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| "George Washington's Home, Mount Vernon" (C) Allen Pearson |
Paws, I thought it would be interesting to share a bit about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln’s dogs. While researching information for this article, I found quite a bit of detail about the dogs in their lives!
Barkingly, George Washington had many dogs while at Mount Vernon. The dogs were owned by George and Martha Washington, grandchildren, friends, and slaves who lived on the estate.
I have to pawnder what type or breed or kind of dogs George Washington would have. After all, this was way back in the good old days. I’m thinking even further back than Dads childhood days. So am guessing the dogs didn’t have the best of everything like we dogs often do today.
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| "George Washington's Home, Mount Vernon" (C) Allen Pearson |
Barks, a pawful and more says Washington’s dogs were used dogs for hunting. He is often credited by the American Kennel Club with helping to develop the American Foxhound breed!
Barkingly, throughout the years, Washington acquired or was given a “Coach Dog,” a Spaniel, Terriers, and a Newfoundland. “Coach Dog?” The term refers to a type of dog rather than a specific breed. It could have been a Dalmatian as it often referred to as a breed of white dog with black spots. WOOF!
When Washington traveled, he left instructions for the butler to care for the dogs. WOOF! When one of the dogs was expecting a litter of pups, Washington’s butler was in attendance! BARKS!
According to the pawsome website www.mountvernon.org, barkingly, the most hilarious story of Washington’s having dogs in the home occurred with their dog, the beloved French Hound Vulcan! “The mischievous Vulcan ambled into the Mount Vernon kitchen on the very day Mrs. Washington had ordered a fine ham for dinner. Excited about this menu, Vulcan sunk his teeth into the savory prize and carried it cleanly away as the kitchen servants chased after him.” WOOF! Can’t say I blame him- I did that with a chicken! BARK!
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| "Site of Abraham Lincoln's Boyhood Home" (C) Joe Shlabotnik, Flickr Creative Commons |
Barks! Abraham Lincoln had a dog named “Fido!” He was a yellow mixed breed who seemed to be Lincoln’s companion too. He went everywhere Lincoln went! Fido could be found waiting outside a barber while Lincoln got a trim! Or, you would often see Fido carrying packages from the market back to the house- Dad, don’t get any ideas!
Barkingly, when Lincoln was elected President, the noises of the local celebration, booming cannons, loud fireworks, ringing church bells, and the excitement of the community proved to terrify Fido and be too much for him. This caused Lincoln to make arrangements for Fido to stay with a family friend, John Roll and his family. Barkingly, the friend promised to return Fido to them when they returned from Washington.
WOOF, Fido had the run of the Lincoln household. Bark, like me at mine! When Lincoln left him with the Rolls, he specified that Fido was to be all to come into the Roll family home, even if his paws were muddy and not be scolded. ARF! Since the Lincolns shared table scraps with Fido at mealtime, the Rolls should do the same. BARK! Fido had a favorite sofa which was taken to the Roll home too!
When Lincoln was assassinated, the Roll family brought Fido along with them to the Lincoln family home in Springfield to pay respects! Ironically, a few years later, Fido was being his pawsome playful self with a drunk man who in a drunken rage, thrust a knife into him. Fido met the same fate as his pawsome master, Assassination!
Barks! However you celebrate President’s Day, may it be a blessed one! BARKS!
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| "Lincoln's Home in Springfield, Illinois" (C) Matt Turner, Flickr Creative Commons |
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