Animals in the White House Trivia Quiz

Answer: Canary

The 30th president had a lot of pets - at least 4 cats, 7 birds and 12 dogs. As a world leader, he was also given a lot of animals, including at least 2 raccoons, a bear cub, thirteen Peking ducks, two lion cubs and a duiker (a small antelope). Some of the exotics were thoughtfully sent to more suitable zoo accommodation. Known as a very taciturn man (Dorothy Parker, on learning of his death, enquired "How could they tell?"), perhaps Coolidge was more at home with animals?

Answer: Italian

As an Italian greyhound, surely he should have been 'Il Bello'? The Italian greyhound is the smallest of the gaze hounds (dogs that hunt by sight rather than scent). They were very popular with royalty, some of their most famous owners being Mary Stuart, Queen Anne, Queen Victoria, Catherine The Great and Frederick the Great.

While researching this quiz I learned that the French have a greyhound saint called Guinefort. His legend is nearly identical to the Welsh one concerning Gellert (noble dog defended baby from snake, noble dog killed after parents find blood-stained dog and baby). John Tyler also had a horse called General and a pet canary named Johnny Ty.

Answer: Tobacco

At its largest, the flock was as big as 18, and the flock's fleece, auctioned off to raise money for the Red Cross, earned $52,823. It also kept White House gardening costs down, but I bet nobody would let Old Ike chew tobacco now - he'd have patches or nicotine gum!

Answer: William Taft

Princess Pauline Wayne (apparently called Mooly-mooly by the First Lady) was a Holstein-Friesian, and as much a pet as livestock. The newspapers reported her movements, which was probably more interesting than the lives of some of the vacuous 'celebrities' they report nowadays.

Answer: A snake

Emily Spinach was a garter snake who apparently was 'green like spinach and as thin as Aunt Emily'. Her father, President Roosevelt, had a guinea pig called Father O'Grady - looks like interesting pet names ran in the family.

Answer: She was a Russian dog who'd been into space

Pushinka was the puppy of space dog Strelka. Pushinka went on to have four puppies (or as JFK apparently described them, pupniks!) One of JFK's other dogs, an Irish cocker spaniel called Shannon, was the gift of the Irish Prime Minister. Imagine, all that pomp and power as a President, and people give you animals too!

Answer: Spot is Millie's puppy

Spot has lived in the White House under two different administrations, as he was born when George H W was the incumbent. Spot and Millie are English Springer Spaniels. George W Bush also has Barney, a Scottish Terrier.

Answer: A goat

He gave it to his grandchildren and they were pulled in a cart by His Whiskers. Apparently the Harrisons also had two opossums called Mr. Reciprocity and Mr. Protection

Answer: Jimmy Carter

Misty Malarky Ying Yang was, as you may have guessed, a Siamese. From the picture of him with his owner Amy he looks like a fine healthy seal-point. Apparently he flew in the Presidential helicopter, which sounds a risky thing to do with a Siamese!

Answer: Beagle

I couldn't do a quiz without the Presidential beagles! (We get everywhere.) Him and Her were siblings. Her died after swallowing a stone in 1964 and Him was hit by a car in 1966 and was replaced (by J Edgar Hoover!) by a beagle at first called J Edgar, but eventually just known as Edgar. I hope you enjoyed the quiz and learning a little about the First Animals.