NEED TO KNOW
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The Bidens recently adopted Boo and Scout, two Lab mix puppies from a Tennessee shelter
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Humane Animal Partners (HAP) facilitated the adoption, ensuring the puppies were a good match for the Bidens’ home
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HAP says the Bidens consulted a dog trainer and veterinarian before the adoption
Humane Animal Partners (HAP), a Delaware-based animal welfare organization, is sharing details about how Former President Joe Biden and former first lady Dr. Jill Biden welcomed their new rescue puppies, Boo and Scout.
According to HAP, the nonprofit initiated a search for two lab mix puppies after learning from a trusted supporter that the Biden family was looking to adopt two young Labrador retrievers.
HAP’s transport team identified a group of dogs in need, which included a litter of Lab mix puppies, at Rescue Dog and End of Life Sanctuary in Tennessee. The litter of puppies was part of a group of 15 dogs “at-risk for euthanasia” at the Tennessee facility that HAP, in partnership with the BISSELL Pet Foundation, moved to Delaware, where the canines had more adoption opportunities.
Two of the Lab mix puppies stood out in the litter as ideal pets for the Bidens.
“As with every adoption at Humane Animal Partners, proper matchmaking is one of our top priorities. These puppies were not selected by chance,” HAP CEO Patrick Carroll said in a statement. “Our team intentionally brought them to HAP because we believed they would be a great fit for the Bidens and their home.”
Pictured left to right: Patrick Carroll, Joe Biden, Dr. Jill Biden Michelle Iorri, and Dawn Groover with the Bidens’ pets
Credit: Dawn Groover property of Humane Animal Partners
The puppies, Linda and Rocky, later named Boo and Scout, moved into a foster home once arriving in Delaware. Here, the dogs learned important socialization skills and had time to get to know the Bidens through an arranged meet-and-greet.
After consulting with their veterinarian and a dog trainer, the Bidens agreed to bring the puppies home on a trial basis to ensure the arrangement was a good fit for everyone, including their cat, Willow, according to HAP.
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The Bidens made Boo and Scout’s adoption official shortly after the puppies settled into their home.
“HAP is proud to play a role not only in rescuing animals, but in making the right connections,” Michelle Iorri, HAP’s dog foster and transport manager, said. “Boo and Scout’s story is a perfect example of what’s possible when lifesaving transport and thoughtful placement come together.”
The Bidens’ adoption of the two puppies comes several years after the former president’s two German Shepherds, Champ and Major, were moved to Delaware from the White House in 2021 due to behavior issues, CNN reported at the time.
According to the outlet, the dogs moved after a “biting incident” involving Major, the first rescue dog to live in the White House.
Champ died in June 2021, and Major was rehomed several months later in December 2021. The Bidens welcomed a German Shepherd named Commander to the White House in December 2021, but the dog was removed in October 2023 following biting incidents.
Read the original article on People
