AVMA Congratulates Obama Family For Making Adoption Of New First-Family Dog A Serious, Careful Decision

Main Category: Veterinary
Article Date: 21 Nov 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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In a recent interview with 60 Minutes, President-Elect Barack Obama and his wife Michelle said that they plan to take their time adopting a first-family dog, waiting until "late winter, early spring" to pick their new pet.

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) thanks the president-elect for setting a good example for every American considering adopting a pet.

"I'm glad to hear that President-Elect Obama is approaching selecting a pet in a thoughtful manner. It's good to know that his decisions are made with intellect, responsibility and seriousness," explains Dr. James Cook, president of the AVMA. "I agree completely with Michelle Obama when she said that she didn't think it would be 'good to get a dog in the midst of transition.' Adopting a pet takes care and attention to detail.

"This decision not only will have an impact on his family, but also on his new pet," Dr. Cook says. "I would also advise the Obamas the same as anyone else considering a new pet. Have a veterinarian give the pet a health exam and make sure it is current on its vaccinations. Discuss a plan of long-term veterinary care to keep the first dog happy and healthy."

Dr. Cook also cautions prospective pet owners regarding surprising a family member with a pet as a holiday gift. "Adopting a pet should be a family decision and the first few days home are an important transition time. The chaos of holidays may not be the best time to introduce a new pet to its new environment. It would be heartbreaking to have to return a pet in January because the pet wasn't a good match for the family," he explains.

"The Obama family is handling the adoption with the appropriate care, and I would like to thank him for setting a good example for all Americans."

The AVMA brochure, What You Should Know About Selecting a Dog, available here, offers valuable information to help anybody, including the president of the United States, make the right choice in selecting a new dog.

The AVMA and its more than 76,000 member veterinarians are engaged in a wide variety of activities dedicated to advancing the science and art of animal, human and public health. Visit http://www.avma.org for more information.

American Veterinary Medical Association