1. President George Washington’s pets consisted of a parrot, a pack of thirty six hounds, and several horses from the revolutionary war.

2. James K. Polk was the only president to have not have any pets during his presidency. Which explains why I wouldn’t have voted for him.

3. One November a citizen sent a live turkey to the White House to be eaten during the holiday meal. President Lincoln’s son, Tad, grew an attachment to the turkey, who he named Jack. Jack would follow Tad all around the White House. Tad learned that Jack was scheduled to be killed and was so upset he interrupted a cabinet meeting, crying and pleading, he begged his father for the bird’s life. Lincoln wrote “an order of reprieve” for Tad to present to Jack’s “executioner” in the kitchen. It was a Thanksgiving where even the turkey had something to be thankful for.

4. Abraham Lincoln named his dog Fido and ever since “Fido” has been a common alternative term for “dog”.

5. Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Scottish Terrier, Fala, had a bone brought to him every morning on FDR’s breakfast tray.

6. A pet bird hasn’t inhabited the White House for forty-six years. If you ask me that is a woofin’ good thing!

7. John Quincy Adams had a pet alligator. The alligator was a gift by Marquis de Lafayette.

8. His wife, Louisa Adams, had pet silkworms. An odd combination if there ever was one.

9. Martin Van Buren had two pet tiger cubs during his presidency. I wonder how the furniture faired with those claws?

10. President James Buchanan had the largest dog to ever call the White House home, a 170 pound Newfoundland.

11. Is you think Buchanan stopped at large dogs, you’re sorely mistaken. The King of Siam gave him a herd of elephants as a gift. Congress insisted they be sent to a zoo to live out their days but one elephant was able to remain.

12. Theodore Roosevelt had quite a few pets. In addition to the predictable dogs, cats, and a couple birds he had a few stranger pets. Roosevelt had two kangaroo rats, a badger, a raccoon, a flying squirrel, a zebra, a coyote, five bears, a lion, and even a hyena.

13. Like Roosevelt, President Calvin Coolidge owned a variety of average and not so average pets. Among the typical dogs and cats he also kept a wallaby, an antelope, a Pygmy hippo, several lion cubs, and a bobcat.

14. Coolidge’s wife, Grace, had two pet raccoons. They were named Horace and Rebecca. Horace was shy and avoided being around people, and even avoided having his picture taken. On the other paw, Rebecca was known to be quite social compared to Horace. She walked on her leash and often posed for photographers.