OTTAWA -- Following a four-year absence, dogs are once again barking through the halls of the White House.
U.S. President Joe Biden and his family own two German shepherds, named Champ and Major. Champ joined the family in 2008 from a Pennsylvania breeder, while the Bidens adopted Major in 2018 from the Delaware Humane Association (DHA), making him the first shelter dog to enter the White House.
To celebrate Major鈥檚 new home, the DHA hosted a virtual 鈥渋ndoguration鈥� for their alumnus last week, which included celebrity appearances and raised more than US$200,000 for the shelter.
Champ and Major also have a children鈥檚 book written in their honour. tells the story of the two dogs moving into the White House, while Champ, who鈥檚 been there before, during Biden鈥檚 term as vice-president, ushers Major around their new home.
Former U.S. president Donald Trump famously broke a 130-year-old tradition when he did not bring a pet into the White House during his term.
鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 mind one honestly, but I don鈥檛 have any time,鈥� Trump said about owning a dog during a rally on Feb. 11, 2019.
鈥淗ow would I look walking a dog on the White House lawn?鈥� he then added with a grimace.
Pet ownership then became a campaign issue when Biden used that quote for a
