The Top 10 Everything of 2008

2. White House Pets, Part 1: Electing a new First Pup

Of all the things that Barack Obama vowed to do during his campaign for the presidency, the one that will most certainly be fulfilled is his promise to his two daughters to get a puppy. In his first post-election press conference, Obama said that figuring out what kind of dog to get had become "a major issue." And, boy, was he right about that. Entire websites were created to weigh in on which breed the Obamas should take to the White House. Some 50,000 people signed a petition urging the family to get a dog from a shelter. Obama took the suggestion to heart, but reminded everyone of 10-year-old Malia's allergies, which he said complicate the prospect of adopting "mutts like me". At presidentialpup.com, more than 42,000 people cast votes for five hypoallergenic breeds that the American Kennel Club thought would be a good choice for the Obamas. The poodle won, but no word yet on whether the Obamas will take them up on the advice.

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