As a new President takes office this week, George W. Bush will return a very special animal back to the White House to become the next First Dog. The Bush family pet, Spot, will return to his birthplace in Washington, D.C. to the White House.

Spot Fetcher Bush, an English Springer Spaniel, was born in the White House on March 17, 1989 to Millie Bush, who was the First Dog and family pet of President and Mrs. George Bush. Spot was then given to the President's Son, George W. Bush and wife, Laura, and two children, Jenna and Barbara.

English Springer Spaniels became popular in America in the 1700's and were considered the ideal hunting companion. The breed acquired its' name from the way in which it flushes game out by springing forward forcing birds out of their hiding places. The Springer enjoys lots of exercise and retrieving games and is very adaptable to changing environments. Anyone who knows anything about George W. Bush or that kept up with the 2000 Presidential Campaign, knows that President Bush is a big animal lover. Often times during his campaigning, you would see Spot at his side everywhere he went. He would even interject in the middle of an interview to give commands to Spot, who was usually roaming around somewhere. Once during the summer, George W. Bush made a trip to Georgetown to Southwestern University to film a piece for his campaign. As a Police Officer, I was part of the security team that was in place for his arrival. As soon as he exited his suburban, Spot was right beside him. During the filming, Governor Bush personally made sure that Spot was well cared for by his staff, including his protection unit, while he was away. The staff kept Spot occupied by throwing tennis balls for him and allowing him to roam the campus. As soon as the filming was complete, Governor Bush sought out Spot to be by his side again.

As a nation, we have had many Presidents that have brought their family pets to the White House with them. George Washington never actually lived in the White House, but was responsible for overseeing the construction of the mansion. It was said, that when he would make the trip from Philadelphia to Washington to check on the progress of the building, President Washington would bring his two dogs, Truelove and Sweetlips along for the ride. When Abraham Lincoln left his home to go to Washington as the President, he chose not to take his dog, Fido with him, but left explicit instructions with the neighbor boys on how to take care of him. When General Grant became President, he gave his son, Jesse a dog as a gift. Within a few weeks, the dog suddenly died. Jesse was then given a second dog, and it too, died mysteriously after a few weeks. Finally, Grant solved the problem by admonishing his staff that if another dog mysteriously died, that they would all be fired. Needless to say, the next Grant dog lived to be very old!

President Warren Harding had a Airedale named Laddie Boy, while President Calvin Coolidge had a collie named Rob Roy. One of the first well known dogs in the White House, was President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Scottie, Fala. It is said that President Roosevelt once sent a U.S. destroyer to pick up Fala, who had been left behind in Alaska! At the FDR Memorial in Washington, a statue of Fala sits next to the statue of Franklin D. Roosevelt and visitors to the center rub its' head for good luck. Fala was obviously very important to President Roosevelt.

President Richard Nixon had a Cocker Spaniel named Checkers, Lyndon Johnson had a pair of Beagles named Him and Her, and later had a mixed breed named Yuki. Yuki was rescued by President Johnson's daughter, Luci from a roadside gas station near El Paso. Gerald Ford was kept company at the White House by a Golden Retriever named Liberty, and President Ronald Reagan was often seen with his Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Rex. In more recent times, we all remember the Bush family pet, Millie. Millie is the only Presidential dog to write an autobiography that appeared on the best sellers list. Rumor has it that First Lady Bush helped her with the technical parts of writing! Last but not least, the Clinton Family has a Chocolate Lab named Buddy that came to live at the White House in 1997. We all have seen Buddy on TV dragging the Clintons' around the various lawns of the White House.

I'm sure that Spot really doesn't care about party lines or agenda. His top priorities in being the new White House dog will be to locate new napping places, which lawn is best for chasing tennis balls, and knowing where the helicopter will be landing at so that he can wait for Dad! I'm sure that he will be given high security classifications, after all, who would he tell?

In all of the prestige of living in the White House and being the President of the United States of America, many of our past and current leaders have shown that there is an innate need for the companionship of dogs. Dogs love them for who they are, not what they have or will accomplish. Many times, our past Presidents have often shut the world out by closing the doors of the Oval Office and have taken a break with their dogs. Dogs can offer an amazing sense of calm and understanding, and are often so dynamic in a healing process.

Whether Democrat or Republican, one has to appreciate what is about to happen at the White House. As Former President Bush walked the halls and formed national and international policies from the White House, so shall his son, George W. Bush. In a different light, just as Millie roamed the many rooms and halls of the White House and was there for President and Mrs. Bush in times of need, so shall Spot!