Meet The Pets Of The World’s Political Leaders
Having a pet means, among other things, showing unconditional love for him. And this is something that some of the most influential people on the planet have not hesitated to do. Discover the political leaders’ pets and their history here.
The pets of political leaders: an asset
Living with a pet on a daily basis is known to have many benefits on many levels. One of them is the affection that is received from them and to which, without a doubt, we must respond. When this is transferred to the public sphere of politics, it can become a powerful weapon in favor.
The mere fact that a political leader is photographed with his pet conveys a sense of closeness and humanity. Undoubtedly, this is something that government teams and politicians’ press offices often do.
But beyond their influence in the media, seeing and getting to know the pets of political leaders shows that, without a doubt, the love of furry companions has no borders or limits.
Pets of Spanish political leaders
When talking about pets of political leaders, we find that most of them usually prefer the company of dogs and cats.
Starting with Spain, the first example we find is Turkey. This is the name of the dog of the water dog breed that, since 2017, has accompanied the current president of the Government and his family at the Palácio da Moncloa, and that has been publicly portrayed on several occasions.
Previously, it was possible to see Rico through the gardens of Moncloa. This energetic companion, who accompanied former president Mariano Rajoy on his walks, is an English pointer with white and black fur, a true breed dog.
And if we talk about races, we can’t forget Cico and Gufa. This cocker spaniel couple was seen in the presidential gardens at the time of José María Aznar, who is said to have genuine affection for them. The former president did not go a day without taking a walk with his faithful companions.
Dogs and cats in world politics
We are now crossing the Spanish border to discover the pets of political leaders from other countries. We can find the first example in France, where on several occasions the current President Macron was seen with Nemo.
The new inhabitant of the Élysée Palace, which was adopted by the French president in 2017, is a cross between a black labrador and a griffon . It is fully integrated into the environment and came to accompany the agent in some official ceremonies. Nemo is the latest in a long tradition that unites French presidents and Labrador retrievers.
But if there is a self-confessed animal lover, it is Russian President Vladimir Putin. In addition to having demonstrated on more than one occasion his commitment to animals and nature, the ruler was photographed on several occasions along with his two dogs: Yume and Buffy. The first of them is an Akita Inu dog , originally from Japan, while Buffy is a karakachan .
Now let’s talk about another case that, although not a pet as such, has been installed in one of the most iconic seats of government for several years. We refer to Larry, the tabby cat who has lived since 2011 in Downing Street, the residence of British rulers.
This friendly feline arrived with former Prime Minister David Cameron. He currently holds the official title of Chief Mouser or Rat Hunter. Larry’s popularity is so great that he has his own Twitter account.
The United States, birthplace of iconic pets
If there is one country with a long tradition of politicians and pets, it is the United States of America. Virtually every president has had distinguished pets in the White House. Theodor Roosevelt is said to have had 26 different pets.
One of the most iconic animals is the Scottish terrier Fala – pictured at the beginning of this article – who accompanied President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Its image has transcended in such a way that to this day it is the only pet in the White House that has been immortalized in statue form, along with its owner.
In recent history we can find Bo and Sunny, the famous water dogs of the Obama family. Or Barney and Miss Beazley, former President George W. Bush’s two Scottish terriers .
