Most American presidents have had dogs, and with the exception of Bill Clinton, they were long-time dog owners. The tender affection of Lyndon Johnson for his Beagles (including the ear-pulling) and the Scottie so comfortably on George Bush’s arm is part of their Presidential profiles.

So let’s look to our President Elect for signs that he will support the traditional “boy and his dog” family, the heritage of the few remaining family farms in this country. How will he deal with our right to breed and exhibit animals, from show cattle and race horses to birds, bunnies, and pedigreed cats and dogs?

Not to presume anything in building an Obama profile but we would be remiss to not consider how he feels about Animal Rights and what if any effect the hordes of lobbyists and enormous sums of money represented by HSUS, PETA, DDAL, and “shell” non-profits will have on his administration.

For example, let me cite a Nov. 08 report by Legislative authority Charlotte McGowan. Racing Greyhound operations in Massachusetts have come to an end through “the vast financial resources of the anti-animal-use HSUS.” McGowan says the newspaper reported animal rights groups spent $670,000 on TV ads in Mass. Alone, and in California, HSUS was a major funding source for the $8 million dollars spent to destroy the egg producing industry which supplies 6% of the nation’s eggs. McGowan points out something the dog fancy knows but the average voter does not: “Animal rights forces have targeted most animal use in this country.” and she succinctly sums up with “The aim of HSUS and the other animal rights groups is to end any purposeful use or breeding of animals.”

So what does McGowan’s exhaustive report have to do with our President? Only this… “Wayne Pacelle of HSUS has positioned himself to strongly influence the new President… We have already seen Barack Obama holding a dog that has been used as a symbol of the campaign to end commercially bred dogs in ads. Obama is not an animal owner. He has no agricultural experience and no animal experience. He has promised his children a dog now that the election is over. Will he be getting an AKC registered dog or will Wayne Pacelle find him a mixed breed?”

McGowan’s question frames the concern of informed dog fanciers. What will happen when the Animal Rights groups seal the deal? Do not think there was no deal. Groups that can spend millions in one state on one project such as destroying egg farms or dog racing have big war chests. Obama raised a previously inconceivable amount of money so it is only logical to assume part of an estimated billion-plus came from “animal rights” groups. Whereas Republican John McCain agreed to public campaign financing which resulted in a total of $84 million, Obama raised nearly twice that amount—$150 million—in September alone. To say that Obama broke all historical records for any campaign would be an understatement, one that the news commentators are still scratching heads over.

So to which legislative agenda groups is he now obligated? Will he fulfill implied promises or will he ignore them?

Would HSUS throw millions of dollars at just one project in Calif. and ignore the possibility that an equal amount funneled into a candidate’s campaign would bring commensurately greater rewards?

Be assured, The Dog Press Legislative Editors and researchers will bring you answers as this not-over-yet story develops.