When you’re a famous politician like Vice President Joe Biden [As of 2021 President], everything you do is newsworthy and will be judged. It’s rare for him to receive only positive reactions to anything he does, but it happened. Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, adopted the shelter dog that they had been fostering, and nobody has bad things to say about that.
The positivie reaction presents a contrast to the negative press a decade ago when the family purchased their dog Champ from a commercial breeder. “Biden's wife, Jill, promised the VP a dog if he and Obama got elected. Biden found the pup, a three-month old male German Shepherd, in a breeder's kennel in southeastern Pennsylvania," CNN reported.
After that snafu, he promised to adopt a rescue or shelter pal for his next dog and we’re glad to see a high-profile adoption set a good example.
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The newest member of the Biden family, a dog named Major, first came into their lives in March of 2018 when he was still a puppy. Biden’s daughter, Ashley Biden, sent her father a Facebook post about a litter of German Shepherd puppies that were having some health issues and needed foster families.
Happy Valentine's Day, @JoeBiden. See you in Las Vegas for early vote! pic.twitter.com/ZtRkt4uSmv
— Dr. Jill Biden (@DrBiden) February 14, 2020
The six puppies had been exposed to toxins and were hospitalized for treatment. Biden has long loved German Shepherds, and had been wanting to adopt a new dog as a companion for Champ. He contacted the Delaware Humane Association about fostering one of the puppies.
Since they began fostering Major, the Bidens have been training him. In addition to the usual skills that dogs need, Major needs to learn to be comfortable in some situations that most dogs never face, such as traveling on planes and facing large groups of photographers.
When Champ was added to the family in 2008, he was trained by New Castle County Police K-9 coordinator Mark Tobin, before they move into the vice presidential residence.
The Bidens released an official statement that said, “We are so happy to welcome Major to the Biden family, and we are grateful to the Delaware Humane Association for their work in finding forever homes for Major and countless other animals.” Among the many animals who have been adopted are the other five puppies from Major’s litter.
Build Bark Better.
Happy #NationalDogDay. pic.twitter.com/64HXEBscwO
— Dr. Jill Biden (@DrBiden) August 26, 2020
