Joe Biden Buys German Shepherd Puppy

While all eyes are on the Obamas' search for a new First Puppy for Malia and Sasha, CBS News reports that Joe Biden has just bought a German shepherd pup. A local Chester County newspaper reports that Biden will let his granddaughters name the puppy. (Check out dogsart.typepad.com/the_obamas_dog/2008/12/joe-biden-puppy-photos.html">these adorable pics posted on The Obama Dog Blog!)

The new Vice Puppy came from a breeder in East Coventry, Pennsylvania. The male pup was selected from a litter bred by Linda Brown, owner of the kennel Jolindy's German Shepherds. A local newspaper reports that her kennel was recommended to Biden by Mark Tobin, who coordinates the local law enforcement's K9 division.

Joe Biden is a fan of the breed, and has owned and reportedly shown German shepherds in the past. (I wasn't able to find any information online about Biden's show record.) Biden's wife Jill had promised that she would buy him a puppy if he was elected Vice President. Biden taped pictures of dogs to the back of the seat in front of him on his campaign plane, as inspiration.

(So many questions! Will the First Puppy and the Vice Puppy get along? If the First Puppy piddles on the rug in the Oval Office, can he be impeached? If the First Puppy is impeached, and the Vice Puppy takes over the First Puppy's duties, who will Barack Obama nominate to replace the Vice Puppy?)

Some people are upset that Biden chose his puppy from a breeder, as opposed to adopting from a shelter. Internet debates on "shelter versus breeder" have been raging ever since the Obamas announced their intention to buy a puppy. Many animal shelters and animal rights organizations (including PETA) have lobbied for the Obamas and the Bidens to adopt rather than purchase.

Despite having purchased a puppy from a breeder, Joe Biden has long been a staunch supporter of animal rights. Biden is one of only seven politicians in the Senate to receive a "100+" score on the 2008 Humane Scorecard. "100+" means that in addition to receiving a 100% score on animal welfare issues, Biden was also a prime sponsor of pro-animal legislation.

Biden has a long history of supporting animal rights. In 2002 he authored a bill to prevent the practice of "trophy hunting" exotic animals in fenced enclosures. In 2003, Biden was co-author, along with Senator Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) on legislation to help protect dolphins from tuna fishermen. In 2008 he co-sponsored bills to bar horse slaughter, require that downed livestock be humanely euthanized, prevent Class B dealers from selling random animals for use in medical research, make animal fighting a felony offense, and override President Bush's veto vote on the Farm Bill, which included several provisions for the humane treatment of livestock.

The Humane Scorecard is published every year by the Humane Society Legislative Fund. It rates politicians on their support for animal protection issues such as horse slaughter, animal fighting legislation, animal research, and more. The Humane Scorecard records not only votes, but co-sponsorship of bills, and signing letters in support of additional funding or legislation for animal welfare issues.