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A shelter dog will have a place in the Biden White House

Delaware Humane Association

One of President-elect Biden’s pets will mark a “first” for the White House come January.

 

Dogs will once again return to the White House with the Biden Presidency. And one of Biden’s german shepherds, Major, will make history as the first shelter dog at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.

 

Delaware Humane Association Executive Director Patrick Carroll tells the story.

 

“Joe Biden’s daughter Ashley Biden saw a post that we put on our Facebook page about these puppies, and I guess she had shared that with her dad cause she knew he was looking for another German Shepard to go along with Champ. So then, the rest is history I guess," saaid Carroll. "We put him into foster with the Bidens and then we finalized the adoption later on.”

 

Major was adopted back in 2018 from the Delaware Humane Association, after the group was looking for people to foster a litter of sick puppies.

 

Carroll says Major is a role model for rescue dogs everywhere.

 

“You know we kinda feel like whether it’s your house or the White House, Major’s story highlights getting cats and dogs into homes and living happily ever after,” Carroll said.

 

Delaware Humane had to radically shift their operations during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, moving almost all their animals to foster homes. Carroll says the community stepped up to the challenge to help.

 

Carroll says he sees an increase in adoption rates in the future with changing work habits. With many people working remotely more frequently, he says people might be more amenable to having a pet brought into the home.

Roman Battaglia grew up in Portland, Ore, and now reports for Delaware Public Media as a Report For America corps member. He focuses on politics, elections and legislation activity at the local, county and state levels.
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