It seems inevitable that the Obama family's new dog would be politicized.
From those disappointed they didn't get a mixed breed from a shelter to the unhinged reactions of the Usual Suspects, it would seem that all possible angles of this story have been exhausted, along with the readers, who are calling for a return to real news and serious subjects.
But there's one consideration I haven't seen, one human interest angle that doesn't seem to be talked about.
The happy children who have had their dream come true.
Sasha and Malia have their puppy. At last.
what I say is...
Has everyone forgotten their own childhood?
Did you grow up with a pet? Or did you beg and beg for it? Or were you one of those children whose parents found pets unappealing, and you had to wait until you were grown up until you got one of your own?
Don't you remember?
Kids love animals. I've found it's a rare child who doesn't want a dog or cat.
And knowing how time stretches out at that age, it would seem that Sasha and Malia have been waiting quite a long time for this joyous day.
I'm very happy for them.
The love of a higher mammal is something unique in the world. It reminds us we are not alone; not in thinking, or in feeling.
We have far more in common with our animals that we have differences.
Having a pet as a child reminds us how difficult it can be to negotiate the long growing up process, and how important it is to have an uncomplicated relationship without an agenda.
A pet can do that for children.
They have a buddy, a sounding board, a responsibility, and the opportunity to be taken care of, all in one.
It is my hope that Bo will be as much a teacher as he is a companion.
It seems to me that the Obamas might be getting their first real pet, in many ways. I don't hear them speak of pets from their own childhood. So this is an extraordinary opportunity to find out just what volumes our voiceless companions can have.
They teach us about love.
Because if a "dumb animal" can show all the devotion and care and consideration that we long for, and often don't get, from our human companions, it shows just how far we have to go.
This is Sasha and Malia's happy happy day, one they will remember the rest of their lives. This is the beginning of what I hope will be a long and fruitful relationship, one that teaches them the thrill of compassion, the duties of having a living creature depending on them, and the ecstasy of love.
Because this is really what the story is about. Parents who love their children, children who want a pet to love, a breeder with enough love to insist that a puppy who doesn't work out won't be abandoned, a friend who is pleased to be able to meet the special needs of a family.
Of course, I hope it turns out to be more. I hope it will remind the Obamas that our furry friends suffer in these tough times. That the family might be surprised by just how much the dog can mean to them. That there is a crisis not only with families, but with their pets, which are being turned over to shelters, or worse, in massive numbers.
But all of that is for the future. Today, Sasha and Malia got a puppy.
Congratulations. May you be best friends for many years.
May there be many more puppies in your lives.