I think that's wrong. It's a personal choice whether to get a dog from a breeder or a rescue organization. Yes, it would have set a good example for the president to adopt a dog, but he didn't, and he had every right to make that decision. He has children, and one of those children has health concerns (allergies? asthma? I can't recall). He made the decision he felt was best for his family. Actually, Ted Kennedy made the decision, and I didn't see anyone criticizing him... The time these organizatios are spending harassing the president could be better spent fundraising to help other dogs.

Are the members of these groups going to take up a collection to buy the extra medicine the Obama daughter with allergies will need? Are they going to offer to take turns living in the White House and sitting up with her at night when she gets an asthma attack from dog hair? Are they going to tutor her in the classes she misses at school if her asthma gets worse?

The Obamas' choice was not between a shelter dog and a special breed; it was between a special breed that is hypoallergenic and no dog at all.

The reason Senator Kennedy had Portuguese Water Dogs was so his adult son and several of his nephews and nieces could visit without ending up in the hospital. He wrote in his memoirs that his son's asthma kept them from having a dog at all when he was young.

Would dog lovers prefer to see the Obamas adopt a shelter dog and then have to get rid of it when the girl's health worsened?

'Hypoallergenic' dogs can be found in shelters/rescues too!! My Cairn is a rescue dog and one of the so called 'hypoallergenic' breeds. Lame excuse to not adopt.