Pete (Theodore Roosevelt's dog)

Last updated

Pete
Species Dog
Breed Bull terrier (conflicting reports)
DiedOctober 1910
Occupation Presidential pet
Owner Theodore Roosevelt and his family [1]

Pete was a pet dog belonging to United States president Theodore Roosevelt. He was one of many presidential pets during Roosevelt's presidency. [1] He was reported to be a bull terrier, though other reports have said he was a Boston bull terrier or bulldog. [1]

Pete was reported to be Theodore Roosevelt's favorite of his dogs. [2]

Pete chased and bit a number people on numerous occasions during his time living at the White House. He bit policemen on a number of occasions. [2] In a biting incident, Pete tore the trousers of Secretary of the Interior James Rudolph Garfield. [2] In another incident, Pete was reported to have chased George B. Cortelyou, causing Corelyou to seek refuge by climbing a tree. [2] He was also reported to have numerous times chased private citizens visiting the White House. [2] In yet another incident, Pete tore the pants off of Jean Jules Jusserand (ambassador of France to the United States). [1] [3] [4] [5]

In May 1907, Pete got into repeated fights with another dog that would wander onto the White House grounds. These fights left him with serious, even life-threatening, injuries. [6] [7]

Pete would be exiled from living at the White House due to his aggressive incidents towards people. [1] He was initially exiled in July 1907, reportedly because Theodore Roosevelt decided not to euthanize the dog following a plea from his son Archibald. [8] He was again exiled in 1908, after he chased a State Department official. [9] He appears to have spent the rest of his days at the Roosevelt's Sagamore Hill estate. [1]

Pete died in October 1910. [2]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Theodore Roosevelt's Pete". Presidential Pet Museum. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "SNAP SHOTS" . Newspapers.com. The Buffalo Illustrated Sunday Times. October 30, 1910. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  3. "Major's not the only misbehaving White House dog. But don't let that deter you from adopting a shelter pup". NewsChannel 3-12. March 10, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  4. "Presidential Pets". CBS News. CBS Interactive Inc. October 4, 2016. Archived from the original on May 17, 2018. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
  5. Kaur, Harmeet (March 10, 2021). "Major's not the only misbehaving White House dog. But don't let that deter you from adopting a shelter pup". CNN. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
  6. "WHITE HOUSE PETE LICKED; IS IN HOSPITAL NOD" . Newspapers.com. The Pittsburgh Press. May 25, 1907. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  7. "THE PRESIDENT'S BULLDOG ALMOST KILLED BY A MONGREL WANDERER" . Newspapers.com. Tucson Citizen. May 15, 1907.
  8. "PETE, WHITE HOUSE BULL PUP OUSTED". news.google.com. The Teldegraph-Herald. July 25, 1907. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  9. "Brindle Pete Sets 'Em Goin', Caught at Last" . Newspapers.com. March 16, 1908. Retrieved August 25, 2021.