What Unusual Pets Have Lived in the White House?

The White House, the official residence and workplace of the President of the United States, has been home to many pets over the years. While dogs and cats are the most common presidential companions, some leaders have brought more unusual animals to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. From alligators to zebras, the White House has hosted a menagerie of surprising creatures. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at some of the most unusual pets that have called the White House home.

Calvin Coolidge’s Raccoons

President Calvin Coolidge and First Lady Grace Coolidge were known animal lovers, and they had a wide variety of pets during their time in the White House. Perhaps the most unusual were their two pet raccoons, Rebecca and Reuben. The raccoons were sent to the Coolidges as gifts for their Thanksgiving dinner, but the president couldn’t bear to eat them and decided to keep them as pets instead.

William Howard Taft’s Cows

President William Howard Taft brought a herd of Holstein cows with him to the White House in 1909. The cows, named Mooly Wooly, Pauline Wayne, and Offspring, grazed on the White House lawn and provided milk for the first family. Pauline Wayne even became something of a celebrity, with her own fan mail and newspaper articles written about her.

Thomas Jefferson’s Grizzly Bears

President Thomas Jefferson was gifted two grizzly bear cubs by explorer Zebulon Pike in 1807. Jefferson kept the bears in a cage on the White House lawn for several months before sending them to his friend, the artist and naturalist Charles Willson Peale, who displayed them in his museum in Philadelphia.

Benjamin Harrison’s Opossums

President Benjamin Harrison had two pet opossums named Mr. Reciprocity and Mr. Protection, who lived in the White House stables. The opossums were gifts from supporters in Maryland and Georgia, and Harrison was said to be quite fond of them.

John Quincy Adams’ Alligator

President John Quincy Adams was gifted an alligator by the Marquis de Lafayette, a French aristocrat and military officer who fought in the American Revolutionary War. The alligator lived in a bathroom in the East Room of the White House for several months before being relocated to a more suitable home.

Martin Van Buren’s Tigers

President Martin Van Buren received two tiger cubs as a gift from the Sultan of Oman in 1839. The cubs lived in the White House for a short time before being sent to the zoo, as they proved to be too difficult to care for.

Herbert Hoover’s Opossum and Crocodile

President Herbert Hoover had a pet opossum named Billy Possum, who was given to him by a supporter from Louisiana. Hoover also received a crocodile as a gift from the president of Cuba, but the crocodile never actually lived in the White House.

James Buchanan’s Eagles

President James Buchanan had two bald eagles named Mr. Buchanan and Miss Lane (after the president’s niece and First Lady, Harriet Lane). The eagles lived in a cage on the White House lawn and were said to be quite tame.

Theodore Roosevelt’s Snakes and Guinea Pigs

President Theodore Roosevelt was known for his love of animals, and he had a wide variety of pets during his time in the White House. Among his more unusual companions were a collection of snakes and a pair of guinea pigs named Admiral Dewey and Fighting Bob Evans.

John F. Kennedy’s Ponies and Parakeets

President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy had a menagerie of pets during their time in the White House, including two ponies named Macaroni and Tex, and a pair of parakeets named Bluebell and Marybelle. The ponies were gifts for the Kennedy children and were often seen grazing on the White House lawn.

Woodrow Wilson’s Sheep

During World War I, President Woodrow Wilson brought a flock of sheep to graze on the White House lawn as a way to save money on groundskeeping costs. The sheep, which were named after notable figures like Admiral George Dewey and General John Pershing, became a popular attraction for visitors to the White House.

Lyndon B. Johnson’s Beagles

While beagles aren’t necessarily an unusual pet, President Lyndon B. Johnson’s treatment of his two beagles, Him and Her, was certainly unconventional. Johnson was criticized for picking the dogs up by their ears, and the incident was even captured on camera by White House photographers.

Calvin Coolidge’s Pygmy Hippo

In addition to their raccoons, the Coolidges also had a pygmy hippopotamus named Billy. The hippo was a gift from Harvey Firestone, the founder of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, and lived in the White House briefly before being donated to the Smithsonian National Zoological Park.

John Adams’ Dogs

While dogs are certainly a common presidential pet, President John Adams had some unusually named canine companions. His dogs were named Juno, Satan, and Cleopatra, which were much more exotic names than the typical “Buddy” or “Spot.”

Strange Indeed

The White House has been home to a wide variety of pets over the years, from the conventional to the downright bizarre. While some of these animals, like Calvin Coolidge’s raccoons or William Howard Taft’s cows, were beloved companions to their presidential owners, others, like Martin Van Buren’s tigers or John Quincy Adams’ alligator, proved to be more trouble than they were worth.