mary, always said that cats and kittens were my "hobby."

Bo: Did you have a favorite pet?

Abe: I was always partial to our dog Fido. That dog followed me all over Springfield as I tended to business. He often carried papers for me and would even wait quietly outside the barber's shop while I got my weekly trim.

Bo: Did Fido accompany you to the White House?

Abe: Sadly, no. As the town folk celebrated my electoral victory it became apparent that Fido was terrified of loud sounds. That aversion coupled with his fear of trains had me worried that he would not survive the trip to our new home in Washington.

We found a family who promised to love and care for Fido and were agreeable to our stipulations that he be an indoor dog, allowed the run of the house and given special treats. We even gave them Fido's favorite horsehair sofa.

Bo: Mr. President, the time I've spent with you today has truly been a dream come true. Would you like to end the interview with a message to the American people?

Abe: I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts.

^{Bo Obama's Dog Blog sources: Abraham Lincoln's Classroom, AnimalRescueOnline, BrainyQuote, Everything LIncoln, IllinoisTimes, The Abraham Lincoln Blog}

Crate-gate: Seamus Romney defected after infamous rooftop car ride

 
How's the air up there, Mitt? Feel like hanging-out on the roof while we make a 12 hour jaunt to Ontario? I didn't think so...

In case you missed the nightmarish tale of Mitt Romney's family vacation in '83, here's how it went down:

The Romney clan piled into the family station wagon for their annual 12 hour trek from Boston to Ontario. Things being a bit snug inside, Mitt made the executive decision to put the family dog, Seamus, in a pet carrier and strap it to the roof of the car. To make the voyage even more enjoyable for his pet, Mitt made a windshield for the crate.

During the ride, one of the kids alerted Dad that there was a brown liquid dripping down the back window, so Mitt calmly pulled off of the highway and into a gas station where he hosed down the dog and the car, put Seamus back in his penthouse perch, and carried on.

Okay, I get that things were different in the 80's, no seat-belt laws and certainly not the array of products or safety standards for pet travel that we have today but come on...Seamus was clearly in distress (thus the dripping brown liquid) so what does Mitt do? Hose the poor guy off and stick him right back on the roof? You're one frigid fur-father, Mr. Romney.

According to Dr. Russell Cumming, a professor of aerospace engineering at California Polytechnic State University, "He would constantly feel a little less than 3 pounds pressing on his head for the entire trip.

Chances are the windshield would only protect the front of the dog, but the air flowing around the windshield would buffet the side of the dog -- that would be tiring," said Cummings. "My wife's a vet, and she would be more worried by the dehydration of the dog's eyes under those conditions."

We've also learned that Mr. Romney may have left an important detail out of his tale-telling...according to a trusted Politicker tipster, Mitt's sons told reporters that Seamus ran away once they'd reached their vacation destination. Who can blame him?! But wait, Romney's wife, Ann, told reporters that Seamus made it to Ontario in one piece and went on to live to a "ripe old age." Which version is true?

Whether Seamus defected or stuck around for more "good-times" with the family, there's no denying that he was terrified, tired and dehydrated after 12 hours on the roof. If that's Mitt's idea of a fun-filled family vacation, I'd rather let the vet pull a tooth without anesthetic, thank you very much.

Check-out the new Mutt Romney Blues video

 

^{Bo Obama's Dog Blog sources: ABC News, Mediaite, Politicker}

Valentine's Day Sweepstakes | Your pup + a shelter = Winners!

Want to spoil your pup with some some serious love this Valentine's Day and make a difference for dogs in need? Enter DogTime’s Valentine’s Day Sweepstakes to win a $500 gift card and a basket of Valentine’s Day goodies from Muttropolis! Plus, DogTime will make a donation of $500 to the shelter of the winner’s choice.

It's so easy — submit your entry starting today, Monday, January 23, 2012 at 12:01AM PST. Sweepstakes will close on Friday, February 10, 2012 at 12:01 PM PST.

Let all your friends know how they can show their love for pups by entering DogTime’s Valentine’s Day Sweepstakes!

Video of dogs barking the Star Wars theme is too cool for Jedi school!

The Force is strong is with this choir of crooning canines...

 

...and may the Force be with you too!

What's an eco-pawprint and how do I shrink it?

Before you can fight the good fight, you've got to know your foe. I've put together the nifty ecological pawprint chart above (based on the Ecological Footprint) to aid you on your eco-education expedition. As Maya Angelou says, "When you know better, you do better."

While I have yet to find ecological statistics specific to pets alone, I did learn that it currently takes Mother Earth, a year and a half to regenerate what the Earth's population uses in a year. Holy cannoli, Batman!

While our eco-pawprints are tiny in comparison to the eco-footprints left by y'all, we do have an impact on the environment and there are things you can do to help us shrink it:

• Buy from companies who are eco-conscious and walk the talk. I've listed several in my Green goods for a smaller eco-pawprint post.

• Buy locally - Less transportation, less packaging, less waste.

• Recycle - Instead of purchasing that new pet bed you've been eyeing, check-out the stylish duvet covers available at most pet stores. You can stuff them with old clothes that are too tattered to donate.

• Recycle - Trade used pet toys with your pet loving friends.

• Reduce your pet's beef consumption - It takes a lots of space to sustain a herd of cattle.

• Switch to biodegradable or compostable poop bags.

• Use eco-friendly kitty litter.

^{Bo Obama Dog Blog sources: Global Footprint Network, Holistic Interior Designs}

11 Ways to thank those who serve!

 

1. Give shelter

Homes for Our Troops constructs houses for severely injured veterans who served after 9/11. Donate equipment or help build a home. homesforourtroops.org

2. Offer a vet a ride

The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) provides free transportation to men and women unable to travel to VA medical facilities on their own. You can volunteer to drive a DAV van for those in need. dav.org/volunteers  

3. Provide foster care for a pet

Take in the dog or cat of a deployed soldier or a wounded veteran while he or she is on duty or receiving VA medical treatment. guardianangelsforsoldierspet.org  

4. Record a war story

Do you know an old soldier with tales from the front lines? The Library of Congress wants to hear his voice. Go to the website below for tips on conducting an interview or to request a field kit, including biographical data and release forms. loc.gov/vets

5. Put those old cell phones to good use

Instead of stashing your used phones in the junk drawer, ship them to Cell Phones for Soldiers. For each one donated, the organization will pay for an hour of talk time for troops overseas. cellphonesforsoldiers.com

6.  Donate used DVDs

Drop off movies or television shows at your local VA facility, or mail them to DVDs4Vets, a national organization that distributes them where needed. dvds4vets.org

7. Cut coupons

Have some expired coupons lying around? Military families can use them for up to six months past their end date. coupsfortroops.com

8. Contribute to a holiday drive

Operation Gratitude’s annual campaign collects clothing, food, and more and packs it in gift boxes for service members. Pitch in by offering up items; local residents can sort them on-site. operationgratitude.com/volunteer

9. Post a care package

Through the organization Kitchen Table Gang, hospitalized veterans and troops abroad can receive personalized parcels containing everything from candy to board games. Get a service member’s address from KTG, bundle up items with a note of thanks, and send them off. soldierpackages.org

10. Share your expertise

MilServe connects volunteers with vets in many areas: financial counseling or legal services; job search guidance; even carpentry, for building wheelchair ramps. milserve.org

11. Support Big Brothers Big Sisters

The national organization has a special Military Mentoring program for children with parents in the armed forces. The group carefully pairs kids with adults serving in the military, as well as with veterans and civilians. bbbs.org

^{Bo Obama's Dog Blog source: Parade.com}