Pet tips

I like our president — I really do — but he blew it last week. I’m not talking about Afghanistan, the U.S.-Mexico border or stimulus package. I’m talking about the decision we’ve been buzzing about since Election Night: The decision to add a First Family dog. Before I get to our little issue, I should give him props for the clever way he handled the purebred vs. mutt dilemma. After all, animal people can be cagey, and there are a lot of us. Early on, the sheltering world was excited to learn the First Family was considering a shelter dog ... a mutt. Our movement had another "15 minutes” of fame. But, we were also told the girls’ allergies might mean they need to be picky and set their sights on the few supposed hypoallergenic dog breeds. Alas, this past week, Bo, the purebred Portuguese water dog, arrived. Bo was a gift from Senator Ted Kennedy. So, in the end, the Obamas didn’t really choose a shelter OR breeder. But, they chose a lousy name. It’s never a good idea to give a dog a name that rhymes with a common dog command. Bo, to a dog, sounds a lot like no. Sorry, but Joe, Bo, Moe, Ray and Faye are out. I get it though. The First Lady’s father was nicknamed Diddley, so their pup’s name was both a nod to grandpa and reference to the singer Bo Diddley. But, consider the other cool cats they could have chosen. He could have been Bowie or Bono keeping with the BO thing. Hendrix, too, will always be way cool. Me? I would have gone with Elvis. I mean, would you ever get tired of secret service whispering this into their shoulder-mounted walkie-talkies when the little guy trotted out each morning for his first (or First) poop: "Elvis has left the building.”