Going to the Dogs

To the Editor: 
Writers of history often like to commemorate little known facts to stir the interest of the reader. A subject is selected, i.e. President’s Day, and they delve into less obvious interests of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln for whom the holiday was originally intended.
When Washington became president, he and his entourage toured all 13 states and he took along his favorite greyhound – Cornwallis. Throughout his adult life he owned over 20 dogs according to his diary. Many were used for hunting game, herding animals, as well as his favorite pastime – fox hunting. Some of his closest dogs he named accordingly – Trueman, Truelove, and Sweetlips. Another dog named Vulcan lived up to his name when he stole an entire ham intended for a dinner to be hosted by Martha Washington. Vulcan did not score any points that day.
If you saw “The Patriot,” perhaps you recall the scene where Mel Gibson returned a British general’s dog. That scene was based on a real life episode – after the Battle of Germantown, a fox terrier with General William Howe’s name on the dog collar was captured by the Americans. Washington being the ultimate gentleman returned the dog to Howe Oct. 6, 1777.
When Washington retired after his second term in office, among the possessions he took home to Mount Vernon were his horse, Prescott, a parrot, and an unnamed dog (Cornwallis had died).
Abraham Lincoln’s family had dogs all of his life. Before becoming president and still living and practicing law in Springfield, Ill. he owned a yellow mutt, whom he named Fido, who became a family member in 1855. Fido was seen playing with Lincoln’s children and often accompanied him to the market place. Mary Todd was appalled when Fido would greet house guests with muddy paw shakes. When he became president he also owned rabbits, a pony and three orphaned kittens.
Unfortunately, Fido was considered too big and skittish to join the Lincolns in the White House in 1861. Fido and his new owners saw the Lincolns off at the train station where he gave his farewell speech. When Lincolns casket returned home to Springfield in May 1865, Fido was there to greet it. Newspaper coverage dubbed Fido – “Lincoln’s Dog” and he became the most famous mutt in America, the name becoming synonymous with family pooch. And 150 years later Fido still equals family pooch.
Happy President’s Day!