Being the country's first pet is a highly honorable and challenging position. One must live up to this lofty position and conduct themselves with dignity, befitting their owners. In this article, we'll explore which animals are favored by the country's leaders.
Vladimir Putin's dogs
Vladimir Vladimirovich's long-standing love for these animals is well known. His first and most beloved dog was Koni, a black Labrador. In 2000, Sergei Shoigu gave her to the president as a small puppy. Koni is no longer alive; she died in 2014.
In 2010, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov gave Putin a Karakachan Shepherd puppy. The dog was named Buffy. The name was chosen through an online public vote.
A three-month-old puppy named Yume (meaning "dream" in Japanese) was given to the Russian President in 2012. This Akita Inu was presented by Norihisa Satake, Governor of Japan's Akita Prefecture. The gift was made in gratitude for Russia's assistance in the aftermath of natural disasters.
In 2017, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov presented Vladimir Putin with a Turkmen Alabai puppy. This breed is known for its boundless devotion to its owner, hence the name "Faithful."
In 2019, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić presented Putin with a Sharplanina Shepherd puppy. Balkan shepherds have long used dogs of this breed to guard their livestock.
Queen Elizabeth II's Corgis
The full name of this breed is the Embrock Welsh Corgi. The first corgi was given to young Elizabeth and her sister Margaret in 1933. From that moment on, the Queen's love for these dogs would remain unwavering throughout her life. The puppy was initially named, fittingly, Rosavel Golden Eagle. Later, the family began calling him Dookie (Duke). Three years later, they acquired a companion of the same breed, Jane, but the two didn't fall in love.
For her 18th birthday, Elizabeth was given her personal corgi, Susan. She gave birth to the first puppies, which began a dynasty of "royal corgis." Throughout her life, the Queen owned more than 30 corgis. These pets accompanied her everywhere. The last corgi, named Willow, died in April 2018, which, of course, greatly saddened the Queen.
Alexander Lukashenko's Cats, Muscovy Ducks, and Other Pets
The President of Belarus is the proud owner of a large number of pets. He has four dogs and three cats. Lukashenko also has an entire "barnyard" consisting of numerous cows, goats, horses, sheep, and rabbits. He also has a wide variety of poultry, including ostriches, Muscovy ducks, ducks, various breeds of chicken, and turkeys.
King of Thailand's Poodles
King Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand is famous for his eccentric behavior. He once appointed his beloved white poodle, Foo Foo, as the country's Air Marshal. The pet accompanied his master to all events, and on special occasions, he was dressed in a specially tailored dress uniform and boots. The poodle's birthdays were always celebrated with great fanfare; the dog did whatever he wanted. Remarkably, no one in the country dared to disobey him. Foo Foo died at the age of 17, was given a full funeral and cremated. Afterward, the country plunged into four days of mourning. The king now lives with a poodle named Phi Foo.
The Dutch King's Labradors
King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands is a model husband and father of three beautiful daughters. The royal couple looks like they stepped straight from the covers of happy family magazines. This idyll is completed by two Labradors—Nala, named after the character from The Lion King, and Skipper. The pets always accompany their owners on vacation.
Volodymyr Zelensky's pets
Current Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy owns two dogs: a black miniature schnauzer named Petr and a Swiss shepherd named Nora. Volodymyr's family also includes a guinea pig named Yasha, a nervous parrot named Kesha, and fish. The president occasionally shares photos of his pets on his Instagram page.
A dog from Emmanuel Macron's shelter
French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, adopted their pet from an animal shelter. They named the black Labrador Nemo, after a character from a Jules Verne novel. Adopting dogs at the French presidential residence has long been a tradition. The dog has a headstrong personality and has already made headlines in the media for marking the fireplace of the Élysée Palace during a meeting between Macron and ministers.
The retriever of the Czech President Miloš Zeeman
Miloš Szeeman owns a golden retriever named Darcy. The president gave him to his wife for her birthday. The dog received his romantic name in honor of a character in the novel "Pride and Prejudice." Darcy is known for his modesty and loves to be photographed.
Finnish President Sauli Niinistö's Boston Terrier
Finnish President Sauli Niinistö loves his dog Lennu so much that internet users have even started making fun of him. Photos of the Boston Terrier frequently appear online, as the dog has a cheerful disposition and a "smiling" face. Sauli takes her to almost all official events and never lets her out of his arms, giving her plenty of attention and affection.
A dog town in the South Korean presidential administration
South Korean President Moon Jae-in initially only had a cat named Chinccini and a dog named Maru. But in 2017, in the midst of the election campaign, Moon promised to adopt a dog from a shelter if he won. And so it happened: four-year-old Tori, a mongrel, became the third pet and moved into the presidential administration building with the rest of the family.
Everything changed in late 2018, when Moon made an official visit to North Korea. The country's leader, Kim Jong-un, gave him two Pungsangae dogs, named Songan and Komi. The pair later had six puppies. So, in total, the current South Korean president has one cat and 10 dogs. A whole village had to be built on the administration grounds. Each pet has its own wooden kennel with a nameplate.
