Meet The Mascots Of World Political Leaders
Having a pet means, among other things, showing unconditional love for it. And this is something that some of the most influential people on the planet have not hesitated to do publicly. Discover here the mascots of political leaders and their history.
The mascots of political leaders: a trump card in favor
Living with a pet on a daily basis, as we know, has many benefits at all levels. One of them is the affection that we receive from them, and that without a doubt we must reciprocate. When this is carried over to the public world of politics, it can become a powerful weapon for you.
The simple fact that a political leader is portrayed with his pet conveys a feeling of closeness and humanity. This, without a doubt, is something easily exploited by the government and press teams of politicians.
But, beyond its media influence, seeing and meeting the pets of political leaders reflects that, undoubtedly, the love for our animal companions knows no borders or offices.
Pets of Spanish political leaders
When talking about pets of political leaders, we usually find that most leaders prefer the company of dogs or cats. If we start with Moncloa, the first example can be found in Turca. This is how the spaniel is known, which since 2017 has accompanied the current Prime Minister and his family, and which has been publicly portrayed on several occasions.
Previously, through the gardens of Moncloa we could see Rico. This energetic companion, who accompanied former President Mariano Rajoy on his walks, is an English pointer with black and white fur, a true breed dog.
And if we talk about races, we cannot forget Cico and Gufa. This cocker spaniel couple was seen in the presidential gardens at the time of José María Aznar, who is said to have had a real predilection for them. The former president would not let a day go by without taking a walk with his faithful companions.
Dogs and cats in world politics
We now cross the Spanish border to discover the pets of world political leaders. The first example can be found in France, where on several occasions we have seen the current president Macron with Nemo.
The new inhabitant of the Elysee, which was adopted by the French president in 2017, is a cross between a black lab and a griffon. He is fully integrated into the environment and has come to accompany the president in some official acts. Nemo is the latest in a long tradition that unites French presidents and peasants.
If there is one avowed lover of animals, it is Russian President Vladimir Putin. In addition to having demonstrated his commitment to animals and nature on more than one occasion, the president has been photographed on several occasions with his two dogs: Yume and Buffy. The first of them is an Akita Inu breed dog, originally from Japan, while Buffy is a Bulgarian shepherd dog.
We are now talking about an animal that, although it is not a pet as such, has been installed for several years in one of the most iconic government seats. We refer to Larry, the tabby cat who has lived since 2011 in Downing Street, the residence of the British leaders.
This friendly feline arrived with former Prime Minister David Cameron and currently has the official title of Chief Mouser or mouse hunter. Such is Larry’s popularity that he has his own Twitter account.
America, the birthplace of iconic pets
If there is a country with a long tradition of politicians and mascots, it is the United States of America. Virtually every president of the White House has had illustrious pets. Theodor Roosevelt is said to have had up to 26 different pets.
One of the most iconic animals is the Fala Scottish terrier – in the image that heads this article – that accompanied President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Its image transcended in such a way that it is currently the only pet that has been immortalized in the form of a statue, along with its owner.
In recent history we can find Bo and Sunny, the famous Obama family spaniels; or Barney and Miss Beazley, former President George W. Bush’s two Scottish terriers.
