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FIRST PETS, PART I

© John S. Cooper

In the next election, we will choose the next occupants of the White House. But we will not choose all of them. Those we choose will then choose others: the First Pets. There have been animals at the White House since John Adams first moved in on that cold November day in 1800, but not all First Families had pets. Many of the first animals were kept for transportation, food or milk, or to control rats and other vermin. First Pets is defined here as pets or other animals owned by the First Family.

George and Martha Washington (1789-1797) never lived in the White House, but they had the very first First Pets. George had Nelson and Blueskin, horses he used during the Revolutionary War. He also had other horses named Samson, Steady, Leonidas, Traveller, and Magnolia among others. Nellie Custis, his stepdaughter, had a horse named Rozinante. But the most famous, or infamous, was a parrot which belonged to Martha. It is said that George and the parrot did not get along, and each kept a close eye on the other when they were in the same room.

It was said that Washington owned 36 dogs. In fact, Washington was not only the Father of His Country, he was the Father of the Foxhound. He is credited with creating the breed by crossing staghounds and Virginia hounds. He had hounds named Mopsey, Teaster, Cloe, Tipler, Forester, Captain, Lady Rover, Vulcan, Sweetlips and Searcher. He also had five French hounds as well.

There is no record of John and Abigail Adams (1797-1801) bringing any pets to the White House with them. They moved in on November 1, 1800, and Adams lost his fight for re-election the next week. Although they owned a farm, and definitely owned many animals, they did not bother having them shipped to Washington, D.C. for the last few months of his presidency.

Birds were popular First Pets early in our history. Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809) kept mockingbirds, and kept a pet mockingbird in his study in the White House. Jefferson taught the bird to take food from his lips and to ride on his shoulder. Jefferson also had two grizzly bear cubs brought to him in November 1807 by Zebulon Pike after one of his famous western expeditions. At Pike's suggestion, the two cubs were kept in a large cage in the north circle of the White House. Jefferson later sent the two cubs to Charles Willson Peale's museum in Baltimore. Jefferson was obviously fond of the bear cubs as is evident in his letter to Peale: "I put them together while here in a place of 10 f. square. For the first day they worried one another very much with play: but after that they played at times but were extremely happy together. When separated & put into their small cage again, one became almost furious. I do not think they have any idea of hurting any one."

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